Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment he has made of the potential contribution of geothermal energy plants to meeting COP26 commitments by 2030.

The Government recognises the potential role of geothermal energy in contributing to the UK’s 2030 COP26 commitments, particularly in the decarbonisation of heat. The potential for geothermal power plants is more limited in the UK than in countries with higher temperature resource.

The recently published Heat and Buildings Strategy acknowledges the potential of geothermal energy and sets out the Government’s commitment to continue to monitor developments in geothermal heat in the UK and assess whether the technology provides a cost-effective option for the future.