News
February 2018
Jubliee pool geothermal drilling begins
The first stage of exciting plans to heat a section of Jubilee Pool in Penzance using geothermal energy has begun. Drilling of a 1.4km deep geothermal well has started which will enable visitors to enjoy bathing in waters of around 35°C in a section of the pool. It will become the first facility of its kind in the country to be heated using geothermal energy.
The new heated section, which will open to the public in the summer of 2019, will lead the way in showing how geothermal technology can be utilised across the UK. The project is being undertaken by Geothermal Engineering Ltd (GEL) after securing funding from the European Regional Development Fund. GEL has secured a licence from Geon Energy, a joint venture company set up by Arup and GEL for some of the technology used in the project.
Geon Energy has developed the technology which enables the delivery of an efficient, renewable and sustainable heating supply. The innovative process involves drilling a geothermal well to a depth of 1.4km and drawing up water that has been heated by the surrounding ground using a small pump. The heat is then transferred to water in adjacent pipes which flow into the pool.
Ryan Law, MD of GEL said
“The use of geothermal energy significantly reduces emissions of greenhouse gases associated with the supply of heat and we hope that the learning and expertise gained from this ground-breaking project will be exported elsewhere, giving Cornwall the chance to be a leader in geothermal technology and installation.”
Dr. Matthew Free, Director, Arup said:
“We have been looking at many possibilities for generating geothermal heat and are pleased that the first operational project will be in Cornwall where we carried out a highly successful trial project two years ago. Not only will the well deliver heat cost effectively and with practically zero carbon emissions, it should prove an attractive idea for the local community and for visitors – why go to Iceland, Japan or New Zealand to experience water warmed from deep underground? The resulting economic benefits to Penzance should be significant.”
Martin Nixon, from Friends of Jubilee Pool said:
“Since my brother Charles first suggested this fantastic idea over seven years ago, it’s been very exciting to see it gain traction and now, at last, become closer to reality. I believe this will be brilliant in raising the profile of the town”.
Cornelius Olivier, Cornwall Councillor for Penzanze Central said:
“It’s great to see investment in Green Technology anywhere in Cornwall but especially when it is for a facility that is so valued by the people of Penzance.”
September 2017
Scotland’s first deep geothermal district heating network
given Scottish Government backing
Ross Developments & Renewables Ltd (RDRL) announces that the Scottish Government has allocated £1.8m of grant funding to support the creation of Scotland’s first low carbon, renewable deep geothermal district heating network at The HALO Kilmarnock development in the West of Scotland.
Ken Ross, CEO of RDRL, one of the development partners for the project, said:
“We are delighted to acknowledge the support and financial backing we have received from the Scottish Government through the Government’s Low Carbon Infrastructure Programme and the European Regional Development Fund for Scotland’s first deep (2 kilometres) geothermal district heating network which we are installing at the HALO Kilmarnock.”
The delivery of heat to the network will be from a deep geothermal single well (DGSW) which has been developed by Geon Energy Ltd – a joint venture between Geothermal Engineering Ltd and Arup. The DGSW is a single geothermal well that is drilled to a depth of 2km. Water heated by the surrounding rock is drawn up from depth using a small pump. The heat is then transferred to water in the heating system. (Click here to watch ‘how it works’ video).
This innovative technology will generate sustainable heat for the redevelopment of the former Johnnie Walker bottling plant in Kilmarnock. The HALO Kilmarnock community-led regeneration project will deliver a mixed-use development which will include an Innovation and Enterprise Centre, key worker and social rental housing, live work units, an urban park and a water based leisure facility. When completed over 1,800 jobs will be created on the site. Funding for the development overall has been received from the Scottish Government, UK Government, East Ayrshire Council, Diageo and private sector investors.
This deep geothermal district heating network will supply sustainable, renewable heat for the entire HALO development, including its key worker and social rental housing, addressing fuel poverty in the process by providing heat at below market price.
The lead developers will be The HALO Kilmarnock, Ltd in partnership with entrepreneur, Marie Macklin of Macklin Enterprise Partnerships, the Klin Group, Ross Developments & Renewables Ltd (RDRL), East Ayrshire Council and Diageo plc.
The £1.8m of grant funding support for the deep geothermal single well is being provided by the Scottish Government Low Carbon Infrastructure Transition Programme (LCITP) and was announced by the Scottish Government’s Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Jobs and Fair Work, Keith Brown MSP. The well is scheduled to be drilled and installed in the first half of 2018.
Ken Ross, OBE, CEO of RDRL, said:
“We need new technology to enable us to meet our climate change objectives, but it is also a major contributor towards Scotland and the UK’s innovation, jobs and growth agenda. The HALO Kilmarnock will be the first District Heating Network to employ a deep well solution to provide geothermal heat.
Dr Ryan Law, Director of Geon Energy Ltd, said:
“The use of geothermal energy represents a step change in producing low cost heat in a sustainable way. It’s tremendously exciting that Scotland is leading the way on this innovative approach to energy production.”
Dr Matthew Free, Director, Geon Energy Ltd, said:
“It is fantastic that the Scottish Government is giving such strong support to the development of sustainable low carbon energy projects in Scotland. There is a substantial geothermal resource beneath our feet and we look forward to developing the first deep geothermal system in Scotland.”