Cornwall Positions Itself at the Heart of the UK’s Geothermal Future with UK FORGE Initiative
January 9, 2026
By: Robert Buluma
Cornwall is emerging as the focal point of the United Kingdom’s geothermal ambitions, following the launch of the UK FORGE (Frontier Observatory for Research in Geothermal Energy) initiative,a bold proposal designed to unlock the nation’s deep geothermal potential and catalyze large-scale investment in the sector.
Proposed by Cornwall Trade and Investment, UK FORGE aims to bring together industry players, energy buyers, researchers, and government stakeholders to develop a robust, investable business case for geothermal energy in the UK. The initiative was officially launched on December 19, 2025, at Eden Geothermal, one of the country’s most advanced geothermal sites, signaling Cornwall’s intent to lead the geothermal transition.
A Unified Push for Deep Geothermal Energy
The UK FORGE proposal has already garnered strong political and industry support. MPs Perran Moon, Jayne Kirkham, and Noah Law attended the launch, alongside representatives from multiple industrial sectors, reflecting growing cross-party and cross-industry recognition of geothermal energy’s strategic value.
At the heart of the initiative is a desire to replicate and adapt transformative innovations from the United States, where advances in drilling techniques and reservoir engineering have dramatically reduced costs, shortened drilling timelines, and increased energy output from deep geothermal wells.
>“I truly believe geothermal offers a major opportunity for Cornwall and the wider UK,” said Perran Moon, MP for Camborne, Redruth, and Hayle.
> “With Cornwall's expertise and experience, combined with advancements in the US, there is genuine potential to grow this industry. Geothermal could create high-quality local jobs and help address rising energy demands.”
Geothermal’s Strategic Role in the UK Energy Mix
Geothermal energy offers a rare combination of attributes increasingly critical to the UK energy system:
24/7 baseload renewable power
Low-carbon heat for buildings and industry
Compatibility with lithium extraction from geothermal brines
Minimal land footprint
Studies indicate that at depths of around 4.5 kilometers, geothermal resources in the UK could support over 2 GW of power generation enough to supply approximately 6 million homes. This scalability positions geothermal as a compelling solution to meet surging electricity demand, particularly from AI infrastructure and data centers, which require constant, reliable power.
Learning from U.S. Breakthroughs
Historically, deep geothermal projects in the UK have struggled with high costs, long drilling durations, and modest energy yields. At sites such as Eden Geothermal and United Downs, drilling to depths of around 3.5 km took nearly 100 days, significantly impacting project economics.
However, the global geothermal landscape is changing rapidly.
In the United States, companies like Fervo Energy have demonstrated what is now possible with modern drilling and subsurface technologies,successfully drilling to 4.8 km in just 16 days in 2025. These breakthroughs are reshaping the commercial viability of deep geothermal worldwide.
Gus Grand, CEO of Eden Geothermal, emphasized this shift:
>“Since 2023, we've been using geothermal energy to heat the Biomes, Growing Point plant nursery, education center, and offices. Our 5.3 km well was the first deep geothermal well activated in the UK since 1986. The significant progress in the US greatly enhances the commercial prospects of deep geothermal energy here in the UK.”
Cornwall: The Natural Launchpad
Cornwall already hosts the UK’s most advanced deep geothermal projects, supported by decades of geological expertise and a strong local skills base. Beyond Cornwall, both the South West and North East of England are recognized as having substantial geothermal potential, offering opportunities for regional energy resilience and economic regeneration.
The UK FORGE initiative seeks not only to advance technology but also to underpin research, policy alignment, and investor confidence, laying the groundwork for geothermal to move from pilot projects to commercial-scale deployment.
A Turning Point for UK Geothermal
By aligning proven international innovations with local expertise, UK FORGE represents a potential turning point for geothermal energy in the UK. If successful, it could transform deep geothermal from a niche opportunity into a **cornerstone of the UK’s clean, secure, and domestically sourced energy future,with Cornwall firmly at the helm.
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