Ecotricity has agreed a 10-year Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) for power generated at the United Downs geothermal site.

Geothermal Engineering’s deep geothermal plant is expected to go into operation in 2022. It won £6.5 million funding from renewable energy investment company Thrive Renewables, in February 2020. The plant, which is on the United Downs Industrial Estate in Cornwall, aims to supply circa 3MW of electricity. It will also provide up to 12MW of heat for local use- plans have been submitted for a geothermally heated biome, which will be used to mature and then distil sustainable rum.

Dale Vince, Founder of Ecotricity, said:“Geothermal is a really exciting form of energy that is currently untapped in the UK. We’re pleased to be part of this project and to add the power to our customer’s energy mix. It has a big role to play in our plans to decarbonise the country.”

Dr Ryan Law, Founder and Managing Director of Geothermal Engineering Limited, added: “We have spent many years working towards this point and are thrilled to see this pioneering geothermal power plant coming together.  Our work shows the significant potential of geothermal energy to supply both heat and energy across Cornwall.  We are very excited for the industry, investment and jobs this renewable resource could bring to the region.”

The power plant is expected to be fully operational by early 2022.