The Government has announced today £22million in funding for the UK’s first geothermal heat network, which will be built in Langarth Garden Village in Cornwall. The scheme will use circulating water to tap into the heat of the radiogenic granite 3.3 miles beneath the new town to supply clean energy for local homes and facilities, reducing both bills and reliance on fossil fuels. Overseen by Cornwall Council, it is expected that the geothermal network — the boreholes for which will be drilled down from the United Downs Industrial Site southwest of Truro — will come online in 2026.
Cornwall Council member David Harris said: “The Green Heat Network Fund award will contribute to the success of Langarth Garden Village and Cornwall Council’s mission to work with communities for a carbon neutral Cornwall, where everyone can start, live and age well.
“This heat network will be a concrete example to others around the United Kingdom of how local and national governments working together with the private sector can make a real difference to people’s lives.”
The Langarth Heat District Network is one of seven projects announced to have received a total of £91million in funding from the Government today — part of a larger, £288million package that will see further heat networks rolled out across the country.
Together, it is estimated that these projects will provide a cut to the UK’s carbon emissions equivalent to taking 5.6 million cars off the road for an entire year.
Alongside boosting the UK’s energy security and independence, the Langarth scheme is also expected to help grow the economy — and foster 100 new, skilled jobs locally.
Minister for Energy Efficiency and Green Finance, Martin Callanan, said: “The UK is a world leader when it comes to reducing carbon emissions — but we must continue to push the boundaries to reach our net zero goal.
“That’s why we are investing £288million into new innovations, like this project in Langarth where the UK’s first deep geothermal heat network will give thousands of homes, schools and a leisure centre access to cheaper, cleaner energy.
“It forms part of our energy revolution — creating hundreds of new jobs for our ever-expanding green economy.”
Jason Cheng is the CEO of Kerogen Capital, a major investor in the United Downs Deep Geothermal Power Project.
Mr Cheng said: “We are delighted by today’s news confirming the £22million Department for Energy Security and Net Zero Green Heat Network funding for the heat network at Langarth Garden Village in Cornwall.
“This will help deliver one of the UK’s largest zero-carbon heat networks, and the first supplied by geothermal energy from Geothermal Engineering Ltd (GEL)’s United Downs development.
“The network will benefit thousands of local residents and businesses, and save an estimated 5,000 tonnes per year of carbon dioxide.”
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Mr Cheng continued: “We are proud to be a major investor in GEL and United Downs, the UK’s most advanced geothermal power and heat development.
“This grant is an important step to realising the significant potential of geothermal in the UK, which can deliver secure, domestic, low carbon energy.
“Geothermal can play a critical role in decarbonising heat — which accounts for 50 percent of the UK’s energy demand — and facilitate the UK’s ambitious Net Zero and Energy Security goals.
“We are confident that our and GEL’s expertise will help drive this exciting sector forward.”
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