Feasibility Report of a Deep Geothermal Single Well, Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre

Renewable Heat in Scotland

In 2015, the Scottish Government released the 'Heat Policy Statement Towards Decarbonising Heat: Maximising the Opportunities for Scotland'[1]. This statement identifies that the supply of heat accounts for 55% of energy use in Scotland and is responsible for the largest source of carbon dioxide emissions (47%).

The statement identifies that the key challenges facing Scotland are as follows:

• To decarbonise the heat system by 2050 to reduce greenhouse gas emissions
• To diversify sources of heat generation and supply to reduce reliance on fossil fuels and therefore support a resilient heat supply
• To reduce energy bills through reducing heat demand and providing affordable heat
• To seize the opportunities that this transformation offers through the development of new heat generation, distribution and demand reduction programmes

With the aim of helping to take on the key challenges, the Low Carbon infrastructure Transition Programme (LCITP) was launched in March 2015. In consultation with the Geothermal Energy Expert Group the LCITP started the Deep Geothermal Energy Challenge Fund from which this study was allocated a grant. The Scottish Government has stated that they "would like to see a self-sustaining geothermal energy sector play a significant role in our energy future". The section below discusses the current situation of deep geothermal energy in Scotland, the limited progress to date and how the deep geothermal single well (DGSW) can provide a solution to the development of a commercially viable deep geothermal heat sector in Scotland.