European Geothermal Congress 2019 Den Haag, The Netherlands, 11-14 June 2019 Geothermal Energy Use, Country Update for United Kingdom Robin Curtis1, Jonathan Busby2, Ryan Law3, Charlotte Adams4 1GeoScience Ltd, Falmouth Business Park, Falmouth, Cornwall, TR11 4SZ, UK. 2British Geological Survey, Environmental Science Centre, Nicker Hill, Keyworth, Nottingham, NG12 5GG, UK 3Geothermal Engineering Ltd, 82 Lupus St, London, SW1V 3EL, UK 4Dept of Geography, Durham University, Lower Mountjoy, South Road, Durham, DH1 3LE, UK
[email protected] Keywords: Country update, United Kingdom, low granitic intrusions, particularly in southwest England. enthalpy, direct use, GSHP, mine workings, EGS, HDR These granites were previously the site of the UK Hot Dry Rock programme in Cornwall and are now where ABSTRACT the United Downs Deep Geothermal Project is The exploitation of geothermal resources in the UK currently underway. continues to be slow. There are no proven high The work at the Eastgate and Newcastle boreholes in temperature resources and limited development of low northeast England also suggested higher than and medium enthalpy resources. However, in the anticipated temperature gradients and hence increased reporting period 2016-2019, there has been a focus on the possible application of geothermal heat in continuing resurgence of interest in all aspects of that region. geothermal energy in the UK. The comprehensive work by the British Geological The most significant development has been the start of Survey, (reported by Downing and Gray, 1986) is still the United Downs Deep Geothermal Project in the definitive reference to the geothermal prospects of Cornwall. Borehole UD-1 has recently been completed the UK.