Cornwall Council is to receive £22m of government funding for the development of an underground heat network.
The UK's first heat network drawing heat from underground is being backed by government funding. The Langarth Deep Geothermal Heat Network, near Truro will be one of seven projects to share in £91m of funding from the government's Green Heat Network Fund.
The system, which draws heat from deep underground will provide low-cost heating for 3,800 homes and public facilities in the region. It is also predicted to create 100 new jobs in the Duchy. The Langarth Deep Geothermal Heat Network in Cornwall will involve drilling to a depth of 5,275 meters to extract heat from granite rocks beneath the United Downs Industrial Site.
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Heat networks take heat found underground or use excess heat generated through manufacturing or waste management, and supply heating and hot water to homes and businesses through a connected network, allowing them to ditch fossil fuel burning gas and oil boilers.
Lord Callanan, Minister for Energy Efficiency and Green Finance, said: "The UK is a world leader when it comes to reducing carbon emissions – but we must continue to push the boundaries to reach our net zero goal.
"These innovative projects will not only benefit the communities they serve, by reducing emissions and providing low-cost heating that helps to drive down energy bills, but also support the nation’s push for greater energy security and independence. They form part of our energy revolution – creating hundreds of new jobs for our ever-expanding green economy."
Among the projects to benefit from the latest round of funding are the development of a heat network in Goole, using excess heat generated by a local manufacturing plant to supply heating to local homes and businesses, creating 40 jobs. Plus the expansion of a heat network in East London to supply heating to two new developments around the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, serving around 500 new homes and 250 non-domestic premises.
The projects hope to boost the UK’s energy security and independence and help delivering on the government’s "commitment to grow the economy" – with the schemes expected to create hundreds of new, skilled jobs.
The Green Heat Network Fund (GHNF) opened in March 2022 to public, private and third sector applicants in England and is anticipated to run to 2025. It replaced the Heat Networks Investment Project (HNIP) scheme which closed for applications in January 2022.
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