A £1 million investment is set to explore the vast geothermal energy potential beneath Aberdeen, marking a major step toward cleaner, low-carbon heating for the Granite City.
The University of Aberdeen has secured the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) funding to launch the Aberdeen Geothermal Feasibility Pilot (AGFP), an ambitious city-wide collaboration designed to gather the first in-field geological data of its kind for the area.
Subject to planning consent, the project will drill an instrumented borehole more than 500 metres deep at the King’s College campus in Old Aberdeen.
According to project co-lead Professor Clare Bond, the drilling will provide vital information on subsurface temperature, geology and hydrology: ‘Desk studies have previously been carried out on Aberdeen’s geothermal potential. This project will be the first to provide the in-field geological data needed to help bring our initiative and others being considered across the city to reality.
‘The borehole will provide direct subsurface temperature, geology and hydrology data and provide the startling point to test the potential for heat generated by granite at depth to be used to heat homes, the University and other buildings across the city.’
To complement the borehole data, researchers will map the entire city’s subsurface to a depth of 5km using over 100 buried seismic nodes. Over one to two months, these devices will capture “seismic noise” from waves, wind and traffic, creating a 3D image of granite and other geological structures to pinpoint the most promising geothermal zones.
Dr David Cornwell, project co-lead and seismologist, said the open-access data would help de-risk geothermal investment across the UK: ‘Coupling borehole data with the city-wide model will reveal the true potential of geothermal heating in Aberdeen.
‘The data we collect will be openly available, not just helping de-risk future geothermal investment and accelerating Aberdeen’s transition to a sustainable energy future but providing data that can be used to predict the geothermal potential of other places across the UK.’
UKRI Natural Environment Research Council Executive Chair Professor Louise Heathwaite said the pilot could transform local energy systems and offer a blueprint for tapping geothermal potential in granite formations elsewhere.
AGFP forms the first phase of a broader vision to integrate geothermal heat into Aberdeen’s energy mix, with future stages focused on community engagement, job creation and targeting areas of greatest need.
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