Deep geothermal heat energy could be deployed in urban areas to heat thousands of large properties, according to the report, which was published today (13 May) by the Association for Renewable Energy and Clean Technology (REA) and Arup.
Heat accounts for about 40% of the country’s energy consumption and nearly a third of greenhouse gas emissions. It is estimated that there is currently enough deep geothermal heat energy to supply all of the UK’s heat needs for at least 100 years.
The new report, Deep Geothermal Energy: Economic Decarbonisation Opportunities for the United Kingdom, urges the government to support the sector. It is backed by more than 30 businesses, academics, NGOs and industry experts.
“We have lagged too far behind for too long in this area,” said Dr Kieran Mullan, MP for Crewe and Nantwich in North West England. “As the whole economy pivots, we can’t afford to fall further behind.”
The report estimates that, should the government establish a ‘Geothermal Development Incentive’, 12 deep geothermal projects could be operational by 2025. These could create 1,300 jobs and generate more than £100m of investment, predominately in towns and cities in the North of England, Midlands and South-West.
If successful, the scheme could provide a catalyst to the industry, with the report forecasting 360 sites by 2050. This could provide an additional £1.5bn of investment, 10,000 direct jobs and 25,000 indirect jobs, and an annual carbon saving of 3m tonnes.
Dr Mullan also said: “As we recover from the huge economic challenges of the lockdown we need to grab every opportunity available… We can create new skilled jobs and importantly, sustainable green jobs which are so important now.”
Dr Nina Skorupska CBE, chief executive of REA, said: “Deep geothermal has the potential to become a world-leading industry here in the UK, provide a stable transition away from oil and gas, and help meet the government’s ‘net zero’ ambitions by decarbonising heat on a mass scale. It would also create thousands of new jobs and generate tens of millions of pounds in new investment.”
Deep geothermal refers to heat resources found more than 500m below the ground. Below 1km, the geothermal fluids begin to be hot enough for ‘direct-use’ space heating and industrial or agricultural purposes.
Systems used to extract deep heat include deep geothermal doublets, which can supply heat for about 4,500 houses, and standing column wells, which are well-suited where reservoir uncertainty and risk is significant. There are also several hundred oil and gas wells in the UK that could be modified and converted to provide geothermal heat.
Doug Parr, policy director at Greenpeace, said: “The UK has plenty of geologists and engineers with drilling expertise and limited prospects in their current industry. This is a technology perfectly tailored to meet the challenge of decarbonising without leaving oil and gas workers behind.”
Professor Iain Stewart, Unesco chairman in geoscience and society, added his support. He said: “Exploiting the natural heat from deep beneath our feet seems to me to be a no-brainer. It’s clean, green and renewable, and can really support the push to reach the UK’s net zero climate targets. What’s more, there’s a window of opportunity for the UK to be a technical leader in this emerging energy field, which has got so much potential globally.”
In Germany, use of deep geothermal energy reduced the country’s emissions by more than 1.7m tonnes of CO2 equivalent in 2017. The industry is estimated to have created more than 22,000 jobs and added €13.3bn to the German economy since 2000.
“The success of geothermal developments in countries such as Germany, France and the Netherlands is closely linked to their governments’ commitment to supporting this technology through policies, regulations, incentives and initiatives,” a press release for the report said. “This success is specifically linked to the availability of a long-term, stable regulatory framework and the willingness of the state to share economic risks during the early stages of development.”
Michael Chendorain, associate director at Arup, said the UK could match or even surpass success abroad should the government provide the right support package. “Homes, universities, hospitals, and a broad range of industries can all benefit from a deep geothermal revolution, but this will require government support.”
The REA host a virtual report launch event with Dr Mullan MP at 10am on 19 May.
Want the best engineering stories delivered straight to your inbox? The Professional Engineering newsletter gives you vital updates on the most cutting-edge engineering and exciting new job opportunities. To sign up, click here.
Content published by Professional Engineering does not necessarily represent the views of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers.