Overview
- Geothermal Engineering Ltd brought the United Downs plant online on 26 February, initially generating about 3 MW of baseload electricity from wells over 5 km deep at temperatures above 190°C. Octopus Energy has agreed a long‑term power purchase agreement for at least 3 MW, channeling the site’s output into the grid.
- The facility has begun commercial production of zero‑carbon, battery‑grade lithium carbonate at an initial rate of 100 tonnes per year, with geothermal brine reported above 340 ppm lithium carbonate equivalent before reinjection in a closed loop.
- Power is produced using an Organic Rankine Cycle plant supplied by Exergy International, drawing from the UK’s deepest and hottest well and using air‑cooled condensing to limit water use.
- GEL plans two additional Cornwall sites targeting roughly 10 MW of extra capacity by 2030 and aims to scale lithium output toward more than 18,000 tonnes per year over the next decade, with industry experts highlighting manageable seismicity and environmental risks.