Matthew Taylor MP has praised a Cornish company making world-leading ‘ground source heat pumps', a low carbon way to heat homes and offices. The cutting edge technology has been developed in Cornwall by renewable energy specialists Kensa Engineering Ltd at their Mount Wellington Mine site at Bissoe, near Truro.
Kensa's Chairman Richard Freeborn showed Mr.Taylor around the site. "Mr.Taylor took a keen interest not just in the technology that Kensa has developed" said Mr. Freeborn "but also the way that we apply and market the products, and, in particular, how Kensa has maintained its position as one of the leading UK heat pump brands despite intense competition from much larger overseas companies. It is symbolic that a sunrise renewable industry is now assembling much needed low-carbon products whilst surrounded by the heritage of Mount Wellington Mine, which is one of just four large modern tin mines in Cornwall."
Kensa Engineering are the sole British manufacturer of a full range of ground source heat pumps, which are used to heat all types of buildings from new-build houses to barn conversions to hospitals. Kensa also supply the RNLI with the heat pumps that provide heating and cooling to all of the new Tamar Class lifeboats.
The company is based at the site of the former 1978 Mount Wellington Tin Mine. Mr.Taylor's predecessor, the late David Penhaligon MP, was a champion of Cornish tin mining who succeeded in helping rally local and national support for the miners. The 20 acre Mount Wellington Mine was later successfully reopened as a satellite of Wheal Jane Mine, and in the late 1980's Matthew Taylor was also involved in keeping the mine open. Both sites ceased mining in 1991.
Today Mr.Taylor was able to see a new generation of Cornish engineers at work. He viewed heat pumps being manufactured in Kensa's sophisticated production facility, as well as watching a finished heat pump being put through its paces on the UK's only dedicated ground source heat pump test rig.
"As I toured Mount Wellington, I couldn't help but wonder what David Penhaligon would have thought if he was still here with us today" explained Mr. Taylor. "I rather suspect that he would be delighted that Kensa are continuing to expand, and now employ over 30 people in secure, sustainable, well-paid "green collar" jobs. Nevertheless, David would not have shied away from asking how long it would before there would be a return to previous levels of employment - in the days of tin there were over 300 on the site. There are real opportunities to build on the success of Kensa here, so I hope it won't be long."
Mr. Taylor was asked by Prime Minister Gordon Brown to write a Review of Rural Economy And Affordable Housing, which was published in July 2008. In the report he proposed policy changes to support rural business - a formal Government response is expected shortly backing many of those changes. Mr. Taylor was previously the Liberal Democrats Treasury Spokesman and the party's spokesman on Environmental Issues. He plans to step down at the next election following the birth of his two young sons to take on new challenges that don't take him 300 miles away from the family four days a week.
