Faversham Business Scoops £40,000 for Idea to Tackle Climate Change

2012-02-16 15:01:36

A Faversham business with an innovative idea to tackle climate change last night won a £40,000 Shell Springboard award.

Geo-Mole Ltd received the financial boost for its device to simplify and cut the cost of installing underground heat pumps.

Shell Springboard is a Shell-funded UK Social Investment programme, which provides a financial boost to small and medium enterprises with innovative, low-carbon business ideas.   The awards build on Shell’s overall commitment to help the UK meet its future energy needs responsibly.

Geo-thermal heating and hot water is one of the most effective forms of renewable energy, using the heat which is produced naturally beneath the earth’s core to heat homes and businesses.  However, uptake is limited at the moment due to the large machinery currently needed to install the technology.  Geo-Mole Ltd’s product changes this by eliminating the need for drilling rigs thanks to a small pneumatic mole, which displaces soil. The mole allows pipes to be put into the earth at the desired depth and connected to a ground source heat pump.

L to R: Neil Jimpson (Geo-Mole), Mark Brice (Geo Mole), Michael O’Brien (Chief Judge, Angle Technology) and John MacArthur (Shell VP CO2 Policy)

Mark Brice, Director of Geo-Mole Ltd, said, “Geo-thermal heating is a brilliant source of renewable energy, but inaccessible to lots of home-owners because of the huge drilling technology that is currently used. Our small pneumatic mole removes the need for this, meaning that even homes with restricted space, such as mid-terrace houses in cities, can have access to geo-thermal for the first time.

“It’s incredibly rewarding that such a prestigious programme as Shell Springboard has recognised the potential of Geo-Mole and the funding will allow us to continue to develop our business.” 

John MacArthur, Shell VP CO₂ Policy, commented: "Through Springboard, Shell aims to encourage others to innovate as well, helping to support the transition to a lower carbon economy and seizing this new market opportunity. It’s our belief that the innovative services and technologies that small businesses provide can make an important contribution to reducing the UK’s carbon emissions. I congratulate Geo-Mole on their success, and wish all of our finalists the very best for the future.”

Select Innovations Ltd from Norfolk also received awards of £40,000, and High Technology Investment Projects Ltd from Cambridge was awarded £30,000.

Since its launch in 2005, Shell Springboard has judged over 1,000 entries and awarded approximately £2 million to 52 businesses across the UK. Overall, £330,000 will be awarded in 2012.  This will result in a total of £2.25 million awarded over seven years to UK-based SMEs

This year, the programme received 130 entries, and 24 businesses have been shortlisted to present at three regional events across the UK.