Plans to extract geothermal energy from deep beneath Bishop Auckland are being explored.
The Auckland Castle Trust is behind the ambitious £3.5m project which would put the town at the forefront of a UK geothermal energy boom.
A planning application to drill two exploratory boreholes up to 1.8km (1.11 miles) deep on the northern boundary of the town is being prepared for submission to Durham County Council.
If approved, and if the investigatory boreholes prove successful, further proposals will be drawn-up to create a network of pipes to take the heat to the grade I listed castle – making it the first historic building of its kind in the UK to take advantage of this type of environmentally friendly energy.
Auckland Castle Trust’s chief executive, David Ronn, said the North East’s newest heritage attraction was putting itself at the forefront of the green fuel revolution by exploring the possibility of being its own energy provider.
“This is an extremely exciting and innovative scheme that has the potential to provide not only long-term benefits for Auckland Castle but the town of Bishop Auckland too.
“It would help the sustainability of Auckland Castle as a visitor attraction with the added bonus that competitively priced heat could be offered to other businesses in the north of the town if the drilling is successful.”
The project will be funded by the Auckland Castle Trust with the initial stage expected to cost £2.5m and a further £1m to be spent should the findings prove conclusive and the scheme given the final go-ahead from Durham County Council.
A feasibility study conducted by UK-based Cluff Geothermal has already indicated that this part of Bishop Auckland is likely to be sitting on an underground reservoir of water at 70C (158F) – hot enough to be used for heating but not for electricity production.
The initial test boreholes will be sunk on land owned by Durham County Council next to the North Bondgate short stay car park in the centre of Bishop Auckland. The Auckland Castle Trust is in negotiation with Durham County Council over a long term lease for the site.
A drilling rig 30m (100ft) high will operate 24 hours a day for around three months during the initial test stage.
If all goes to plan a small geothermal pumping station the size of five car parking spaces would then be built and the pipes laid to take the hot water to Auckland Castle.
Bishop Auckland's local community newspaper.
