Carbon News

Friday 15 May 2009

David Cameron said the geothermal sector needs a kick-start to attract investors

Tory leader David Cameron has pledged support for deep geothermal energy projects that could bring jobs to mining areas in Cornwall, Yorkshire and the North East.

Mr Cameron was visiting Cornwall yesterday to find out about the potential for so-called "heat mining", which experts believe could offer 10% of the country's energy needs.

The Opposition leader said that if his Party took office after the forthcoming election, he would provide "generous incentives" to get deep geothermal technology going in this country.

The UK already boasts world-leading expertise in the field, contributing to international efforts to bring the technology to a commercial footing.

Cornwall is set to host a 3MW demonstration project that could pave the way for a series of 50MW commercial-scale geothermal power stations in suitable areas across the country.

Mr Cameron said: "We will introduce incentives to kick-start investment in this technology, creating green technology jobs and generating low carbon electricity for the UK."

Technology

Deep geothermal energy projects involve drilling down to around 5km below ground level, where granite rocks are hot enough to heat water to 200 degrees centigrade. Water is then pumped down into the rocks, before returning to the surface as steam that can drive a steam turbine to generate electricity.

Still in its infancy, the technology is most proven where there are already underground hot water reservoirs in the form of natural aquifers - but these rock formations are not common in the UK.

But, modern engineered geothermal systems (EGS) mean natural aquifers are not needed - with the right drilling, high-pressure water can be used to force open cracks in the rock to create space for artificial reservoirs to heat water for energy generation.

Experts believe geothermal power stations could provide valuable "baseload" electricity, since they operate round the clock with little down-time.

Developers of the Cornwall project, EGS Energy, say the plants can be as much as 70% efficient, using up to 30% of the energy generated to drive the system.

"Catch-up"

Geothermal projects are already eligible for double subsidies under the government's Renewables Obligation system, but Mr Cameron said that with a working geothermal plant already operating at Landau in Germany, Britain "needs to play catch-up".

The Conservatives' leader promised the fledgling geothermal industry the "shot in the arm it needs to get going", both through the ROC system and by offering guaranteed electricity prices for small-scale projects.

This would effectively follow along similar lines to the feed-in tariffs for renewable electricity projects below 5MW in scale, currently being devised by the Department of Energy and Climate Change for introduction in April 2010.

Feed-in tariffs for renewable heat are not expected to be introduced before April 2011.