UK-Iceland agree geothermal partnership

Icelandic volcanoes could provide the UK with low-carbon electricity in future after the two countries signed an agreement to work more closely on energy and climate change issues

Under the memorandum of understanding signed by energy minister Charles Hendry and Oddný Harðardóttir from the Icelandic government, the administrations have agreed to: explore the possibility of developing an electricity connection between Iceland and the UK; share information about oil and gas drilling; and work together to support the development of deep geothermal energy in the UK.

Hendry said: “This sort of approach can both enhance our energy security and deliver low-carbon electricity in an affordable way.”

The news came as the Renewable Energy Association released research revealing that deep geothermal energy has the potential to produce up to 20% of the UK’s electricity needs and provide more than 100GW of heat, enough to meet the demand for space heating across the whole of the country.