Summary
The United Downs power plant in Cornwall is the UK's first geothermal power plant to generate electricity using heat from underground. It aims to power up to 10,000 homes and provide a domestic supply of lithium. The project took nearly two decades and involved drilling deep wells to access the Earth's heat.
Key Facts
- The United Downs plant is located near Truro in Cornwall, UK.
- It is the UK's first geothermal power plant to generate electricity.
- The plant can power up to 10,000 homes using Earth's heat.
- High drilling costs make it hard to replicate the project elsewhere.
- The plant will also supply lithium, used in green technology.
- The project cost £50 million, funded by private investors and part of the EU.
- Geothermal energy uses underground heat to generate continuous power.
- The power is sold to Octopus Energy and delivered through the national grid.
