Earth's heat to power 10k homes in renewable energy first for UK

9 hours ago

The UK's first geothermal power plant is set to go live in Cornwall, providing renewable electricity using hot water from underground.
The plant will generate electricity for 10,000 homes and supply lithium, a critical mineral for green technology.
Drilling three miles below the surface, the project taps into temperatures of nearly 200°C to produce electricity.
The project cost £50m, funded by private investors and the EU, and marks a significant step for geothermal energy in the UK.
Geothermal energy offers a constant, 'always-on' power source, unlike wind or solar, with no price fluctuations like gas.
The UK has potential for more geothermal projects, but high upfront costs and lack of supportive policies are barriers.
The plant will also extract lithium carbonate, supporting the production of electric batteries and meeting growing demand.
Geothermal energy is gaining global interest, with tech giants like Google and Microsoft exploring it for data centers.
The UK government has shown growing interest, appointing its first geothermal minister and funding lithium extraction.
Shallow geothermal projects, like ground source heat pumps, are expanding in the UK, with government grants available.

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