HC Deb 04 February 1987 vol 109 cc689-90W
Mr. Amess

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement on research programmes on geothermal energy.

Mr. David Hunt

The Government have supported research programmes on geothermal energy since 1977. At present, research is concentrated on hot dry rock technology. Work on hot dry rocks has been carried out in granite rocks at a site in Cornwall. Holes were drilled to 300m and then to 2000m and a large reservoir of hot fractured rock was established by explosive and hydraulic fracturing. A further phase of work involving a third experimental hole was approved in 1983. Expenditure to date has been over £20 million.

Last year the programme was extended for a further two years at a cost of some £7 million. Industrial participation in the project has started and commercialisation studies are under way.

The long-term aim of the programme is to have a commercial prototype operating at 6km depth with suitable industrial partners by about the mid 1990s. This will depend on full achievement of technical targets at the present depth of 2km and demonstration that the technology has sound prospects for commercial viability. A full-scale review of the programme will he made in the course of this year.