‘Magic beneath the surface’: pioneering geothermal plant launched in Cornwall
Why it matters: This project demonstrates the potential of geothermal energy and domestic lithium extraction to reduce reliance on fossil fuels and foreign supply chains, accelerating the transition to a sustainable energy future and boosting local economies.
- Geothermal Engineering Ltd (GEL) has begun feeding electricity to the National Grid and extracting lithium, marking a significant step towards renewable energy and domestic lithium production.
- The UK Government welcomes the plant as a way of bolstering energy security, while Cornwall residents anticipate an economic boost and celebrate their mining heritage.
- The plant uses a relatively simple process of pumping hot water from deep underground to drive a turbine and extract lithium, then re-injecting the cooled water to recharge the geothermal reservoir, demonstrating a closed-loop system.
Geothermal Engineering Ltd (GEL) has launched the UK's first geothermal power and lithium extraction plant in Cornwall, tapping into underground heat to generate electricity for 10,000 homes and extract lithium for 250,000 electric vehicles annually within a decade. The project, nearly 20 years in the making, is hailed by the government and locals as a boost for energy independence and the regional economy.
