IGas is assessing a number of sites across North West England suitable for deep geothermal energy and it expects to announce acquisition of a site in Manchester by summer this year, it has announced.
The unconventional gas company is shifting into geothermal energy and recently announced plans to access geothermal energy for heat in the South West, in conjunction with lithium mining.
At its first deep geothermal project, in Stoke-on-Trent, it hopes to agree a thermal purchase agreement with SSE Energy Solutions for the offtake of geothermal heat in Q3 this year. If the project receives government support, it is aiming for financial close in Q4 2022. IGas said it was working with network operators to utilise capital from The Green Heat Network Fund (GHNF) Transition Scheme.
The company said after meetings with senior ministers a working group has been established by BEIS to look at the policy gap for the long-term support of deep geothermal heat.