World geothermal installations


The UK’s geothermal resource is widely distributed with ‘hotspots’ in Cornwall, Cheshire, the North East, Weardale, Hampshire, Northern Ireland and Scotland. UK companies plan to develop heat-only plants in Manchester and the North East, and to exploit the ‘hot rock’ potential below Cornwall to generate up to 3GW of electricity.


The introduction of the RHI has made deep geothermal heat projects commercially attractive, with some close to breaking ground. Tackling a few remaining non-financial barriers (such as the lack of a licensing scheme) should see the roll out of this exciting technology in the UK during the next Parliament. Deep geothermal heat plants range in size from just a few MW to over 50MW. They are ideally sized to supply heat networks serving many hundreds or even thousands of homes with low carbon, competitively priced heat. These heat customers will benefit from long term price stability, in contrast to the continuing price volatility of fossil fuels.


Despite only having one plant (in Southampton, currently being refurbished), the UK has an extensive skills base in deep geothermal and related sectors, such as drilling and hydrogeology. We are thus well placed to take advantage of


rapidly growing geothermal markets globally. Alongside rapid expansion in the US and across Asia, World Bank funding is driving GW scale geothermal power projects in highly promising future markets, such as Kenya and Ethiopia.


MANIFESTO ASKS


• Better licensing regime - The introduction of a comprehensive deep geothermal licensing system once the sector has proved a demonstrator plant


• Support heat networks - A policy framework, including funding, to drive the roll out of district heat networks - the perfect complementary infrastructure for deep geothermal


• Support exploration - Introduce a risk insurance scheme for the geothermal industry in the UK


• Support commercialisation - Support for more demonstrator projects to increase our understanding of the UK’s deep geothermal resources


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