UK's first geothermal site to power 10,000 homes, mine lithium for EVs

The UK’s first geothermal power plant, developed by Geothermal Engineering Ltd (GEL) at United Downs in Cornwall, has officially begun operation after two decades of development. This plant harnesses heat from granite rocks nearly three miles underground, where temperatures reach around 200°C, to generate electricity for approximately 10,000 homes. Unlike weather-dependent renewables, geothermal energy provides a constant, carbon-neutral power source by circulating water through natural fractures in the hot granite to drive turbines. Octopus Energy has secured rights to distribute this geothermal electricity via the national grid, marking a significant milestone in the UK’s clean energy landscape. Beyond electricity generation, the geothermal site also offers a strategic resource advantage by extracting lithium carbonate from the geothermal brine, a critical mineral for electric vehicle batteries and other green technologies. The brine contains one of the world’s highest lithium concentrations at over 340 parts per million, with initial production expected to yield 100 tonnes of lithium—enough for 1,400 electric cars