Geothermal Isn't Expensive: The Reservoir Always Has the Final Say Somewhere beneath a volcanic ridge, a drill bit is turning through rock that has not moved in two million years. It costs money every second it turns. And nobody on the surface — not the engineer, not the financier, not the minister who announced the megawatts — knows yet whether that well will produce steam or silence. That single moment explains almost everything people get wrong about geothermal energy. Geothermal is routinely described as expensive, slow, capital-hungry and haunted by drilling risk. Investors are reminded that tens of millions can disappear underground before a single megawatt reaches a grid. All of that is true. But it is not the whole truth. The uncomfortable question the industry keeps avoiding is this: is geothermal expensive, or is the way we develop geothermal making it expensive? Those are two completely different problems. One is geology. The other is us. Why Geothermal Refuses to Be...
Unlocking the UK’s Geothermal Future: A New Platform for Decarbonisation
By: Robert Buluma
The UK has just taken a bold step toward a cleaner energy future with the launch of the UK Geothermal Platform, an innovative government-funded initiative designed to highlight geothermal potential across the nation. Developed by the British Geological Survey (BGS) and funded by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ), this platform is set to become a game-changer in the race to net zero.
What is the UK Geothermal Platform?
At its core, the platform is an interactive map and data hub that brings together a wealth of geoscientific information—spanning national to local scales—about the geothermal resources lying beneath Britain’s surface. From shallow ground-source heat pumps to deep geothermal systems in granites, the tool allows decision makers, developers, and researchers to evaluate the geothermal potential of any area with ease.
Dr. Alison Monaghan, head of geothermal at BGS, emphasizes the significance of the platform: “For the first time, the UK Geothermal Platform makes a large volume of national-scale geothermal data and information available and digitally accessible.”
Four Key Geothermal Technologies
The platform provides an overview of the UK’s potential across four geothermal technologies:
- Shallow, vertical closed-loop systems (with ground-source heat pumps)
- Shallow open-loop systems (with ground-source heat pumps)
- Deep, hot sedimentary aquifers (hydrothermal)
- Deep, engineered geothermal systems in granites (petrothermal)
Remarkably, the data reveals that closed-loop systems could be deployed almost anywhere across Great Britain, subject to local planning constraints. For example, a single 150 m-deep system could supply up to 15,000 kWh of thermal energy per year—equivalent to the energy output of a typical gas boiler.
Why Does This Matter?
Heating and cooling remain among the biggest challenges in the UK’s energy transition. With geothermal energy, there’s an opportunity to retrofit existing towns, cities, and industrial sites or strategically embed geothermal technology into new developments from the start.
Consider the Liverpool–Manchester–Leeds–Sheffield growth corridor: the platform shows that this region could tap into multiple geothermal options, paving the way for more sustainable urban growth.
A Tool for Everyone
The openly accessible platform isn’t just for policymakers. Regulators, planners, researchers, and developers can all benefit. Its user-friendly explorer tool and integrated data from multiple organisations—including BGS, the Mining Remediation Authority, and the UK Onshore Geophysical Library—make it a comprehensive resource for understanding geothermal opportunities.
A Milestone for Net Zero
As the UK works toward its 2050 net zero target, tools like the Geothermal Platform provide the clarity and confidence needed to invest in sustainable energy solutions. By unlocking the heat beneath our feet, the UK is not only securing its energy future but also taking a meaningful step toward decarbonisation.
Related: Germany Maps 150+ Geothermal Energy Sites
The first release of the platform is just the beginning—marking a milestone moment where technology, science, and policy converge to pave the way for a more resilient, low-carbon future.
Source: British Geological Survey
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