The United Kingdom has begun generating electricity from its first geothermal power plant in Cornwall, marking a resurgence in the technology worldwide. The United Downs facility produces 3 megawatts while extracting lithium for batteries. This development is driven by advances in drilling and rising demand for reliable renewable energy.
The United Downs geothermal plant in Cornwall represents a milestone for the UK, tapping into hot granite to produce both electricity and lithium. Operational since recently connecting to the grid, it generates 3 megawatts of power and initially yields 100 tonnes of lithium carbonate annually, with plans to scale to 2000 tonnes. The lithium is extracted using chemically coated plastic beads before the geothermal fluid is reinjected to sustain reservoir pressure.
Geothermal Engineering Ltd., led by CEO Ryan Law, developed the site after drilling two wells in 2018 and 2019 to depths of 2393 metres and 5275 metres, where water reaches 190°C due to radioactive decay. Law described the global trend as a 'renaissance,' noting activity in the US and Europe fueled by demand for 24/7 renewable energy, particularly from data centres. The project secured £20 million in grants, largely from the European Union, and £30 million in private equity, boosted by lithium revenues that could exceed electricity income tenfold.
Historically, geothermal has powered electricity in places like Iceland and Kenya but accounts for less than 1 per cent of global demand. The International Energy Agency projects it could supply up to 15 per cent of electricity growth through 2050. In the EU, countries such as Hungary, Poland, and France offer promising sites, potentially developing 43 billion watts at under €100 per megawatt-hour, comparable to coal and gas.
Advancements from oil and gas, including enhanced geothermal systems, are expanding viability. Fervo Energy is constructing a 115-megawatt plant in Nevada for Google, using horizontal drilling and fracturing to reduce costs below $80 per megawatt-hour by 2027. In the US, the Department of Energy estimates 90 billion watts of capacity by mid-century, about 7 per cent of current levels. While a 2009 German project triggered a magnitude-2.7 earthquake, experts like Roland Horne of Stanford University assert such risks, along with water contamination, can be mitigated. Think tank analysts foresee geothermal playing a key role in future grids dominated by intermittent renewables.
