The North Yorkshire village of Kirby Misperton was once a focal point for anti-fracking protests in the UK due to concerns about environmental damage and fossil fuel extraction. However, these protests led to success when the fracking was halted, resulting in an unused drilled well. But the site had potential for a new life by repurposing it for geothermal energy extraction.
Geothermal energy harnesses the Earth‘s internal heat, with the temperature rising approximately 30C for every 1,000 meters below the surface. By circulating water down a deep well and retrieving it, this process allows access to readily available hot water. The converted well in Kirby Misperton has the capacity to supply heat to approximately 300 homes, and there‘s potential for many more such wells across the UK and globally. The company that initially drilled the well and was previously involved in supplying gas and supporting fracking, has shifted its focus entirely towards clean energy. Despite lucrative opportunities in the gas industry, the company remains committed to geothermal energy after witnessing the positive community response to heating homes using this renewable source.
Local villagers express delight and optimism about the shift towards geothermal energy. They see it as a positive transformation that offers job opportunities and hope for a cleaner, sustainable future.