Work is about to begin on preparing the ground for Eden’s pioneering geothermal heat and power project at its Bodelva site. This is on land just inside the main Eden Project visitor gate and is a significant step in what Eden sees as a clean-energy revolution for Cornwall and the UK.

After a 10-year campaign, last October (2019) Eden Project and EGS Energy Limited finally secured £16.8 million in funding to drill the first well. Funding is a mixture of public and private sources, with £9.9m from the European Regional Development Fund, and £1.4m from Cornwall Council.

Drilling was due to start this summer but the project was held up due to the global pandemic.

Now neighbours have been informed that work will be starting from 21st September, with the first phase being the building of a hardstanding for the rig, connecting essential services, and putting in some temporary buildings and roadways within the site.

A viewing area is also being put in place so that visitors can safely watch the project progress from a nearby path.

This preparatory work is for the rig to be accommodated. When drilling starts, it is expected to take five months to reach the target zone 4.5 km down.

Augusta Grand, Executive Director of Eden Geothermal Limited, who has led Eden’s geothermal project for the last eight years, said: 
“Finally to be able to start work on the site is terrific.

“One of the great things about geothermal is that it is proven to provide baseload heat and power but has a very a small footprint on the land.

“We are looking forward to sharing the progress of the project with neighbours and visitors.”

The project

The Project will drill and test the first 4,500-metre-deep well of a geothermal energy demonstration system at the Eden Project, followed by one year of heat production to demonstrate greenhouse gas (GHG) savings. It will build on knowledge of the deep geothermal resource in Cornwall by providing greater understanding of the geology at depth, enabling resources in the region to become characterised as reserves. 

The Project will include a one-year period of heat production from the single deep well, using a ‘co-axial’ circulation system.  The hot water produced will be used to provide direct heat to existing facilities at Eden and to new greenhouses due to be constructed on site within the next two years. The use of this heat will demonstrate the benefits of greenhouse gas (GHG) savings achievable from this specific project, while also indicating the long-term level of GHG savings that could be achieved from a two-well system.

KeyFacts Energy Industry Directory: EGS Energy