Geothermal energy presents untapped potential 

A new government-commissioned review has reignited discussions around the potential of geothermal power in the UK. While the study confirms that geothermal energy remains more costly than wind or solar, ranging between £136 and £852 per MWh, it emphasises the unique advantages offered by the technology.  This is due to a combination of high capital costs and the relative modest power output (2MWe to 3Mwe) per well. However, experts anticipate these costs will fall in the future as the technology improves and investment increases, highlighting geothermal’s unique role as a resilient source of renewable, baseload heat not dependent on weather conditions.

For instance, unlike intermittent renewables, geothermal energy can deliver constant, baseload electricity, and large volumes of additional heat that could be integrated into district heating networks. When heat sales are factored into the equation, the overall cost for delivered energy could fall by as much as 40–60% according to the review.

The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, which commissioned the report, is expected to further assess the strategic role of geothermal energy alongside upcoming decisions on other emerging technologies in a UK context, e.g. hydrogen. With regions like Cornwall showing strong geological potential, the report suggests geothermal can complement the UK’s renewable mix if supported through targeted investment and development frameworks.

Read more in article from Edie

The UK’s first large-scale BECCS-project moves forward 

The UK has taken a significant step towards large-scale negative emissions as a Biomass facility in Cheshire was recently selected to enter government negotiations to become the country’s first large-scale BECCS (Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage) plant.

Operating within the HyNet industrial cluster, the project aims to retrofit the existing plant with Mitsubishi carbon capture technology. Once operational, the project will remove up to 217.000 tonnes of carbon emission annually, while continuing to power more than 100.000 homes with clean energy.

Beyond climate benefits, the facility will process 170.000 tonnes of post-consumer waste wood, creating a carbon-negative, low-waste model for biomass energy. Backed by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero’s Greenhouse Gas Removal business model, the initiative is expected to generate hundreds of skilled jobs across North Wales and the North-West.

The renewables sector have supported the project as a milestone in positioning the UK at the forefront of carbon capture and storage technology. Construction is targeted for completion by 2029, with the owner Evero planning to scale the model across its UK operations.

Read more in article from Envirotec

Energy giants launch joint fifth-generation heat network

In South Wales, an innovative heat network is now breaking ground at the Parc Eirin housing development, marking the UK’s first investor-funded ground source heat pump network. The initiative, installed by British manufacturer Kensa and financed through Octopus Energy Generation, introduces a scalable and subsidy-free model expected to transform the way homes are heated across the UK.

The project will serve 114 new homes, each fitted with compact Kensa Shoebox ground source heat pumps, alongside rooftop solar and battery systems. The shared underground infrastructure, owned by investors such as pension funds, functions much like existing utilities, with households paying a modest standing charge rather than upfront installation costs.

With an expected lifespan exceeding 100 years, this model could unlock a £100 billion asset class in clean heat infrastructure, potentially connecting 250.000 homes per year by 2040. Backed by the Welsh Government, Tirion Homes, and the Development Bank of Wales, the scheme demonstrates how financial innovation, and proven technology can combine to deliver low-carbon, affordable, warm homes at scale. An additional benefit of the system is that it allows residents to cool their homes in the summer months, increasing comfort for residents as the summers get warmer.

Read more in article from Business News Wales

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