United Kingdom Country Update

Abstract

The exploitation of geothermal resources in the UK continues to be slow. There are no developed high temperature resources and limited development of low and medium enthalpy resources. However, in the reporting period 2015-2020, there has been a resurgence of interest in all aspects of geothermal energy in the UK. The most significant development has been the completion of the drilling phase of the United Downs Deep Geothermal Project in Cornwall. The production Borehole UD-1 has recently been completed to a depth of 5.2 km MD, and injection borehole UD-2 to a depth of 2.5km. Several deep aquifer projects, minewater projects, deep co-axial projects and another EGS/HDR project are at various preliminary stages. In terms of real activity "in the ground" in this reporting period, other than United Downs, a new borehole research facility has been started, a minewater project has begun, and the Renewable Heat Incentive has finally led to a revival in growth of ground source heat pump installations. "Geothermal" seminars and conferences have been held. With the growing interest in the need for large scale utilization of low carbon heat, a recent announcement by the UK Climate Change Committee should lead to significant expansion in the application of GSHPs and direct use geothermal heat.