Strong support for ground-breaking green energy scheme - results from the feedback are in!

Following our work over the Summer to gain people's views on geothermal energy, more than eight out of ten people who responded say they are either ‘happy’ or ‘satisfied’ with the proposal. A similar number say they’re potentially interested in using the geothermal energy.

The findings come from a survey run by Ryedale District Council during the summer, as part of the engagement programme to raise awareness of the project and seek people’s views about it.

Feasibility studies are continuing to see if natural heat can be drawn from existing deep wells in Ryedale, and provided to homes and businesses. If successful, the scheme will be the first of its kind in the UK, where wells originally drilled to extract fossil fuels will be repurposed for renewable energy.

Eleven wells owned by Third Energy, near Pickering, Kirby Misperton and in Dalby and Wykeham Forests, are being investigated. Early indications are that at least some of them could be a source of geothermal energy. The wells are thousands of feet deep, and one is known to contain water up to 80-90° Celsius.

The energy could potentially be used to heat commercial ventures like agricultural greenhouses as well as homes, by piping the hot water to properties.

In the survey, more than three quarters of people (78%) said they would be interested in signing up to a district heating scheme if it was available.

The geothermal project reflects Third Energy’s commitment to green energy and the company will not be pursuing fracking at their wells in Ryedale.

The final results of the feasibility work are expected towards the end of this year. Third Energy then intend to prepare plans for an initial geothermal project in the first part of 2023.

A summary of the engagement programme and its findings is available at https://ryedale.commonplace.is/, alongside more information about the geothermal project.

Ryedale District Council’s Climate Change Action Plan can be found at www.ryedale.gov.uk/information/community/action-on-climate-change/.