Geothermal Engineering Ltd. (GEL) has launched a tender for the supply of a unit to install and run an electrical submersible pump at the United Downs Deep Geothermal Project (UDDGP) in Cornwall. The ESP will be installed at a maximum depth of 700 m. Closing date for the tender is 9 February.
UDDGP is the first geothermal power plant in the UK. It is being funded by a mixture of public and private funds to include the European Regional Development Fund, Cornwall Council, and Thrive Renewables. The project’s objective is to produce power and heat from the hot granite rocks beneath Cornwall at the United Downs Industrial Site near Redruth.
Two deep, directional wells have been drilled successfully. At a depth of 5275 m, the production well is the deepest on UK soil. The injection well was drilled to 2393 m. Both wells have intersected the target Porthtowan fault zone, located approximately 800 m to the west of the site.
A binary cycle power plant will be used. Binary cycle plants allow cooler geothermal reservoirs to be used than is necessary for dry steam and flash steam plants. There will be no plumes of vapor and very little to see on the surface when the plant is finished.
The site for the project was selected in 2010, and funding was finalized in 2017. Cost is expected to be approximately £30 million.