The study at Stormont Estate aims to examine the potential for shallow geothermal resources to provide renewable heating and cooling for a number of buildings in the Estate. If results are favorable, a geothermal heat network can replace the current fossil fuel-based heating system.
A total of five boreholes will be drilled for this phase of the study. Four will be drilled to 250 meters deep for hydrogeology studies, while core drilling will be done at one borehole to a depth of 500 meters. A series of tests including downhole geophysics will then be done once the boreholes are completed. The data collected will be used to create the optimum drilling plan to develop a geothermal heating and cooling system for the Stormont Estate.
Stormont Estate is second study site of the GeoEnergy NI project under the Department for the Economy (DfE), following the completion of the exploratory geophysical surveys at the CAFRE campus County Antrim.
Economy Minister Conor Murphy, Finance Minister Dr Caoimhe Archibald and the US Special Envoy to Northern Ireland for Economic Affairs, Joe Kennedy III, were among the first visitors to the drill site in Stormont Estate. There visit also coincided with a visit by a group of pupils from the Forge Integrated Primary School as part of GeoEnergy NI’s outreach and information programme.
“Whilst the North is fortunate to have very suitable geology for geothermal energy, it remains a relatively untapped resource here compared to other countries. That is why the GeoEnergy NI project is exploring and showcasing our geothermal potential – helping us ‘discover the heat beneath our feet’,” said Murphy.
“The study will increase our understanding of the contribution that geothermal energy might make in decarbonising the way we heat our buildings and help inform future projects in the public and private sectors and in domestic settings,” added Archibald.
“My department is committed to doing all we can to contribute to meeting the emissions targets in the Climate Change Act. We recognise and stand ready to exploit the huge economic opportunities as we transition to a low carbon economy. It is important for government to lead in tackling climate change and the decarbonisation of our economy.
