England is launching a new system that draws heat from deep underground to provide “low-cost” hearing for nearly 4,000 homes.

The Langarth Deep Geothermal Heat Network, which the government is putting £22 million towards, will involve drilling into a depth of more than 5,000 metres to extract heat from granite rocks located in the United Downs Industrial Site in Cornwall.

The investment forms part of the government's plans to spend £91 million on seven heating systems as part of its Green Heat Network Fund.

The Fund is a £288 million scheme which was launched in March last year to public, private and third sector applications in England.

Other projects include the development of a heat network in Goole which will use excess heat generated by a local manufacturing plant to supply heating to local homes and businesses and the expansion of an East London heat network which will supply heating to two new developments in and around the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, serving around 500 new homes and 250 non-domestic premises.

“The UK is a world leader when it comes to reducing carbon emissions – but we must continue to push the boundaries to reach our net zero goal," said Lord Callanan, minister for energy efficiency and green finance. "These innovative projects will not only benefit the communities they serve, by reducing emissions and providing low-cost heating that helps to drive down energy bills, but also support the nation’s push for greater energy security and independence."

The government also recently launched a £32 million Heat Network Efficiency Scheme designed to upgrade old and inefficient heat networks and "provide thousands of homes in England and Wales with cheaper, greener energy".

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