10,000 homes powered by Cornwall’s heat

UK’s new energy hub goes live

Ten thousand homes across the Duchy are to be powered by the Earth's heat.

After 20 years of work and £50 million in funding, the landmark United Downs plant near Redruth and Truro has begun commercial operations.

This pioneering facility is set to provide new clean, renewable electricity that doesn’t rely on the British weather, opening up exciting opportunities for the future.

The project has already secured a long-term deal with Octopus Energy to deliver this "always-on" power directly to British homes.

Here’s a breakdown of how it captures energy from deep underground:

1. The facility uses multiple massive industrial-sized drills to reach roughly 3 miles underground
2. At that depth, the Earth’s natural heat warms the surrounding granite rocks to scorching temperatures
3. Water is pumped down, superheated by the granite, and then brought back to the surface
4. This high-pressure steam drives the turbines that create your electricity

The benefits don't stop at electricity. The salty briny water extracted from the depths is rich in lithium—a key material used for making electric car batteries.

The team behind this (Geothermal Engineering Ltd) has already confirmed that two more sites in Cornwall are in the works.

Their goal is to eventually produce enough lithium for 250,000 electric cars a year - firmly establishing Cornwall as the UK’s "Green Mining" capital.