The £8.3 million underground observatory will enhance the UK’s knowledge on the clean energy required to decarbonise heating

BGS, the UK’s provider of geoscientific data and expertise, officially opened the UK Geoenergy Observatory in Cheshire on Tuesday 8 October 2024. The groundbreaking £8.3 million facility delivers unique research infrastructure that will help the UK explore the potential of geothermal energy to decarbonise the energy used for heating its homes and businesses, which is a critical step in tackling climate change.

The underground facility, located in Thornton Science Park, provides researchers and industry with access to at-scale experimental infrastructure. The facilities are needed to optimise and de-risk a range of subsurface energy storage systems, which will help to develop technologies related to utilising geothermal energy.

Heating and cooling of homes and businesses account for over a quarter of the UK’s carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. Geothermal energy has the potential to help the UK meet its net zero objectives as an ultra-low-carbon source of energy.

Geothermal energy already delivers environmental, economic and technical advantages in countries with similar geology to the UK, such as the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany. The UK currently uses only a small fraction of its geothermal heat resources, accounting for approximately 0.3 per cent of the UK’s annual heat demand. The Cheshire Observatory offers unparalleled opportunities to explore the potential of geothermal energy, including other relevant technologies such as hydrogen storage and CO2 storage. The facility boasts a unique research infrastructure, providing access to:

• boreholes that can be used to circulate heated and cooled water
• opportunities to investigate the effect of thermal energy storage and extraction
• access to samples of groundwater and drill core for off-site laboratory investigations
• arrays of sensors capable of monitoring changes in subsurface pressure, temperature, water chemistry and physical and mechanical rock properties
• data freely available on the UK Geoenergy Observatories website 

Dr Karen Hanghøj, director, BGS:
"We are thrilled to unveil the UK Geoenergy Observatory in Cheshire, a world-class science and research facility for scientists and innovators working in geothermal heat and subsurface energy storage. The observatory will foster collaboration among researchers and industry experts, enabling us to address key challenges related to decarbonisation and generate the robust scientific evidence needed to inform future energy strategies and regulatory frameworks.

The observatory will be available to the whole of the UK science community for research, innovation and training activities. We thank our partners for their invaluable support in bringing this project to fruition and look forward to the innovative research that will emerge from the observatory."

Louise Heathwaite, executive chair, Natural Environment Research Council (NERC):
"NERC is dedicated to supporting research that not only advances scientific knowledge but also delivers tangible benefits to society. The UK Geoenergy Observatory in Cheshire embodies this mission and we look forward to the valuable insights and discoveries it will yield in the years to come to support the UK’s journey of decarbonisation."

Dave Grove, director, Ramboll:
"Over the last seven years, we have proudly worked alongside BGS on their vision to create the UK Geoenergy Observatory. As their lead designer, our team has delivered remarkable feats of engineering, including the design of 100 m boreholes that ensured advanced precision science and monitoring equipment that could reach unprecedented depths below the Earth’s surface.

This observatory not only supports a world-class geoenergy research site, but also plays a crucial role in advancing our efforts towards decarbonisation. We are excited to see the geoscientific discoveries and energy innovations that will emerge from this world-class facility to move the UK towards a low-carbon economy."

KeyFacts Energy: Geothermal news   l   KeyFacts Energy Industry Directory: British Geological Survey