The Eden Project operates the UK’s first operational deep geothermal well since 1986

The first deep geothermal well in the UK for over 30 years has been used to heat the Eden Project. The 5 km well, located on the Eden Project site and operated by Eden Geothermal Ltd, began generating heat in June 2023.

It began providing heat for the first time once the colder weather settled in this winter, heating the Eden Project Biomes, the new state-of-the-art nursery and education center and offices. It is the first operational deep geothermal well in the UK since 1986.

The ground-breaking geothermal technology is expected to save up to 500 tonnes of CO2 per year and almost entirely eliminate the Eden project – the equivalent of 227 UK homes heated with gas – a major step towards the organization reaching net zero and its achievement. the goal of becoming climate positive by 2030.

READ MORE: Young mother’s mysterious death after life-changing experience

READ MORE: A LEGO fan builds a cabin for the collection after being given an “eviction notice” by his wife

In addition to heating the enormous biomes and offices of the Eden Project, geothermal energy is an integral part of the brand new factory and education facility built beyond the biomes. The Growing Point Nursery demonstrates regenerative sustainability and circular systems in its construction, operation and purpose.

Regenerative sustainability is the practice of making things better than they were, rather than simply doing less harm. This can be applied to environmental, social and economic initiatives.

Circular systems, or the circular economy, is a model of minimizing or eliminating waste and making the most of resources by reusing, recycling and regenerating materials. Constructed of lightweight, recyclable materials, the Growing Point harvests rainwater from the sky and uses heat from the ground to grow plants for the Eden Project’s gardens, restaurants and shops.

Included in the construction are rubble collected from the landslides that affected the Eden Project during the heavy rains and floods of 2020, and granite and limestone excavated from the site’s stormwater catchment pond. Compared to a greenhouse alternative, the design and construction of Growing Point had an 89% lower impact in terms of embodied carbon emissions.

The Eden Project’s director of transformation, Si Bellamy OBE, said: “We work with and for nature to develop new ways to grow and new ways to encourage people to think differently about plants, the planet and themselves. We have built an outstanding preschool and sustainable education facility – a pillar of our wider ambitions for the future impact and scale of the Eden Project and will help us massively accelerate our mission towards a climate-positive future.”

At 6,500 square meters, the Growing Point represents the largest physical development at the Eden Project since the opening of the Core Building in 2006. With a footprint larger than the Mediterranean Biome, the nursery provides the Eden Project horticulture team with the ability to propagate and caring for one million plants a year, supporting the organisation’s valuable living collections for the rainforest and Mediterranean biomes, outdoor gardens and outdoor estate.

The team can grow and supply food for menus that feed thousands of visitors each year, operating in rather than food kilometres. Dishes already incorporating geothermally grown produce have included Thai green curry, orange and fennel salad and poke bowls.

Using deep geothermal heat allows the Eden Project’s horticulture team to grow produce such as fresh herbs, fruit and vegetables over a longer seasonal period, and to experiment with exotic produce that would normally have to be imported, including bananas, papaya, ginger and lemon grass. The facility opens up a world of creative possibilities for Eden Project chefs, demonstrating a sustainable, circular food system while connecting visitors to the produce and their stories told in the destination’s botanical and cultural exhibits.

Around 90% of houseplants sold in Eden Project stores and 100% of plants sold online are produced at Growing Point, in peat-free compost, using natural pest and disease control solutions. These include Arabica coffee plants that have been grown from “beans” harvested from the Rainforest Biome.

Beyond its extensive plant production capabilities, Growing Point includes world-class facilities for Eden Project Learning students, apprentices and other learners. These include a state-of-the-art soil science and teaching laboratory, created in partnership with Cornwall College and funded by the Shared Prosperity Fund.

Growing Point is also home to the Eden Project’s National Wildflower Center and the CHAOS group, a social interest group that provides a space for those with physical and emotional needs to develop their work and social skills in -a safe and welcoming space.

Learn more about Eden Project’s eco-positive journey at www.edenproject.com.