Cornish Geothermal

Add to Calendar 20260617 20260617 Europe/London Cornish Geothermal

Tickets

Donation minimum £1

Location

Trebah Garden, Falmouth

Dates

Wed 17th June, 2026
2:00 pm

About this event

History of geothermal in Cornwall talk

All geothermal projects rely on the correct geological subsurface, not only the rock type but also the presence of natural hot water permeating through fractured rock. We know there is an abundance of hot water underground in Cornwall from historic mining records, and it was a Cornishman – Robert Were Fox (younger) – who studied the varying heat temperatures in Cornish mines and devised the heat gradient mapping that geologists still use today.

Robert Were Fox (the younger) was Charles Fox’s brother. Chrales Fox bought Trebah Garden in 1831 and started Trebah on the journey of what it is today.

Geothermal Engineering Ltd (GEL) was founded in 2008 with the aim of developing the UK’s first geothermal power plant. Following 10 years of fundraising, the project at United Downs began by drilling two deep wells, one of which is the deepest onshore well in the UK. Despite the delays caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, the war in Ukraine and the troubles in the Red Sea, GEL has persevered and has now constructed the 1st UK geothermal power plant with power production onto the national grid expected early in 2026.

This is a donation-based event, with a minumum of £1

Contact

01326 252 200 | https://www.trebahgarden.co.uk/event/geothermal-in-cornwall/