This morning the UK’s first geothermal power plant will be turned on at the United Downs site in Cornwall. The plant was constructed by Geothermal Engineering Ltd (GEL) and has been purchased by Octopus Energy who is set to use this plant to power an estimated 10,000 homes with electricity.
To achieve this GEL had to drill the UK’s deepest on-shore well 3 miles below the earths surface, where temperatures can reach nearly 200 degrees Celsius. This heat is then used to help drive turbines which generate renewable electricity which then is supplied to homes.
As well producing electricity the site will also be able to extract lithium which is used in the production of electric vehicle batteries.
The United Downs site demonstrates a massive step forward for renewable energy in the UK with GEL having two additional sites they plan to construct similar plants on.
