Eversheds Advises on First Commercial Deep Geothermal Power Plant

International law firm Eversheds has advised Geothermal Engineering Ltd on securing the land for the development of the UK's first commercial deep geothermal power plant, near Redruth in Cornwall, which has now been granted planning permission by Cornwall Council. Eversheds is continuing its role advising on the funding and construction of the project.

The plant is to be built on a brownfield site within an existing industrial estate. Work will begin in early 2011 to drill 4.5 kilometres into the ground to access rocks at temperatures of approximately 200 degrees Celsius. This will be the deepest on-shore well in the UK. The plant will provide up to 55 MW of renewable heat energy for the local community, and 10 MW of electricity. 55 MW of heat is the equivalent of heating 20 schools for a year, while 10 MW of electricity is enough power for 20,000 homes.