UK Geoenergy Observatories: time zero for net zero

The BGS-led project comprises two underground observatories that will shine a light on the subsurface’s potential to provide homes and businesses with geothermal energy.

The UK Geoenergy Observatories are available for researchers to inform the evidence base and develop lower-cost techniques and fit-for-purpose monitoring approaches. Glasgow is online now and Cheshire will be operational in 2024.

Researchers across Scotland and the rest of the UK have been collecting data from the Glasgow Observatory, including samples of soil collected at the surface, data from the hundreds of borehole sensors and water from within the mines themselves. Collection of a wide range of geological and environmental data before and during geothermal activities is one factor that makes the site unique and an exceptional asset to researchers and the energy industry.

In other news

Yorkshire Water improves borehole data access through BGS collaboration  Yorkshire Water is making future ground investigation data publicly available to view via BGS' GeoIndex, helping companies and geologists increase their understanding of ground conditions.

Upcoming events

Following on from the successful events in 2021 and 2022, there is now an open call for contributions for the Mine Water Energy 2023 symposium, which will be held on 19-20 April 2023.

Online presentations covering different aspects of mine water energy schemes are welcome. The deadline for titles, speakers and a few sentences on the content of your proposed presentation is 4pm Friday 13th January 2023. For more information, please visit the IEA Geothermal website. 

On the blog

IODP Expedition 386: hosting a sampling party in Japan BGS help lead the final phase of IODP Expedition 386 in Japan, coordinating science colleagues from around the globe to extract samples from sediment cores aboard DV Chikyu.

Five places in Yorkshire to assess key geological hazards In July 2022 the BGS Hazard Products team visited field sites in Yorkshire to enhance the understanding between geohazards in the landscape and corresponding data analytics outputs.

Mapping mushrooms to boost biodiversity at BGS Keyworth Colleagues at BGS are mapping mushrooms as part of efforts to enhance biodiversity on the Keyworth site. The record could help inform future rewilding work as part of the BGS Environmental Sustainability Strategy.

And finally 

At the British Geological Survey our research aims to make CO2 storage a permanent, useful and cost-effective element of the energy transition. We are committed to increasing our scientific understanding and addressing gaps in our knowledge to enable it to play a key role in the energy transition. Find out more about our CCS research in our new animation.