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Prime Minister urged to provide a ‘revitalised package
of incentives’ for geothermal at PMQs
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REA’s campaign says that geothermal is critical to
delivering UK’s net zero ambitions
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Thousands of jobs and hundreds of millions pounds worth
of investment could be generated by funding boost
The REA has today urged the Government to provide a catalyst the
UK’s geothermal industry by delivering a package of support for
the sector, as the closure of the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI)
looms.
At Prime Ministers Questions, , MP for Crewe and Nantwich, asked the Prime Minister
to meet with him with a view to delivering a ‘revitalised package
of incentives’ for the geothermal sector. He added that the UK
had fallen behind Europe in untapping the potential of geothermal
heat and power in places like his constituency.
In his response, the Prime Minister recognised the importance of
deep geothermal energy in Crewe and committed to a meeting.
European countries such as France, Germany, the Netherlands and
Italy are already market leaders for geothermal, with France’s
sector supporting more than 30,000 jobs and generating more than
£350 million a year. However, despite the UK having a total
potential of 91M GWh[i] of heat
from geothermal (100 years of the UK’s total heat demand), few
sites are in operation.
The RHI is set to close at the end of March, putting a number of
potential geothermal sites - which have been delayed by the
pandemic – at risk. The REA is urging the government to offer a
targeted extension to the scheme or to offer an alternative
package of measures which would enable the first tranche of
projects to be delivered.
Potential sites for geothermal are largely situated in the
Midlands, North of England and the South-West/south coast.
Dr Nina Skorupska CBE, Chief Executive of the Association
for Renewable Energy and Clean Technology (REA), said:
“Last year, the government made a big statement of intent
with the release of the Energy White Paper, but the real test is
now delivering a set of policies and support that can help
deliver on the UK’s net zero targets and rapidly decarbonise heat
– a thriving geothermal sector is absolutely vital to achieving
that.
“Countries such as Germany and France are already ahead of
the UK on this, but the REA believes that, with the right
support, we could quickly close the gap and position the UK as
one of the leading producers of geothermal in Europe. The French
geothermal sector supports more than 30,000 jobs and generates
more than £350 million a year – there is no reason why the UK
cannot be even more ambitious.
“By 2024, the UK could have at least one geothermal site
operational in every area that has the ability to host one. That
means much needed jobs and investment for towns and cities like
Crewe, Stoke and Sedgefield, Manchester, Liverpool and Newcastle
as we look to recover from this pandemic and transition away from
oil and gas.
“If the government can provide the catalyst by providing a
robust package of support, this could be the ‘geothermal
decade’.”
—ENDS—
For more information or to request an interview, please
contact:
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Communications Manager,
07590 627739/ jabbott@r-e-a.net
Notes to editors:
Full question from , MP for Crewe and Nantwich at PMQs: “The UK has
fallen behind Europe in untapping the potential of geothermal
heat and energy in places like Crewe. Will the Prime Minister
meet with me to discuss how we can ensure geothermal helps us
build back better with a revitalised package of incentives for
industry?”
Full response from the Prime Minister, : “I thank my honourable friend for the point he
makes about Crewe, and the way it’s now at the forefront of deep
geothermal energy exploration and [I am] very happy to meet with
him to discuss what we can do to further geothermal energy in
Crewe, diary permitting.”
