Revisiting Deep Geothermal Power in the United Kingdom

Abstract

It is predicted that geothermal power will play an increasing role in renewable electricity generation (MIT, 2006). In addition, a growing proportion of geothermal power is expected to be derived from deep, low permeability rocks. Trials of deep geothermal systems in low permeability rocks first started in the mid 1970s, in the United States, the United Kingdom and Japan. The United Kingdom research project ran for the best part of 15 years and contributed substantially to the technical knowledge of rock mechanics and reservoir development.

This paper summarises the geothermal resource in the United Kingdom, the previous research project and the proposed deployment of a 10MW pilot power plant. The data from the original research project and other studies has been re-examined and a potential site selected. In addition, the lessons learnt from the original program will be applied to both the drilling and reservoir development program. Drilling of the exploration borehole is expected to start in 2010.