The site was also visited by Lord Teverson who came to see how heat naturally present underground could be used to produce clean, safe, renewable energy. Engineers at Rosemanowes demonstrated that water can be heated to 60 degrees using heat naturally present underground in Cornwall. 60 degrees Celcius is sufficient to provide a building with heating and hot tap water.
The project has been designed and managed by Geothermal Engineering Ltd (GEL), with funding assistance from the Department of Energy and Climate Change.
“We need a broad base of renewable energy in the UK and I am pleased to see that a deep geothermal heat project is finally producing energy” said Mr Davey. “This nascent sector could make a real contribution to renewable heat supply in the UK. I am glad that DECC have been able to support this project via the Energy Entrepreneurs Fund. I wish GEL success for future projects.”
Ryan Law, Managing Director Geothermal Engineering, added that geothermal energy could contribute significantly to the UK energy portfolio, offering both heat and power. The Rosemanowes project demonstrates that deep geothermal energy can be delivered in Cornwall and the company is looking forward to further development of geothermal projects in the region. Geothermal energy production in the UK has its roots in pioneering research first conducted at the Rosemanowes hot rocks project in the 1970s and 80s.
“Geothermal heat and energy has had too low a profile in all the debates about renewables” Lord Teverson said. “It is a technology has been left on the shelf here in the UK when we could have taken the lead many years ago. All that changes today. What we have is the start of a new energy revolution here in Cornwall.”
There are currently two sites in Cornwall with planning permission for geothermal plants and potential for sites in other parts of the UK.
For additional information:
Geothermal Engineering Ltd (GEL)
