🌍 Geothermal Energy

• Dr Kieran Mullan highlighted the potential benefits of deep geothermal energy for the UK, emphasizing its role in energy security and decarbonisation.
• The all-party parliamentary group on deep geothermal, supported by the Association for Renewable Energy and Clean Technology, is advocating for the technology.
• Deep geothermal remains underutilised in the UK, despite its capability to provide reliable, renewable heat and power, and could significantly contribute to decarbonising the heating sector.
• The technology involves tapping into hot water underground, similar to historical uses like Roman baths, but without the need for fracking.
• Environmental groups such as Greenpeace and Friends of the Earth support deep geothermal due to its minimal land use compared to solar and wind energy.
• Several MPs, including Jayne Kirkham and Perran Moon, expressed support for geothermal and suggested its inclusion in the government’s clean power plan and the need for planning reforms to accelerate deployment.
• Despite some progress, such as the UK’s first operational deep geothermal plant at the Eden Project and projects by Geothermal Engineering Ltd, the UK lacks a comprehensive government strategy to support the industry, unlike more advanced countries in Europe.
• The British Geological Survey was acknowledged for its expertise in geothermal potential, which could be instrumental in further development.
• Rachael Maskell mentioned York’s potential to use geothermal energy to heat homes, stressing the need for government support and better local understanding.
• Dr Mullan proposed a specific programme under the public sector decarbonisation scheme to support initial deep geothermal projects, potentially focusing on NHS hospitals which could bundle investment opportunities.
• Minister Miatta Fahnbulleh acknowledged the potential of geothermal energy and its role in reducing reliance on fossil fuels and creating jobs, particularly in the oil, gas, and coal sectors.
• The Minister mentioned that geothermal projects are already financially supported by the government, and future strategies would be considered in line with the broader warm homes plan.
• The development of a market regulatory framework and consultation on heat network zoning are planned to facilitate the growth of heat networks, which are seen as crucial for geothermal potential.
• The government is working on a costs research project related to geothermal, set to be published in the year, and is committed to engaging with industry to refine this before release.
• Great British Energy is confirmed to have geothermal within its scope, indicating government interest in exploring all clean energy opportunities.

The transcript of the session on geothermal energy shows a high level of agreement and collaboration among participants. Multiple members from different constituencies and parties speak positively about the benefits and potential of geothermal energy. The primary speaker, Dr Kieran Mullan, introduces the topic and emphasizes the need for governmental support to harness geothermal energy, which is met with supportive responses from other members of Parliament. For example, Jayne Kirkham, Perran Moon, James Naish, and Rachael Maskell all express agreement and add to the discussion with points supporting geothermal energy’s potential and need for government action.

The Minister of State, Miatta Fahnbulleh, also reinforces the positive stance by recognizing the potential of geothermal energy and committing the government to further exploration and support. This is evidenced by her statement, ‘I agree that geothermal energy represents an important opportunity…It has the potential to deliver clean and secure energy and heat, reducing our reliance on fossil fuel markets.’ Although there are mentions of challenges such as cost and viability, these are presented as hurdles to overcome rather than points of disagreement.

The session demonstrates a collective effort towards a common goal, with no significant opposition or dissent noted. The interventions from the floor are constructive, with members seeking clarification or suggesting additional steps rather than contradicting the main thrust of the discussion. The Minister’s response, while outlining areas where further work is needed, does not challenge the overall agreement on the importance of geothermal energy but instead provides a plan to address the issues.

Given the unanimous support for geothermal energy and the absence of any strong disagreement, the session is given a rating of 1 on the scale of disagreement, indicating minimal disagreement within the session.