The UK’s 2025 Geothermal conference brought together over 100 participants at the Geological Society of London, with additional attendees joining online. With 15 sessions throughout the day, it was a packed programmed filled with valuable discussions and practical takeaways.
Speakers included Rebecca Allison and Jon Gluyas, Board Members of the National Geothermal Centre (NGC), who highlighted the sector’s growing momentum. Co-hosted by the GeoEnergy Exploration Society of Great Britain and the Geothermal Energy Advancement Association, the event underscored the importance of geoscience and geothermal in the United Kingdom’s energy transition.
Here are ten key takeaways from the day:
1. Political support is essential to unlock geothermal’s potential
Commercial geothermal heat and power are now ready to play a leading role in the UK’s energy security and decarbonisation goals. The conference called on the Government, all political parties and local councils to support geothermal development — not only as a contributor to a diverse energy mix, but as a dependable, 24/7, zero-carbon source of heat and power.
2. Geothermal offers jobs, energy security and carbon reduction
The opportunity is huge. If enough progress is made, 2050 could see geothermal could supply 10 GW of the UK’s heating demand and 1.5 GW of electricity. It could cut 10 million tonnes of CO₂ emissions and create 50,000 direct and 125,000 indirect jobs. As a stable and resilient domestic energy source, geothermal strengthens the UK’s path to net zero. “This forms the foundation of the NGC’s roadmap, which is currently being developed for publication later this year.
3. Scaling geothermal requires national and local action
As pressure grows to secure clean, domestic energy, geothermal offers a scalable and long-term solution. It is significantly underused in the UK but can be deployed across shallow, medium and deep settings — ideal for commercial buildings, industrial sites and district energy systems.
Geothermal delivers clean, constant, carbon-free heat and power. Geothermal heat in particular is local energy for local people. It can replace gas in homes and public infrastructure, improving safety, air quality and public health.
However, geothermal needs stronger support from national and local authorities — particularly in policy, regulation and investment. The industry is collaborative and ready to grow, but visibility and support remain limited compared to other low-carbon options like wind, solar and nuclear. A clear policy direction, stronger local engagement and public awareness are essential for scale-up.
4. The UK has abundant resources… now it must use them
Geothermal energy is widely available across the UK thanks to suitable geology and proven technologies. It is sustainable on a 100+ year timescale and has negligible environmental impact. Projects can be deployed almost anywhere, using closed-loop systems that are compact and unobtrusive.
This is a simple message with enormous potential: low-carbon heat and power exists under our feet — we just need to use it.
5. Proven UK projects show it works… now it’s time to scale
Several geothermal projects are already operating in Cornwall, Durham, Hampshire and Gloucestershire, delivering commercial-grade heat. Cornwall is expected to add the UK’s first geothermal power production at United Downs.
Innovations are helping geothermal scale — including repurposing oil and gas wells, integrating geothermal with heat pumps, using mine water for heating, deploying micro-Organic Rankine Cycle systems and developing smart heat networks. Advances in drilling are also lowering costs and speeding up delivery.
6. Public funding can unlock private investment
Government support through financial incentives, grants and risk-sharing mechanisms is vital to accelerate UK geothermal. Drilling costs are often 40% of total project expenditure and remain a major barrier. Geological risks and long lead times make private financing difficult, and access to seismic data must be improved.
Other countries have succeeded by using a blend of public and private funding. Grants for exploration, concessional loans and guarantees can help reduce risk. Tax breaks and Contracts for Difference (CfDs) or power purchase agreements (PPAs) can make projects bankable. Separating drilling costs from operational models also helps reduce risk for investors.
7. The UK needs a clear, supportive regulatory framework
The UK lacks dedicated legislation for geothermal. A consistent, light-touch regulatory approach — along with simple, secure heat or power purchase agreements — would improve investor confidence and accelerate growth.
Geothermal also offers secondary value streams, such as lithium extraction from geothermal fluids, or recovery of base and rare earth metals. Realising these opportunities will depend on clearer policy and simple regulation.
8. The UK supply chain is ready, but waiting
UK-based suppliers already serve geothermal projects across Europe while waiting for domestic growth. Geology is not the issue — many UK regions have similar subsurface conditions to Germany, the Netherlands and France.
The difference is policy. The EU supports geothermal through the Renewable Energy Directive, Energy Efficiency Directive, Net-Zero Industry Act and Critical Raw Materials Act. These, combined with national roadmaps and EU R&D funding, create an attractive investment climate.
In the UK, geothermal could offer a vital transition pathway for oil and gas professionals. With the right momentum, the industry could retain and repurpose more than 30,000 skilled workers trained in drilling and subsurface engineering.
9. Heat networks are a major opportunity
Heating and cooling generate 35–40% of UK carbon emissions — mostly from fossil fuels. Heat networks offer one of the most cost-effective ways to decarbonise, and geothermal is the perfect partner. Around 500,000 UK customers are currently connected to heat networks, covering just 2–3% of total demand. In Denmark and Sweden, that figure is more than 50%.
Adding geothermal to heat networks means lower long-term costs, fewer emissions and space-efficient infrastructure. It’s also the perfect solution for data centres — an energy-intensive sector growing rapidly with the rise of AI. In the US, companies like Google, Meta and Microsoft are already signing geothermal PPAs. The UK can benefit — if it moves fast.
10. Academic and public engagement must grow
Twenty UK universities are currently researching or deploying geothermal — and the potential to decarbonise large estates such as hospitals, universities, schools and prisons is significant. Airports, industrial buildings and greenhouses are also excellent candidates.
To build the future workforce, more funding is needed for research and for developing undergraduate training. Skilling and reskilling workers will be critical. Public engagement and education must also increase. Awareness of geothermal is extremely low. Creative approaches — such as using Minecraft and other video games — could help reach millions of young people.
