The past year has seen greater geothermal development in the UK, including the construction of the first geothermal plant, the launch of the UK’s First National Centre, and promising geological data being collected across central and southern England.
Dr. Timothy Kearsey and his team at the British Geological Survey (BGS) have mapped Early Carboniferous limestones (ECLs) in this area, located approximately 4km deep. Kearsey’s research indicates that ECLs have the potential to become an important energy resource, as they offer substantial opportunities for deep geothermal energy. The article also states that energy from these formations has been successfully harnessed in Belgium and the Netherlands for heating networks. However, Kearsey emphasized that while these findings are promising, further research is needed for successful geothermal infrastructure development in the UK.
This expanding research coincides with the construction of the UK’s first geothermal power plant in Cornwall, led by Geothermal Engineering Limited (GEL), expected to begin generating renewable electricity by late 2024. Additionally, the launch of the UK’s First National Centre for Geothermal Energy in June 2024 aims to advance geothermal energy.
It’s been pointed out that while heat can be extracted from the region’s subsurface, the temperature of geothermal sources might be too low for practical applications. However, Eavor’s unique advantage lies in its ability to bypass the need for hydrothermal reservoirs or access to permeable rock. Instead, Eavor’s technology extracts heat through conduction directly from subsurface rock, without relying on fracking. This approach would allow closed-loop technology to capitalize on the extensive ECL layers and offer the potential for expanding geothermal energy use for direct heating.
As the UK continues to explore its geothermal resources, these recent developments represent a significant step toward integrating reliable clean energy sources, which would greatly enhance energy autonomy for its communities and cities.
