UK's first deep geothermal electricity plant switches on in Cornwall

Geothermal Engineering Ltd's United Downs plant in Cornwall has been switched on and will generate continuous electricity from a well more than 5km deep while extracting lithium to produce battery-grade lithium carbonate.

The United Downs site in Cornwall, developed by Geothermal Engineering Ltd (GEL), has been switched on to generate electricity from heat deep underground and to extract lithium from the hot fluid brought to the surface. The project has been under development for several years and is described by GEL as using the country’s deepest well, more than three miles (5km) down. The plant is intended to produce continuous renewable power and to recover lithium dissolved in the high-temperature water. Company leaders said there are plans to expand the site and to develop two further geothermal projects in Cornwall. Key facts: - The United Downs project cost about £50m and uses a well more than 5km deep. - Water is drawn up at temperatures above 190C to drive turbines and generate electricity. - The first site will produce about three megawatts of power; GEL said three Cornwall projects could generate up to 10 megawatts. - Octopus Energy has a long-term deal to purchase at least three megawatts, which the company described as enough to power about 10,000 homes. - GEL said it will produce about 100 tonnes of lithium carbonate annually from the site starting this year, which the company said is enough for roughly 2,500 car batteries. - GEL’s CEO said there are plans to expand production and develop two more projects in Cornwall, which the company said could eventually supply lithium for a much larger number of vehicles. Summary: The plant combines around-the-clock geothermal electricity generation with on-site extraction of lithium from the hot fluid, and the company reports initial production of both power and battery-grade lithium carbonate beginning this year. GEL has announced plans to expand capacity in Cornwall through two further projects and to increase lithium output, while wider deployment across the UK was described by company officials as a longer-term possibility.