GEAA submits written evidence to UK Parliament inquiry on geothermal

Earlier this year, the UK Parliament with the Environmental Audit Committee launched an inquiry into the role that geothermal technologies can play in the UK’s journey to net zero, as we reported. The Parliament invited submissions of written evidence to answer a series of questions as part of the inquiry. In response, the Geothermal Energy Advancement Association (GEAA) had just submitted written evidence that can be viewed at this link.

The written evidence submitted by the GEAA focuses on answering two of the questions as cited in the call for evidence document:

• What role can geothermal technologies take in the transition to net zero in the UK?
• What barriers (technological, regulatory, or otherwise) are there to deploying operational geothermal technologies in the UK?

The written advance highlights the value of geothermal in providing cost-competitive, low to zero carbon, baseload solutions to the UK’s heat demand. Recent innovations, such as closed-loop systems and technology to repurpose oil and gas wells, were also highlighted to emphasize the growing scope of geothermal systems that can possibly be exploited.

The GEAA cites several barriers to the deployment of geothermal technologies in the UK. Lack of awareness of geothermal potential was noted as causing limited investment in the industry. The association beseeches the UK Government to grant geothermal the same grants and subsidies that has been given to fossil fuels, wind, and solar sectors to enable its rapid advancement. The GEAA also calls for the establishment of a National Centre for Geothermal to avoid falling behind technological competitors.

Without any clearly defined UK regulator for geothermal heat and power, the GEAA is calling for urgent and fundamental change to the UK’s regulatory situation.

Source: UK Parliament