On Tuesday, the UK hosted its first ever Geothermal Symposium in London. At the event, pioneering British geothermal developer EGS Energy Limited, brought together international geothermal experts to examine the growing potential for increased deployment of geothermal technology in the UK.
The following day, Greg Barker, Minister of State at the Department of Energy and Climate Change, showed his support for the advancement of geothermal technology in Britain. Speaking at an International Energy Agency event, he called for more collaborative learning to take forward the cause of geothermal energy in the UK.
Both events served to underline the growing momentum behind the UK’s geothermal sector and highlighted leading geothermal projects in the UK, such as the engineered geothermal system currently in development at the Eden Project in Cornwall.
This project has the potential to be the first prototype commercial deep geothermal energy plant in the UK. The plant’s developer, EGS Energy Limited, expects drilling at the site to begin in the first half of next year and will eventually reach depths of 4-5km. Once complete, the Eden EGS Plant will have 4MWe of electrical capacity – enough energy to power approximately 5,000 houses.
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Cornwall’s Geothermal Facts
· From the frontline of early hot dry rock research, to the possibilities posed by new technology, Cornwall is shaping the UK’s future in geothermal energy; due to its experience, landscape and passion to power the sector forwards.
· With heatflows of more than 120mW/m², temperature gradients of up to 38 OC per km and predicted temperatures approaching 200OC at 4,500m, Cornwall has the potential to be a significant geothermal energy source.
· Cornwall has contributed to pioneering geothermal energy research for decades, with hot dry rock research led by the Camborne School of Mines stretching back to the 1970s Hot Rocks Project at Rosemanowes Quarry.
· With two power projects given the green light and a hub of services, support and consultancies in the region, Cornwall is eager to help drive the geothermal sector forward.
· Cornwall is sitting on untapped energy; high heat-production granite ideal for generating geothermal power.
· EGS Energy alongside other geothermal experts from Cornwall, such as Fugro Seacore, will be brought together by InvestinCornwall and UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) this October at the global Geothermal Energy Expo 2011 in San Diego to highlight the county’s position as a world leader in geothermal energy and drive international investment.
For further information please contact: Ellie Rymer at Grayling on 0117 929 2311 or via email eleanor.rymer@grayling.com
Notes To Editors
This activity is being carried out by both UK Trade & Investment and InvestinCornwall. InvestinCornwall is a project funded by the Convergence European Regional Development Fund and Cornwall Council. InvestInCornwall is part of Cornwall Development Company (CDC) which operates as Cornwall Council’s economic development arm. On behalf of Cornwall Council, CDC promotes Cornwall to the world; the mission – “to achieve sustainable prosperity with opportunity for all” by helping to develop and deliver the economic strategies for the county.
EGS Energy Limited is a private UK company leading the commercial exploitation of abundant renewable geothermal resources to produce carbon neutral electricity and heat. This is achieved using EGS Energy’s unique access to engineered geothermal system (EGS) technology and know-how.
The company plans to establish its first 4MWe plant in Cornwall, using an engineered geothermal system. There are a number of areas on the Cornish granite that the company has identified as optimal for the development of EGS.
The electricity and heat produced by EGS Energy will be:
1 industrial scale;
2 despatchable;
3 renewable and carbon neutral; and
4 small in its surface footprint and environmental impact.
The team has amassed over 70 years’ experience analysing, designing and operating reservoirs and has now launched this commercial enterprise, initially in the UK but then throughout Europe.
For more information, see: www.egs-energy.com
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