The UK’s first system drawing heat from deep underground to provide low-cost heating for nearly 4,000 homes is one of seven projects backed by government funding, according to a statement.
The Langarth Deep Geothermal Heat Network will involve drilling to a depth of 5,275 metres to extract the heat from granite rocks beneath the United Downs Industrial Site in Cornwall.
It is one of seven heating systems that will receive a share of £91m from the government’s Green Heat Network Fund.
Heat networks take heat found underground or use excess heat generated through manufacturing or waste management and supply heating and hot water to homes and businesses through a connected network.
Lord Callanan, Minister for Energy Efficiency and Green Finance, said: “The UK is a world leader when it comes to reducing carbon emissions – but we must continue to push the boundaries to reach our net zero goal.
“These innovative projects will not only benefit the communities they serve, by reducing emissions and providing low-cost heating that helps to drive down energy bills, but also support the nation’s push for greater energy security and independence. They form part of our energy revolution – creating hundreds of new jobs for our ever-expanding green economy.”
The Green Heat Network Fund (GHNF) is a £288m scheme that opened in March 2022 to public, private and third sector applicants in England and is anticipated to run to 2025. It replaced the Heat Networks Investment Project (HNIP) scheme which closed for applications in January 2022.
In contrast to the HNIP scheme, the GHNF scheme will only fund heat network projects where there is a low-carbon heat source.
A statement has said that the government funding is to pave the way for low-carbon technologies, like air source heat pumps, which extract heat from the air, solar and geothermal energy, to be delivered at scale and established as a central source of energy in this country.
Ken Hunnisett, programme director for Triple Point Heat Networks Investment Management, delivery partner for the GHNF and HNIP, added: “Continuing the legacy of the first GHNF projects to be announced in December, over £91m more targeted support has been announced from the fund today to deliver low carbon heating across the country. From Cornwall to London, Reading to Rotherham, funding announced today will go far to help us reach our net zero ambitions and provide clean heating across residential and commercial buildings.
“We are excited to work with the teams in each of these locations to deliver these new heating infrastructure projects to help them deliver on their green goals and make a real difference to how we heat our buildings.”