UK Geothermal Plant Powers 10,000 Homes with Renewable Energy

Published: 26 February 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online

The United Kingdom is set to launch its first-ever geothermal power plant, marking a significant step in renewable energy production. Located in Cornwall, the plant will harness the Earth’s heat to generate electricity for 10,000 homes while also providing the nation’s first domestic supply of lithium, a critical mineral for green technology.

After nearly two decades of planning and development, Geothermal Engineering Ltd (GEL) has drilled the deepest onshore well in the UK to access water heated to nearly 200°C from three miles below the surface. This water will circulate through fractures in granite rock, driving turbines to produce electricity. Granite’s high thermal conductivity makes it ideal for this type of energy generation.

Dr. Monaghan, head of geothermal at the British Geological Survey (BGS), explained, “You drill deep boreholes into the ground, and then fractures within the granite rock are used to circulate the water that picks up the heat used for electricity production.”

Ryan Law, CEO of GEL, expressed the company’s excitement, emphasizing geothermal power’s importance for the UK. Unlike gas, geothermal energy avoids price fluctuations, and unlike wind or solar, it provides a constant, 24/7 power supply. The electricity generated at the United Downs site has been sold to Octopus Energy, which will deliver it through the national grid to homes across the UK.

“This project is a genuine game-changer. For the first time, we’re tapping into ‘always-on’ green power in the UK, providing a steady stream of clean, home-grown energy,” said an Octopus Energy spokesperson.

The plant will also be the UK’s first commercial source of lithium carbonate, extracted from the heated underground fluids. Initially, it will produce 100 tonnes of lithium annually, enough for 1,400 electric vehicle batteries. GEL plans to expand this output to 18,000 tonnes per year, supporting the growing demand for green technology in the UK. The government contributed £1.8m to the initial lithium extraction project.

While the initial investment of £50 million was high, supported by private investors and £15 million from the European Development Fund, experts say deep geothermal is technically feasible across other parts of the UK, including Scotland and the Northeast of England. Expansion remains limited by the high upfront costs, though shallow geothermal technologies, like ground source heat pumps, have been adopted in 30,000 UK homes, with councils and businesses increasingly exploring local applications.

Anne Murrell, head of industry body Geothermal UK, emphasized the sector’s potential, highlighting global interest from tech giants. “Data centres have major power needs, and companies like Google, Meta, and Microsoft are turning to geothermal to meet these demands sustainably,” she said. Surplus heat from data centres can even be reinjected underground, creating a closed-loop system for energy efficiency.

At the end of last year, the UK government appointed Lord Whitehead as the nation’s first geothermal minister, signaling a commitment to expand this renewable energy source. However, replicating the deep geothermal model remains challenging due to technical complexity and financial costs, though industry experts believe supportive government policy could encourage further investment.

Europe is moving faster in geothermal adoption; the Netherlands aims to heat 25% of homes using geothermal by 2050. With growing global investment in deep geothermal electricity—up 80% annually since 2018—the UK’s new project positions it within a rapidly evolving sector.

As the Cornish plant comes online, it represents not just a milestone for UK energy innovation but also a glimpse of the future of sustainable, “always-on” power that could reshape the nation’s approach to energy security and green technology.

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