Professor Jon Gluyas, Board Member of the National Geothermal Centre, shares his insights on the urgent need for coordinated action to unlock the UK’s geothermal potential.
He highlights how collaboration across innovators, regulators, investors, energy operators and more will be essential to transform this abundant underground resource into a cornerstone of the nation’s net zero future.
Geothermal energy is not a futuristic ideal – it’s a near-term opportunity hiding in plain sight. Beneath our feet lies an untapped resource that could provide the UK with secure, renewable, low-carbon heat and power for generations.
We at the National Geothermal Centre (NGC) believe that, if enough attention is given and action is taken, geothermal could supply the UK with 10 GW of heat and 1.5 GW of electricity by 2050. That’s enough heat for over 15 million homes and a meaningful contribution to the grid during a time of peak electrification. At the same time, this could lead to 10Mt of CO₂ avoided annually.
But this is not a story of one breakthrough. Realising the UK’s geothermal potential will take coordination across a complex landscape of innovation, regulation, investment and public trust. The challenge isn’t just to prove it works – it’s to scale it, quickly and responsibly. That requires a collective approach.
Below the surface, there’s heat. Above it, there needs to be alignment.
The Innovators: Driving a new underground economy
Startups and technology developers are leading the charge, rethinking how geothermal is explored, accessed and delivered. From advanced drilling techniques and closed-loop systems to modular heat networks and data-led targeting, these companies are building the next generation of geothermal solutions.
Their agility is critical. Many are applying learnings from oil and gas, mining and digital infrastructure to reduce risk and cut costs. Closed-loop systems like those developed by Eavor and GreenFire Energy are removing the need for complex reservoirs and making geothermal viable in more locations.
UK-based innovators are also stepping up. CeraPhi Energy, supported by our partners at the Net Zero Technology Centre, is developing scalable closed-loop geothermal solutions that can be deployed in non-traditional settings – from repurposed oil and gas wells to industrial and urban environments. TownRock Energy is exploring how disused mines can be repurposed to deliver low-carbon heat. In Cornwall, Eden Geothermal has completed the UK’s deepest onshore well and is now supplying zero-carbon heat to the Eden Project’s iconic Biomes.
UK-based innovators are also gaining momentum. CeraPhi Energy, supported by our partners at the Net Zero Technology Centre, is developing scalable closed-loop geothermal systems designed for non-traditional settings – from repurposed oil and gas wells to industrial and urban sites. In Scotland, TownRock Energy is exploring the potential of disused mines to deliver low-carbon heat. Further south in Cornwall, Eden Geothermal has completed the UK’s deepest onshore well and is now supplying zero-carbon heat to the Eden Project’s iconic Biomes.
But while ambition is high, access to finance, demonstration sites and data remains a barrier. Innovators need the space to pilot, fail and iterate – and the right partners to move from test bed to utility-scale rollout.
The Converters: Energy majors bringing scale and credibility
Geothermal’s potential in the UK intersects directly with the expertise of its energy sector. Drilling, reservoir modelling, well management and subsurface analytics are all capabilities that oil and gas companies have developed over decades.
By reapplying those capabilities, energy majors can help de-risk geothermal projects and bring them to scale. It’s already happening. In the Netherlands, Shell is investing in geothermal as part of its long-term decarbonisation strategy. Closer to home, the North Sea’s transition expertise is perfectly placed to support deep geothermal and mine water heat developments.
Geothermal also offers the energy sector an opportunity to retain and retrain talent – particularly in areas facing industrial decline or oil and gas contraction. This is not just a diversification strategy – it’s a chance to apply world-class skills to the future of heat.
The Gatekeepers: Regulation that clears the way
No amount of innovation matters if policy frameworks lag behind. Today, geothermal in the UK sits in a regulatory grey zone – not quite fully defined, not yet fully supported.
Clearer permitting rules, integrated land-use planning and a streamlined approach to subsurface licensing are essential. Currently, regulatory processes can take years – too long for fast-moving startups and investor timelines.
The UK’s planning system also lacks tailored guidance for geothermal, unlike countries such as Germany or the Netherlands where national frameworks have been introduced to accelerate deployment.
A coordinated regulatory response would bring clarity, consistency and confidence – not just to developers but to communities and investors. Getting it right early means projects are safer, faster and more accepted.
The Enablers: Researchers turning data into insight
Academic institutions and research organisations are playing a vital role in understanding where, how and when geothermal can be deployed. From subsurface mapping to techno-economic modelling and lifecycle analysis, their work forms the foundation for smarter, lower-risk investment.
The British Geological Survey has led on geothermal mapping across the UK, identifying key regions of potential including the North East, the South West and parts of central Scotland. University-led consortia such as UKGEOS (Glasgow and Cheshire) are providing open-access geothermal test beds for long-term monitoring and innovation.
What’s needed now is deeper collaboration between academia and industry. Embedding researchers in live projects will accelerate feedback loops and help translate knowledge into action.
The Investors: Capital that turns potential into reality
Capital markets are beginning to recognise the value of geothermal as part of a diversified net zero portfolio. According to the International Energy Agency, if deep cost reductions are achieved, cumulative geothermal investment could reach $1 trillion by 2035 and $2.5 trillion by 2050, peaking at $140 billion annually – exceeding today’s global investment in onshore wind.
Private finance will not move without policy certainty or a pipeline of investable projects. De-risking early-stage exploration – through matched funding, guarantees or public-private partnerships – is critical.
There is precedent. The UK Government’s Green Heat Network Fund, while not geothermal-specific, shows how targeted funding can stimulate heat infrastructure. A geothermal equivalent, or dedicated expansion of scope, could provide the long-term signals investors need.
A national opportunity in need of shared ownership
Geothermal is a national opportunity in need of shared ownership. It could play a foundational role in the UK’s transition to net zero – providing low-carbon heat where other options fall short, creating skilled jobs, and reducing reliance on imported gas. But it will not happen by accident.
It will take strategic coordination between technology developers, regulators, energy operators, investors and researchers. Each has a role. Together, they have the opportunity.
The heat is there. The know-how exists. What’s needed now is collective will – to turn potential into permanence.
