The Net Zero Technology Centre (NZTC), the Scottish not-for-profit working to accelerate the net zero energy transition through technology, has alongside partners announced the launch of the UK National Geothermal Centre (NGC).

The NGC aims to accelerate the UK geothermal sector by transitioning and developing technology, driving the creation of policy, regulation, and investment frameworks for geothermal, and maximising impact of research and innovation.

The new Centre will help drive collaboration between government, industry, and academia to champion the integration of geothermal energy into the future renewable energy mix.

The geothermal sector has the potential to be a significant contributor to the UK’s energy targets and economy, meeting 10GW of the projected heating demand and 1.5GW of the anticipated electricity demand by 2050.

Geothermal expansion could also create 50,000 jobs for the future, and result in an annual reduction of 10 million tonnes of CO2 emissions.

The new Centre is now actively seeking sector engagement to accelerate the uptake of geothermal projects across the UK.

Rebecca Allison, chief operations officer at the NZTC, said: “As NZTC continues to accelerate the development and deployment of key transitioning technologies, we are fully embracing the opportunities that come with the geothermal sector.

“We look forward to supporting the NGC, helping it drive change and form a significant contribution to an integrated energy future.”

Alongside the NZTC, the founding partners of the NGC include The Reece Foundation, Durham University, and SHIFT Geothermal.

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Nigel Lees, chair of the NGC, said: “The launch of the National Geothermal Centre today represents a significant step in realising the opportunities that geothermal energy provides the UK.

“For several decades there has been a growing and meaningful contribution to our understanding of geothermal potential in the UK, yet we remain in the nascent stages of development with pockets of knowledge and expertise.

“The Centre will embrace and build on this, working collaboratively with all stakeholders to ensure a common understanding of the opportunities and challenges whilst giving a consistent voice and advocacy to fully unlock the geothermal potential in the UK and play a crucial part in the delivery of our net zero ambitions.”