Developer GT Energy has unveiled plans for what it claims is the largest commercial geothermal heating project in the UK.

The project in Manchester will drill two wells approximately 3000 m deep to tap into the Cheshire Basin, one of the UK’s largest geothermal resources located beneath the city.

The development in the Ardwick district of the city, along with a geothermal plant and a district heating network will supply the Oxford Road corridor with heat.

The company is now consulting with local residents and stakeholders on their views ahead of submitting a planning application to Manchester City Council in September.

“We believe that we can utilise [geothermal energy] in an economical and efficient way for the benefit of the citizens of Manchester,” says GT Energy’s CEO Padraig Hanly.

GT Energy already has a number of projects underway around the UK and Ireland, with planning permission granted for a geothermal electricity generation plant in a Dublin suburb.

The company says it has a further four projects that will be announced in coming months and hopes to develop some 500 MW of geothermal heat capacity overall.

The Manchester project will benefit from the government’s Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI), which pays generators for the renewable heat that they generate, and has been welcomed by Energy and Climate Change Minister Greg Barker.

“This is exactly the sort of innovative green project we want to see sprouting up across the country,” he commented.

For further information:
www.gtenergy.net/

Related stories:
Sainsbury’s digs deep to rollout geothermal heating to stores (20-Jul)
UK and Iceland sign pact on geothermal energy (31-May)

Article source: http://www.energyefficiencynews.com/i/5290/