Eden EGS Plant

In collaboration with The Eden Project, EGS Energy proposes to build the UK's first geothermal power plant generating both heat and electricity.  A potentially suitable site has been identified at The Eden Project.

With a capacity of 4MWe and the ability to generate around 95% of the time, it should produce enough electricity to supply Eden and around five thousand households, as well as heating for the biomes and potentially some district heating.  It is hoped that power will be delivered from late 2012, but this depends on many factors: planning permission, drilling rig availability, drilling progress, and so on.  Have a look at the 3D animation of a typical plant below.

As outlined in Cornwall - A History of Innovation, engineered geothermal system technology has its roots in the pioneering work done in Cornwall in recent decades.  All of the EGS Energy technical team worked at the Rosemanowes Geothermal Project near Penryn for periods during the 1980s and 1990s.

What is involved?

The Eden EGS Plant will be made up of two boreholes, driven around 4 km into the granite beneath Eden.  The rock at that depth is at about 180-190°C; water injected down the first borehole will be returned to the surface at around 185°C via the second borehole.  The superheated water will be used to generate electricity, and will then be returned to the injection borehole.

An EGS plant is very efficient when compared to many other systems.  Perhaps 25-30% of the power created by the plant will go back into pumping water around the system, so it can be said to be about 70% efficient overall. The Eden EGS Plant should cover an area about the size of a rugby pitch, and the buildings will be no more than 10m (30ft) tall.

Unlike other sources of renewable energy, the Eden EGS Plant will be able to run 24 hours a day for over 300 days a year.

To understand in more detail what is involved with an engineered geothermal system, see the description and technical detail here.

Who is involved?

You will find out more about the experts behind Penzance-based EGS Energy - and their experience in establishing engineered geothermal system power plants elsewhere in Europe - here

For all about the remarkable journey that has been The Eden Project, please visit their website: www.edenproject.com.

What are the issues?

EGS Energy has put together a series of FAQs to address what in its experience are many of the main questions and concerns relating to an EGS.   If you do not find an answer to your question there - or indeed disagree with the answer in FAQs - do not hesitate to direct your query to Contact us.

What's next?

EGS Energy entered a planning application for the new plant at the beginning of August 2010.  This is available from the Cornwall Council website.

Have a look at the animated visualisation below of the proposed plant.