Geothermal Energy Exploitation in the United Kingdom: A Study

This report delves into the potential of geothermal energy in the United Kingdom, exploring its resources, technologies, and applications. The study begins with an introduction to the background of geothermal energy, research questions, and the structure of the research, including a brief history of geothermal energy. A comprehensive literature review examines geothermal energy exploitation, technical potential, technologies, maintenance, efficiency, and its importance, including a comparison with other renewable energy sources. The report also covers the sustainable and environmental aspects, economics, and applications of geothermal energy, such as direct heating and electricity generation. The methodology chapter outlines the research hypothesis, data collection methods, and the types of questions used. The report then presents case studies and discussions, culminating in a conclusion that summarizes the findings. The report emphasizes the environmental benefits and potential for geothermal energy development in the UK, along with its impact on the water environment and classification. The report also includes figures, tables, and references, providing a detailed analysis of geothermal energy in the UK.

Declaration
Acknowledgement

Abstract
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List of figures
1. Inside the earth
2. Earth temperature
3. Geothermal Resources
4. World map showing the lithospheric plate boundaries, dots= active volcanoes
5. Hotpots in the world
6. GHP in the heating cycle
7. Open Loop Groundwater Heat pump Doublete
8. Geothermal energy heating and cooling
9. Geothermal energy data
10. Map of Global Goethermal Energy Power Plant (Think Geothermal energy, 2018).
11. Geothermal energy production
12. Importance of the right terminology
13. Geothermal Resources and Technologies
14. Energy Cost
15. Applications of geothermal energy
List of tables
1. Types of resources/Temperature range
2. 2004 product in the world renewable energy supply
3. Integrated data for expected world geothermal potential and actual production
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Table of Contents
Chapter 1...........................................................................................................................6
Introduction.......................................................................................................................6
1.1 Background of the study...............................................................................................6
1.2 Research Question........................................................................................................7
Figure 1. inside the earth (Utah Geological survey)............................................................7
Figure 1.2 Earth’s temperature (Jason M, 2009)................................................................8
1.3Structure of the research...............................................................................................8
[Old Oak common, TfL, 2019] Figure 1.3..........................................................................9
1.4Geothermal history......................................................................................................10
1.5 Research Hypothesis...................................................................................................10
1.6The aims and objectives...............................................................................................10
Chapter 2.........................................................................................................................11
Literature Review.............................................................................................................11
2.1 Geothermal energy exploitations.................................................................................11
2.1.2 Table 1. Types of resources......................................................................................11
Table 1. Geothermal resources (Source: White and Williams, 1975).................................11
Figure 2. Geothermal Resources (Source: US department energy)...................................12
2.1.3 Geothermal system...................................................................................................12
Figure 3. World map showing the lithospheric plate boundaries, dots= active volcanoes
(Source: Geological survey).............................................................................................13
2.2.4 Geothermal Hotspot on Earth..................................................................................14
Figure 4. Hotpots in the world (IPPCC, 2007)..................................................................14
2.2 Technical potential.....................................................................................................14
Figure 5. GHP in the heating cycle (Source: Oklahoma state university).........................15
2.3 Technologies and Maintenance..................................................................................15
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Figure 6. Geothermal energy heating and cooling (Bertani, 2006)...................................16
Figure 7. Open loop Groundwater Heat Pump Doublete (Omer, 2006..............................17
Table 2. 2004 product in the world renewable energy supply............................................18
Figure 8. Geothermal energy data....................................................................................19
2.3.1 Efficiency of geothermal energy..............................................................................19
2.4 Importance of geothermal energy...............................................................................19
Figure 9. importance of the right terminology..................................................................19
2.4.1 Geothermal Energy resources and technologies.......................................................20
Figure 10. Map of Global Geothermal Energy Power Plant (Think Geothermal energy,
2018)................................................................................................................................21
2.4.2 Geothermal energy surface Manifestation resources................................................21
Figure 11. Geothermal energy production........................................................................22
2.4.3 Geothermal Power Plant..........................................................................................22
2.4.4 types of geothermal power plants.............................................................................22
2.4.5 Energy Resource......................................................................................................22
2.4.6 Turbine....................................................................................................................22
2.4.6 Magma....................................................................................................................22
2.4.7 Geothermal Water....................................................................................................22
2.4.8 Steam.......................................................................................................................23
Figure 12. Geothermal resources and technologies..........................................................23
2.4.8 comparison of geothermal energy and renewable energy.........................................23
2.5 Sustainable and environmental...................................................................................23
2.5.1 Sustainable/ stable...................................................................................................24
