UK geothermal plant goes live: The Reengineer Monitor #62
AC warming impact, Irish solar rollout - and more!
Heating and cooling
A major UK geothermal energy project became operational yesterday, when the United Downs power plant in Cornwall was switched on after nearly two decades in development. It will access temperatures above 190C at a depth of 5km. The plant, run by Geothermal Energy Limited (GEL), will provide enough energy to heat 10,000 homes and will also become the UK’s first supplier of lithium. GEL plans to scale lithium output to support the production of 25,000 electric vehicle (EV) batteries per year, ten years from now.
German lawmakers have dropped a controversial renewable energy quota for new heating systems. The quota would have stipulated that all new heating systems be powered by 65% renewable energy. Incoming regulations will allow the ongoing installation of oil and gas boilers and there will be a gradual increase in requirements for green or renewable energy sources in the coming years.
