“Too much energy goes into debating over air source vs ground source, or one tech over another, but we need to start looking at it as all of us vs the carbon problem. Each technology has its place, and the future is hybrid. We need to stop picking sides and start designing systems that deliver.”
Chris Davidson Bio
Chris Davidson is one of the UK’s leading specialists in ground source heat pump (GSHP) design and innovation. As CTO of Genius Energy Lab, he’s known for his myth-busting clarity, strategic thinking and refreshingly jargon-free take on low-carbon engineering.
With over two decades of experience across building services, digital engineering and renewable heat, Chris helps audiences cut through complexity and focus on practical, scalable clean heat solutions. Whether he’s speaking to contractors, developers or sustainability leaders, his style is the same: direct, analytical, and grounded in real-world insight.
Available for podcast interviews, panel discussions and speaking engagements on the future of clean heat.
Speaker Overview
Chris isn’t just another technical speaker - he’s a one of the few Certified GeoExchange Designers operating in the UK today, a long-time contributor and a communicator known for cutting through the noise. He:
- Debunks myths without tribalism, especially on the “ASHP vs.GSHP” debate - reframing the conversation around choice, design and hybrid solutions rather than competition.
- Brings commercial clarity, showing developers, contractors, and architects how to make low-carbon systems stack up financially and practically.
- Talks long-term value - treating ground loops as future-proof infrastructure assets, not just project line items.
- Grounds everything in evidence by remaining active in R&D and policy development.
Style: approachable, analytical, storytelling through experience
Example Speaking Topics:
- Hybrid use of low carbon technologies, including solar, PV, solar thermal, air and ground source heat pumps.
- Designing heat pumps that work in the real world, drawing on lessons from 20+ years of system design and performance data.
- Ground loops as infrastructure: rethinking energy assets beneath our feet.
- Making the commercial case for low-carbon heating, from funding models to ROI and delivery at scale.
- Digital tools in heat system design: how modelling and data are transforming project outcomes.
Key Themes & Talking Points
- Hybrid low-carbon heating systems
Combining solar PV, solar thermal, and both air and ground source heat pumps for flexible, high-performance solutions. - Designing for the real world
Lessons from 20+ years of system design and performance monitoring. - Ground loops as long-term infrastructure
Rethinking the energy assets beneath our feet. - The commercial case for clean heat
How to make low-carbon systems stack up financially, from funding models to ROI and scalable delivery. - Data and digital tools in system design
How modelling and performance data are changing how we engineer heat systems. - Embodied & lifetime carbon
Looking beyond running costs to design truly net-zero systems.
Speaking Credits
- Ground Source Heat Pump Association (GSHPA): Annual AGM speaker and panel chair, most recently on Policy & Regulation Impact, March 2025
- Imperial College London: Energy Futures Lab lecture series, 2009-2011
- GSHPA Stream One Training: Course leader for engineers and consultants, 2022-today
- Cagni Williams: In conversation with interview, Summer 2023
- FairHeat Birthday Event: Talks about Developing Skills in Ground Source Heat Pumps, September 2021
Random Video added as example 👆🏻
Book Chris to Speak
Want a speaker who brings clarity, credibility and commercial know-how to the clean heat conversation?
Contact our press team to book Chris for your event or podcast: