ALPHAXIOMS Geothermal News & Energy Research

The United Downs project near Redruth, Cornwall is set to make history as the UK’s first integrated deep geothermal power and heat project. This week, Geothermal Engineering, the team behind the project, announced securing £15m in funding to bring their vision to life . (image source:cornwal) The funding, which includes £12m from Kerogen Capital and £3m from Thrive Renewables, will go towards developing the United Downs project, with the goal of providing up to 10MWh of heat and 2MW of electricity by next year. The heat generated will be used to power a nearby social housing estate currently under development. But that's not all - Geothermal Engineering has big plans for the future. With the funding, the team will also prepare other sites for geothermal power development, with the aim of generating 25MW of electricity and 100MWh of renewable heat per year by 2028. “We believe geothermal in the UK has enormous potential to create a new industry, grow a domestic supply chain and driv...

Nuclear power has long been touted as one of the most promising sources of clean energy. With concerns about climate change, nuclear reactors have come to the forefront of energy production. Advanced nuclear reactors are one of the newest and most exciting developments in this field . (image source:unsplash.com) Advanced nuclear reactors use technology that is significantly different from traditional nuclear reactors. While traditional reactors use water to cool the reactor core, advanced reactors use a variety of cooling methods, such as molten salt, liquid metal, or gas. This allows for more efficient energy production and greater safety. One type of advanced reactor is the Small Modular Reactor (SMR). These reactors are smaller than traditional reactors, making them more affordable and easier to construct. SMRs also have greater flexibility, allowing them to be used in a variety of settings, such as remote locations or industrial facilities. Another type of advanced reactor is the H...

Dow has partnered with X-energy under the Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program (ARDP) Cooperative Agreement with the US Department of Energy (DOE) to install their Xe-100 high-temperature gas-cooled reactor (HTGR) plant at one of Dow's sites on the US Gulf Coast. (image source:unsplash.com) This collaboration aims to provide safe, reliable, and low-carbon power and steam to the site within this decade. The Joint Development Agreement (JDA) includes up to $50 million in engineering work, with half of it to be funded by Dow and the other half eligible for funding through ARDP. The JDA also involves the preparation and submission of a Construction Permit application to the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). Dow's Chairman and CEO, Jim Fitterling, stated that the use of X-energy's nuclear technology will enable Dow to reduce its carbon emissions and deliver lower-carbon footprint products to its customers and society. The parties expect to finalize site selection in 2023...