Tuesday, July 7, 2015

United Kingdom:

North East Scotland to Become Leader in Geothermal Heating (Scotsman)

Scotland's north-east could become a world leader in environmentally-friendly heating thanks to its abundance of granite. The igneous rock has historically been widely used across the region for building everything from bridges to mansions. And now, the hot water which naturally flows through the rock deep underground could be used to provide heat for an entire town.

The Hill of Banchory Geothermal Energy Project will see surveys undertaken at three locations in Banchory, Aberdeenshire, by Aberdeen University and the University of Glasgow. A team of geologists plan to identify hotspots where groundwater is naturally heated by the granite which could be extracted using a drill rig and pumped to local homes. And, if the research proves successful, the heat could be harnessed through a distribution network across the entire area. A positive result could also help the launch of similar projects across the wider region and turn the north-east into a geothermal goldmine.

The project is a joint venture between Jigsaw Energy, Hobesco, Cluff Geothermal Ltd, the British Geological Survey, the universities, Town Rock Energy, and Ramboll.

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