Energy will be produced from deep underground hot water reservoirs in the UK for the first time in almost 40 years on Monday at the Eden Project in Cornwall.
Water from a 4.9km (3-mile) deep well will heat a new plant nursery at the site, using a system installed by Eden Geothermal Ltd.
“This is a big moment for Eden Geothermal and renewables in the UK, but we’ve only just begun,” chief executive Gus Grand said.
“In the race to decarbonise, progress has been slow for heat technologies, behind electricity and transport,” he explained.
Eden Geothermal’s system includes a 4km insulated tube which is used to pump water at around 85C up from the well. A heat exchange system then sees cooler water sent back down.
“Geothermal energy, with its small surface impact, can be used in urban areas and for large institutions, factories, hospitals, universities and schools,” Grand continued.
“This project is a great demonstration, heating a whole rainforest and commercial nursery, with hopefully a distillery on the way.”
The geothermal plant will be the first to operate in the UK since 1986, after being built with £24mln worth of funding from local council, European and private grants by a partnership between Eden Project Limited, EGS Energy Limited and BESTEC (UK) Ltd.