The National Geothermal Centre (NGC), the UK's trusted and independent geothermal expert body, has launched a new podcast to further spread the word about the vast potential of geothermal energy in the UK.
Strictly Geothermal' will offer a deep dive into geothermal energy, focusing on its progress in the UK while also paying attention to its strides across the globe.
The podcast's first episode, Energy security, resilience and jobs', sees CEO of NGC, Dr Charlotte Adams and Dr Matthew Killeya, Strategic Adviser, discuss the vulnerability of the UK to geopolitical shocks as a net importer of oil and gas, citing recent events in Iran and Ukraine.
They explore whether the UK can solve its energy insecurity by alternatively generating its own power and heat through geothermal energy, rather than having to rely on international imports.
Further discussions investigate some of the UK's existing successful geothermal projects and the potential that it brings to rapidly deploy geothermal at scale and ultimately create a new industry with thousands of skilled jobs.
On the podcast launch, Dr Killeya said: "I'm very excited to be working on this podcast with Charlotte, who is an absolute titan on the UK geothermal scene. Geothermal captured my imagination some time ago and whenever I get on to this topic with a stranger, I try to pass on my fascination.
"From the naturally heated water in old coal mines that could heat millions of homes in deprived coalfield communities, to our ability to drill kilometres into the earth and extract steam for power, people are unanimously fascinated and ask, Why haven't we heard about this before?'. This podcast is partly an attempt to answer that question.
"The technology is proven and the potential is huge to achieve cheap, low carbon energy, growth, energy security and a just transition of the UK oil and gas sector."
Dr Killeya has over 20 years' experience in finance and as an entrepreneur focusing on the green energy and community energy sectors. He will join Dr Adams as regular contributors, who herself has over 20 years of expertise in the sector and was instrumental in the delivery of the UK's largest geothermal heat scheme at Gateshead.
Episode two will feature Professor Jon Gluyas, President of The Geological Society and Chair of Geoenergy, Carbon Capture and Storage at Durham University, and will look closer into why the UK is ripe for using geothermal.
From the geology of the UK to the nation's unique skills and knowledge base from its oil and gas sector, the episode will draw on Prof. Gluyas' experience to establish the mass applicability of geothermal in the UK and how to deal with potential stumbling blocks, touching on culture, politics and technology.
The entire podcast series will be available to watch on YouTube and streamed on both Spotify and Apple.
Stream the first episode of Strictly Geothermal' now: YouTube | Spotify | Apple
