Granite unveiled as new green energy source

GRANITE, the rock which helped drive two centuries of economic prosperity in the north-east of Scotland, could be harnessed to fuel a new industrial boom in the area, it has been revealed.

Scottish Enterprise is planning to commission a feasibility study into the development of Scotland’s first geothermal energy plant, using the heat generated by granite buried up to six miles below the surface.

The aim is to locate a geothermal technology demonstrator, harnessing the energy potential of the “hot rocks” beneath the surface – the so-called “Energetica Corridor”, a 30-mile global energy technology hub, stretching from Aberdeen to Peterhead.

Some rocks, particularly granite, continue to generate heat long after magma has crystallised as rock.

And scientists believe that parts of Aberdeenshire, including Peterhead and Inverurie, could be potential sources for the development of revolutionary geothermal power to produce electricity.

Sara Budge, the project director for Energetica, said: “This is about utilising the natural assets that we have and obviously granite is one of those assets.

“As part of our quest to make Energetica a world-class all-energy destination, we are exploring various avenues for generating renewable energy in the corridor which stretches north from the Bridge of Don, up to Peterhead, and west to the airport.

“Geothermal is one source we are considering.

“We have just issued a tender to appoint an appropriate organisation to undertake a feasibility study into the potential for geothermal heat generation within Energetica, but also in other locations across Aberdeenshire.”

She added: “This is very much early days and it is looking at what potential we have.”

The tender document, issued by Scottish Enterprise, states that the aim is to commission a feasibility study and implementation plan by the end of March next year to assess the technical and business case for developing a demonstration project focusing on geothermal energy.

“If appropriate, SE would then attempt to facilitate a public/private sector partnership to fund, build and implement the project proposed by the study,” the document said.

“Energetica is an ambitious public-private sector partnership designed to create the world’s greatest concentration of energy technology companies along a 30-mile corridor from Aberdeen to Peterhead.

“There are distinct opportunities to scope and develop technology demonstrator projects in the Energetica corridor, specifically around geothermal heat.”

Nick Schofield, a volcanologist with the Volcanic and Natural Environmental Systems group at Aberdeen University, said it was “perfectly feasible” that the granite deep underground could hold geothermal potential.

He said: “Peterhead sits on a big chunk of granite, as does Inverurie. I think they will be targeting the granites in the north-east because, when they decay, the radioactive minerals within granite give off heat.”

A Scottish Government spokesman said: “Geothermal energy represents a substantial and as yet almost entirely untapped potential resource in Scotland. It offers scope to regenerate brownfield sites as well as opportunities to create jobs.

“Following on from our Routemap for Renewables, we are commissioning further work to provide certainty for the industry to fully exploit this potential, putting Scotland at the forefront of this emerging industry in the UK.”