Monday, August 14, 2017

United Kingdom: Geothermal District Heating Scheme Would Use Disused Mines Below Glasgow

Plans for new £9m Geothermal Energy Research Field to be unveiled next month (insider.co.uk)

Brown areas indicate where mining is known to have taken place. Red areas show where mining is likely to have been at shallow depths. (Courtesy BGS)
Plans for a new Geothermal Energy Research Field in Glasgow will be unveiled next month.

The proposed £9m Glasgow Geothermal Energy Research Field will either site on the Clyde Gateway area in the east end of the city, or in Rutherglen and will focus on geothermal energy.

The site is one of two proposed in the £31 million UK Geoenergy Observatories Project led by The Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) and the British Geological Survey (BGS). The other project would be built in England.

Glasgow's research field aims to assess whether geothermal energy would be able to warm waters in the disused coal mines under the city which may be able to heat homes and businesses.

Professor John Luddon, executive director of the British Geological Survey said: "Realising the potential of geothermal energy in Clyde Gateway may create opportunities for the UK to lead the way in providing safe and sustainable energy for former mining communities around the world."