Drilling to begin at UK’s first geothermal power plant

Credit: ukcampsite.co.uk

It seems unlikely that hordes of angry protesters would rush to this project to complain about any alleged dangers of deep drilling – but you never know.

Drilling will start this week at what could become the UK’s first deep geothermal electricity plant in Cornwall, reports ITV News.

Two wells will be drilled through granite rock near St Day, the deepest of which will reach 4.5 kilometres.

Geothermal Engineering Ltd says the aim of the project is to demonstrate the potential of geothermal technology to produce electricity and renewable heat in the UK.

It is believed that the plant at the United Downs Industrial Estate has the potential to supply up to 3MWe (Mega Watt electrical) of electricity, enough to power 3,000 homes.

Once drilling at the site is complete, water will be pumped from the deepest well at a temperature of approximately 190C.

This water will be fed through a heat exchanger at the surface and re-injected into the ground to pick up more heat from the rocks in a continuous cycle.

The extracted heat will be converted into electricity and supplied to the National Grid.

Geothermal technology is described as a “continuous” energy source because it does not suffer from peaks and troughs experienced by other sustainable power sources.

Continued here.