The UK Department of Energy to provide US$ 10 million for exploratory work

Alexander Richter 22 Eki 2009

Reported from the UK, the country’s “Department of Energy and Climate Change low carbon investment fund will help companies carry out exploratory work needed to find viable sites for (geothermal) technology.

Energy and Climate Change Minister, Lord Hunt said: “Deep geothermal energy is an exciting and innovative technology that could provide clean, low carbon and renewable power and heat for the UK.

“We want to make sure that this energy resource can play a part in the future low carbon energy mix. Deep geothermal power from the South West of England alone could meet 2% of the UK’s annual electricity demand, potentially creating thousands of jobs in the building and running of new power plants.”

Many countries worldwide – including the US and Australia – are switching on to the potential for deep geothermal power to provide low carbon, non-intermittent energy. Power from deep geothermal would strengthen and diversify the UK’s energy mix and would lessen dependence on imported fossil fuels.

There is currently one geothermal energy station in the UK – the Southampton District Energy Scheme. The station uses hot water pumped from 1800m below ground as part of the city’s district heating network and has operated successfully for over 20 years, saving an estimated 11,000 tonnes of CO2 per year.

Projects in England, Scotland and Wales are eligible to bid to the fund. There will be £4 million available this year and £2 million next financial year.

Project bids will be assessed and managed by panel established by the Department of Energy and Climate Change. The closing date for bids for the first round of the fund will be 20 November 2009 with the successful projects to be announced shortly after that.”

Source: eGov Monitor