2.5.2 Geothermal energy in today’s life............................................................................24
2.6 Economics of Geothermal energy...............................................................................24
Figure 13. energy cost......................................................................................................25
2.6.1 Advantages..............................................................................................................25
2.6.2 pollution Free..........................................................................................................25
2.6.3 Economic Benefits...................................................................................................25
2.6.4 Disadvantages of Geothermal Energy......................................................................26
2.6.5 Transportation.........................................................................................................26
2.6.6 Possibility of running out of steam...........................................................................26
2.6.7 Toxic Gases.............................................................................................................26
2.7. Geothermal Energy Application.................................................................................26
Figure 14 Application of Geothermal energy(Namarata B, 2015).....................................27
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2.7.1 Direct Heating.........................................................................................................27
2.7.2 Electricity Generations............................................................................................28
2.7.3 Heat pumps and Space heating................................................................................28
2.7.4 Greenhouse Heating................................................................................................29
2.7.5 Agriculture and Aquaculture use.............................................................................29
Chapter 3 Methodology....................................................................................................30
3.1 Research Hypothesis...................................................................................................31
Table 1. Types of resources...............................................................................................32
Figure 8. Geothermal energy data....................................................................................32
3.2 Data collection............................................................................................................32
3.3 Types of questions – format used................................................................................33
Chapter 4 Case Studies (Results)..............................................................................34
Chapter 5 Discussions................................................................................................35
Chapter 6 Conclusion..................................................................................................35
Appendix.......................................................................................................................35
References....................................................................................................................36
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Chapter 1
Introduction
1.1 Background of the study
The United Kingdom has set some targets in order to harness the geothermal energy recourses. The
aim of the department energy and climate is to support projects of exploitering the geothermal energy
resources. The department of energy and climate are funding for the projects up to 2 million pounds.
Lastly, some companies have been employed geotechnical engineers to carry out feasibility studies.
Heat and power systems can be considered as well during the work process (Regions generating mix,
2013).
The potentials of geothermal energy are huge, and it can heat millions of homes within the United
Kingdom (ASTM, 2005). The researchers believe that the source of energy is not enough for a long-
term use. Next, the world will be requiring up to 60% or more energy by 2030. There are potentials
for the renewable energy to balance every demand. Untouched resources can be found and there are
potentials to meet the current demand of the United kingdom’s energy up to 20% (ASTM, 2005).
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In addition, at the moment there are no deep geothermal plants in the United Kingdom. some sites like
the Redruth have the potential of supplying over 10 megawatts of electricity power and also 550
megawatts of heat energy as well for the whole area. During the whole year the energy is produced, it
is useful energy for the community, and it is produced by 25 wind turbines in the United Kingdom
(Arbor, 1919). The wind turbines create electricity power energy for the country, and it would benefit
for long term use.
Because of the issue of draining demonstrated hold of fossil-based vitality energizes particularly oil
and gas, under 60 years is the assessed remaining time of world non-renewable energy sources
extraction if there are not any more gigantic effective finding of oil and gas demonstrated save sooner
rather than later (Knoema, 2017).
1.2 Research Question
The goal of this research is gain knowledge regarding the potential of the geothermal energy in the
UK.
1. What is the status of the geothermal energy resources, technologies, and applications in the
UK?
2. How can geothermal energy resources benefit the environment?
3. How do you see the future of geothermal energy in the UK?
The United Kingdom has a few low to medium heat resources and geothermal energy being exploited
in United Kingdom, it is very useful for the coming up future. The ground source heat pump energy is
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mainly used for heating up and cooling homes and all different types of buildings in the area. The
surface of the ground is heated from the sun and it stores up the heat energy from the ground. The
geothermal energy can be used for heating and also for generating electricity (Utah Geological survey,
2005). The upper 10 to 15 centimetres of the ground surface is heated by solar radiation.
Figure 1. inside the earth (Utah Geological survey).
When the depth of the ground goes deeper then, the ground temperature does not get affected by the
sun at all but therefore it warms up the heat from the earth’s core. There are not any volcanos which
not known to be active at all. There are many geological features which has the potentials for
exploiting geothermal energy in the United Kingdom (Jason M, 2009). The aim of the United
Kingdom would be to generate heat and electricity if there are geothermal energy projects planned in
the United Kingdom for exploitation. There are geothermal heat pumps that use constant temperatures
from the earth in order to provide heating, cooling and also warm water for homes and for commercial
buildings.
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Figure 1.2 Earth’s temperature (Jason M, 2009).
There are many advantages of exploiting geothermal energy recourses because it more
environmentally friendly. There are huge potentials of exploiting geothermal energy and renewable
energy is always being used in the United Kingdom. it will be sustainable and stable as well once the
work process on the project will start (Jason M, 2009). It will benefit the United Kingdom for a long
term and no fuel will be required at all. Durability is a huge advantage for the geothermal energy
resource because it is shared by all geothermal energy technologies.
