Exergy International and Geothermal Engineering Ltd. (GEL) have signed a contract for the supply of a 3MWe gross capacity Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) power plant in Cornwall.

The United Downs project represents the first integrated deep geothermal project in the UK, poised to produce 3MWe of baseload power and up to 10MWth of zero-carbon heat for the large housing development at Langarth Garden Village.

The turnkey EPC contract awarded to Exergy covers the design and engineering to the ORC system, the manufacturing of the equipment and the overall build of the power plant. As the system will be a closed loop cycle, the plant will not release any vapour into the atmosphere and will boast a small footprint with a minimal visual impact.

The system will be delivered over 18 months, with the commissioning process expected by late 2024. Once in operation, the installation is predicted to save more than 6,500 tonnes of CO2 emissions per year.

Luca Pozzoni, General Manager of Exergy International, said, “We are excited to embark on this journey with GEL. The United Downs project will be a milestone in the development of the geothermal industry in the UK and will give us the valuable opportunity to contribute with our technology and expertise to kick-starting geothermal power generation in the country.”

CEO of GEL, Ryan Law, commented, “Geothermal heat is an untapped renewable resource with the potential to provide huge amounts of energy-efficient and carbon-free electricity and heat. Exergy is well known globally for their competence in the binary geothermal power sector and we are very pleased to be working with them on this landmark project in Cornwall.”

The United Downs Deep Geothermal Power project will be home to the first deep geothermal power plant in the UK. Two directional wells have already successfully been drilled for purpose, with production well being measured to a depth of 5,275 m – the deepest onshore well in the UK – and the injection well to 2,939 m.