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| Artists impression of the new Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre |
A pipe stretching nearly 1.2 miles into the ground could deliver heating from the earth to the new Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre (AECC) and nearby homes, a report has found.
A feasibility study revealed that a deep geothermal well would cost around £2.3 million to build and would save 22,170 tonnes of carbon emissions over its lifetime. The project – if it goes ahead – would use the skills of the region’s oil and gas industry to deliver and could become a major attraction at the AECC showcasing the benefits of deep geothermal energy.
Aberdeen City Council has said it is “willing to support” a bid to fund the scheme through the Scottish Government’s Geothermal Energy Challenge Fund, which funded the feasibility study.
The report, undertaken by a London-based consultancy Geothermal Engineering, the University of St Andrews and engineers Ove Arup, has proposed a “deep geothermal single well” (DGSW) system for the Rowett site.
Iain Stewart, professor of geoscience communication at Plymouth University and author of the report, said the AECC was “the best site in Scotland” for the project.
“It is considered that this unique ‘two-for-one’ demonstrator opportunity at the AECC will be the perfect opportunity to showcase deep geothermal to the local oil and gas industry – highlighting crossover and supply chain opportunities – and also educate the public, school children and university researchers on the potential for deep subsurface projects.
“In that context, it is considered to be the best site in Scotland for the development of a ‘deep geothermal exhibition’ aimed at improving the public’s visibility of the subsurface.
“This is a great chance to move decarbonized heat supply from the earth from academic speculation to commercial reality.”
