GeoGrid Project secures GBP 480k to advance UK geothermal energy
University of Leeds Geothermal Campus Living Lab (source/ credit: University of Leeds vs. Emma Bramham)
Alexander Richter
21 Jan 2025
GeoGrid, exploring geothermal energy storage’s role in decarbonisation, receives GBP 480k in funding to enhance energy system efficiency in the UK.
The GeoGrid project, focused on exploring the potential of geothermal energy for decarbonisation in the UK, has been awarded GBP 480,000 through Ofgem’s Strategic Innovation Fund (SIF). The project brings together Geosolutions Leeds, Northern Powergrid, LCP Delta, E.ON Next, Leeds City Council, and Star Refrigeration to tackle key challenges in the energy transition.
Using the University of Leeds’ Geothermal Campus living lab, GeoGrid aims to investigate how long-term thermal energy storage can improve the energy system’s efficiency and sustainability. With the UK’s heating and transport systems increasingly electrified, thermal energy storage is seen as a flexible solution to address rising electricity demands, inefficiencies in renewable energy use, and escalating costs.
By integrating geothermal storage into the energy system, GeoGrid will explore ways to lower connection costs, reduce expensive infrastructure upgrades, and enhance grid resilience. The project also seeks to demonstrate how the interaction of geothermal systems with energy markets can strengthen the business case for district heating.
Dr. Emma Bramham, Lecturer in Applied Geophysics at the University of Leeds and GeoGrid’s Project Lead, emphasized the project’s innovative approach:
“This collaboration will explore new ways of improving energy efficiency using the University’s Geothermal Living Lab facilities. Storing excess renewable energy beneath the city could help the UK make better use of green electricity and accelerate the transition to net zero.”
Steve Newall, Innovation Manager at Northern Powergrid, highlighted the project’s practical focus, stating, “More accurate demand estimations will make flexible energy use more feasible, expand electrical capacity, and reduce decarbonisation costs. We are now moving into the ‘Demonstrate and Deploy’ stage, where the benefits are becoming more tangible.”
GeoGrid reflects a broader effort to develop scalable solutions for decarbonisation while addressing challenges like affordability and energy system resilience. The project serves as a significant step in understanding how geothermal energy can support the UK’s net-zero goals.
Source: University of Leeds
Note: This article was corrected to reflect factual mistakes in our original reporting. The GBP 3.7 million funding has been given to Northern Powergrid for two projects, of which one is the GeoGrid project. We apologize for the mistake.
