Ecotricity is bringing geothermal power to the UK

Stroud-based Ecotricity has partnered with Geothermal Engineering Limited to power homes across the country with renewable energy, with their agreement authorising the production and sale of geothermal electricity in the UK for the first time.

The partnership will see a minimum of 3MW of base-load energy – which is enough to power a whopping 10,000 homes per year – produced by a new power plant, based on the United Downs in Cornwall, and distributed through the National Grid.

As a constant source of renewable energy, the geothermal plant will create steam to fuel homes across the country – and could eventually fulfil up to 10 per cent of the UK’s energy needs.

Plus, exciting plans for a geothermally heated biome, which will be used to mature and distil sustainable rum, have also been submitted.

Dale Vince, founder of Ecotricity, said: ‘Geothermal is a really exciting form of energy that is currently untapped in the UK. We’re pleased to be part of this project and to add the power to our customer’s energy mix. It has a big role to play in our plans to decarbonise the country.’

It is hoped that the new power plant will be fully operational by 2022, with Ecotricity agreeing a 10-year PPA (Power Purchase Agreement) for energy generated at the site.

For more information, visit ecotricity.co.uk.

By Annabel Lammas

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Thursday 07 January 2021