More renewable grants scrapped

Meanwhile, on the other side of the world, the Sydney Morning Herald reports that the Australian government has scrapped a multi million grant program for geothermal drilling projects. Unable to attract private investors, the Government is closing the drilling grants and putting the $126 million into another emerging renewable energy program. The set back means 4 companies have scrapped drilling operations, leaving just one company moving onto the second round of promised grants. The new fund will target solar, ocean and other geothermal technologies. photo credit: keith williamson

Newcastle - come on in, the waters lovely.

Earlier this week, scientists drilling a geo-thermal bore in Newcastle struck 'gold'.

As we reported last year, they were drilling on the site of the former Newcastle Brewery, hoping to tap into a plentiful geo-thermal resource, that could eventually power the entire city.

As they watched steam rush to the surface after drilling 2km (6,562ft), other scientists were getting equally excited about the fossil records that had been bought back to the surface during the drilling.

Samples show early indications that the area was once a Bahama like paradise.

The 300-million year old rocks were extracted from 100ft below the surface during the drilling project which cost £900,000.

The team is aiming to use green geo-thermal energy to heat and power the immediate city centre.

photo credit: joanna penn

Geothermal may get subsidy boost

Bloomberg reports that Geothermal energy may get a welcome boost from increased subsidies as Government officials begin to realise the enormous potential it offers.

Unlike wind and solar that require nature to 'co-operate'. Geothermal is very stable and so provides a very sound platform on which to build reliable alternative power sources.

Presently, the UK has just one operating deep geothermal well, which provides heating to buildings in Southampton and long the south coast.

Devon and Cornwall are considered 'hot spots' for geothermal energy. The wells are drilled to a depth of around 2 miles deep, where they tap into underground steam or hot water.

Britain already has the drilling expertise to complete the bore holes but the industry fears that without increased subsidies, investors may move abroad to larger installations.

It's a tricky business - investors often also look for certain insulation from drilling risks before committing money to such projects.

photo credit: stephen nakatani

Geothermal projects alive and kicking

With the potential to generate 2% of the country's annual electricity (source renewable energy focus), it's no wonder the Government is keen to promote projects.

It's just awarded £1.1m to three UK geothermal projects, including £500,000 to Keele University to drill a 1200m borehole which will provide heat for a proposed sustainable campus complex.

And you thought geothermal power was boring....

photo credit: lydur skulason

There's a 'hole lot' going on in Newcastle

Spotted in the Journal Live....

A story about experts in Newcastle hoping to drill 2000 mtrs below the surface to tap into 'hot rocks' which could be used to provide green energy for the homes and businesses above.

Scientists hope to drill boreholes - 100 times the height of the Angel of the North - on the site of the former Scottish and Newcastle Brewery site after maps published by the British Geological Survey identified it as an area of geothermal potential.

They've already proved the worth of a 1km deep twin bore hole system by bringing to the surface water with a temperature of 40 degrees C.

Read more by clicking here.

photo credit: thomas ormston

UK Geothermal plant plans outlined for Cornwall.

News from New Energy Focus reached us that plans are afoot in Cornwall to develop the UK's first commercial scale geothermal power plant near Redruth...

"Geothermal Engineering Ltd - a privately-owned British company specialising in the proving and development of geothermal resources - outlined plans for the project near Redruth in Cornwall last week (October 12) and, subject to planning permission, the start date for drilling will be mid 2010, with the plant set to be commercially operational by 2013.

These plans came after the Eden Project spoke in June at the House of Lords of hopes to build a geothermal plant that would generate 3MW of power and "several" megawatts of heat energy".

The plans would involve drilling a 5km deep well where temperatures are expected to reach 170 degrees C. Water is pumped via a series of pipes down the well and across the hot rocks which heat the water, the resulting hot water or steam is then pumped back to the surface via the same well, where it is used to power turbines that can generate electricity as well as being a source of renewable heat.

Previous research has shown Cornwall has a suitable heat resource, which is trapped in the underground granite rock.

The plans make interesting reading and the expected electricity generation capability for the South-West of England is impressive. Please click here to read the full article, which includes a useful diagram of how the geothermal plant will work - good resource for those school homework projects!

photo credit: wolfiewolf