FIRMS APPEAL FOR GOVERNMENT HELP TO HEAT 4,000 CITY HOMES
Project needs Whitehall support to be viable
TWO companies have teamed up to deliver a geothermal heat project that could protect thousands of families from rocketing gas prices – if government support is secured.
Igas has joined forces with energy firm SSE for the development of the district heat network (DHN) in Stoke-on-trent over the next 12 months.
Earlier this year, Igas subsidiary GT Energy secured renewed planning permision for two 4,000-metre boreholes on the former Greenhouse 2000 site in Etruria, which could provide renewable heat for up to 4,000 homes in the area via a DHN.
Stoke-on-trent City Council has been working on the DHN – made up of underground water pipes which transfer heat to homes and businesses – since securing £19.75 million of government funding in 2014.
While Igas is willing to pay for the drilling of the geothermal well, the company says it needs the government to provide a downstream pricing guarantee to make the project viable.
The government’s Renewable Heat Incentive scheme closed to new applicants in March, and covidrelated delays meant the Etruria project missed the deadline.
Local politicians have joined Igas in calling for a replacement scheme.
Giles Newton, head of business development for SSE Energy Solutions, said: “We’re delighted to announce our partnership with GT
Energy which will help us to fully explore the feasibility of providing heat offtake from their future geothermal project in the Stoke-ontrent area.
“We have proven expertise in the sector, with our 19 existing UK heat network sites, and we believe that geothermally sourced energy will play a vital role in decarbonising heat.
“We look forward to developing the project with GT Energy over the next 12 months.”
Stephen Bowler, Igas CEO, added: “We are delighted to be working with SSE as we seek to deliver this flagship renewable project for the city of Stoke-on-trent.
“SSE is leading the way in developing the low-carbon assets and infrastructure required for the UK to reach its target of net zero emissions by 2050.
“We are also working closely with other energy providers on a number of district heat networks in other cities.”
The city council’s DHN, which will initially cover Stoke, Hanley and Etruria, was originally due to be operational by 2019, but the project has been beset with delays.
It is not dependent on the Etruria geothermal plant, as heat for the network will be provided by gas boilers to begin with.
Even without the geothermal plant, the DHN should still offer customers savings through greater efficiency over individual heating systems.
Cabinet members at the city council are due to receive an update on the DHN project, and agree on the next steps, at a forthcoming meeting.
Stoke-on-trent Central MP Jo Gideon, left, recently called for government backing for the project during a parliamentary debate. She said the ‘exciting project’ could be ‘weeks away from starting with the proper government support’.
The city council has not responded to a request for a comment.