Guardbridge to front geothermal research

Project to explore feasibility of heating buildings using water from rocks underground

The award to the Guardbridge project has been made from the Scottish Government’s Geothermal Energy Challenge Fund, supported by the Low-Carbon Infrastructure Transition Programme, the first strategic intervention established under the new European Structural Funds programme.

Councillor John Wincott, sustainability champion for Fife Council, said: “Reliable, secure and affordable energy is important for Fife both for our communities and for business.

“Crucially, heat makes up over half the energy we use, so Fife Council is keen to support work to find local sources of renewable heat.

“Fife looks a good area for geothermal heat – that is basically hot, wet rocks – that could potentially supply the heat source to provide hot water and heating to local homes and businesses.”

St Andrews University is investing £25 million at the former paper mill at Guardbridge to generate power through clean biomass and pump hot water four miles underground to St Andrews to heat and cool its labs and residences.

The former paper mill at Guardbridge which now houses St Andrews University’s energy centre.

Councillor John Wincott, sustainability champion for Fife Council, says the local authority is keen to support work to find sources of renewable heat.