The UK's first geothermal power plant will start producing electricity in the near future.

The United Downs deep geothermal project is the first geothermal power plant in the UK, producing power and heat from the hot granite rocks beneath Cornwall at the United Downs Industrial Site near Redruth to drive turbines to generate electricity.

Developer Geothermal Engineering Ltd (GEL) was awarded the first geothermal Contracts for Differences (CfD) ensuring a set price for electricity for 15 years. After electricity has been produced, there is the possibility of using the surplus heat for industry, agriculture, or space heating.

In addition, there is lithium in this Cornish geothermal fluid, and this could be recovered for use in batteries and other green applications.

After nearly two decades in development, the plant is about to be switched on, with power already sold to Octopus Energy for distribution.

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