1.3Structure of the research
You can also find several regions in the United Kingdom where there are rocks at depth warmer than
what is expected. It mostly occurs in granitic areas because certain granite generates internal heat
energy through the radioactive cay of the naturally elements and those elements are potassium,
uranium and thorium. The geothermal drilling process is not visible, and it is a clean energy source
(GEA, 2004).
The geotechnical engineers often aim to fracture a system where water can be made to flow from one
borehole to another through the granite. The granites only have a tiny bit of water flow and this is not
enough. Some parts in the United Kingdom like the area of Cornwall has geothermal gradients and
they are much higher than the United Kingdom average. The presence of the granite has the potential
for the geothermal energy generation. The aim is to exploit the geothermal potential of the rocks with
poor natural permeability and this may involve enhancing as well.
There is potential for geothermal energy in the United Kingdom and it has been underexploited. Other
renewable energy resources have taken the lead so far in the United Kingdom (J.w. teater 1997). A
plan has been made by the geotechnical engineers to add geothermal energy with other types of
energy mixes and there are advantages and disadvantages of mixing and adding geothermal energy to
it. The project of exploiting geothermal energy will involve a cost and also technologies which, will
help to exploit the resources from the ground. The overall cost of geothermal energy is low and good
for the long-term run.
The old Oak common will support the new Tfl Rail services from Paddington station to Heathrow
airport. More than thirty percent of the Tfls new maintenance of facility will be powered by solar
panels on the roof tops and this renewable energy system is brining excellent results for the friendly
environment (Tfl Department, 2019). It is also very sustainable, and the hybrid renewable energy
system integrates ground source heating and cooling as well, it is a combination of energy piles and at
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least 150 metres deep bore holes. There were three different types of geothermal energy technologies
used, those technologies will help to control the temperature of the main depot building. (Tfl
Department, 2019).
[Old Oak common, TfL, 2019] Figure 1.3
1.4Geothermal history
Back in the ancient times, mainly the romans, Chinese and also other people in the world used hot
spring water for cocking, bathing and heating. Nowadays, it is used for heating up buildings, houses
and agricultures and industrial.
In the year of 1904, the world’s first electric generator was built by Italy. This generator was powered
up by natural steam and it came from the ground of the earth (Burgassi PD, 1999).
In the year of 1922, the United states of America has done their first attempt in order develop a
geothermal energy power plant at the geysers steam field and this attempt was done in the state of
California. Unfortunately, they failed with the attempt because of the pipes and turbines did not match
and the Results didn’t come out well.
Wellspring of the geothermal vitality is separated warmth, this warmth is transmitting from the focal
point of the earth since 4.5 billion years back, with more than 6.400 KM profound and researchers
anticipated that around 42 millions of megawatts (MW) of vitality spilling out of the inside into
surface of the earth with fundamentally by conduction (GEA, 2014). Moreover, the geothermal
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vitality source typically extended and situated from the shallow supply into ultra-profound of
thousands KM in the earth subsurface (Strober and butcher, 2016).
1.5 Research Hypothesis
1. The introduction of new technologies in the UK for the development of geothermal energy
resources will constitute a benefit for the environment in the region.
2. Geothermal energy development in the UK will have a low impact on the water environment, since
water can be extracted and re-incorporated again in a cyclical modality.
3. Geothermal energy can be classified.
1.6The aims and objectives
The aim of this project is to research and study about the potentials of the geothermal energy
exploitation in the UK. However, the aim is also to find out about the advantages and disadvantages
of the geothermal energy exploitation within the United Kingdom. the benefits of exploring
geothermal energy will be explained in detail. In addition, research regarding the geology of Great
Britain will be explained in details and examples will be provided as well. The aim of the research is
to investigate the purpose of the geothermal energy exploitation. The geothermal energy has been
explored in the United Kingdom since ancient times. Geothermal energy is being used for providing
heat energy. All types of geothermal resources will be explained on as well and how they work, and
how they would benefit the world.
Chapter 2
Literature Review
2.1 Geothermal energy exploitations
The geothermal energy resources are very important to over 80 countries in the world. At least in 70
countries, they make direct use of this energy. In 24 countries around the world, the electricity is
produced from geothermal energy power. In addition, there are 5 countries in the world which, get 10
percent to 20 percent of electricity from the geothermal energy sources (Cataldi R, 1999). The United
states of America produces the most geothermal energy in the world, and this makes them the largest
producer and the leading country.
People have used geothermal energy for geotechnical engineering many centuries ago. The
archaeologist evidence has shown us that over 10,000 years ago, certain groups of native Americans
have gathered around naturally and occurred hot springs to recuperate the refuge from any form of
conflicts (Burgassi PD, 1999). The first geothermal district heating systems was opened in 1892 in
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