The University of Leeds geothermal heat project is focused on harnessing natural underground heat to provide a sustainable heating solution for campus buildings as part of its Net Zero Delivery Plan. The project involves drilling test boreholes between 150-250 meters deep to assess the potential of both closed and open loop geothermal systems. These systems extract heat from the stable temperatures found underground, using water pumped through pipes or aquifers to deliver heat via heat pumps. The project aims to reduce reliance on fossil fuels and electricity while providing a scalable, clean energy solution that could extend beyond the campus to the wider city region, given the shared rock structure in Leeds.

The technical work involves drilling multiple boreholes, installing monitoring equipment, and conducting geotechnical surveys to assess the thermal properties of the surrounding rock and underground water. Unlike fracking, this process does not involve high-pressure fluid injection or fossil fuel extraction. Instead, it uses natural geothermal heat, with the water being returned to the underground aquifers without contamination. The project will test the effectiveness of these systems in providing a reliable, efficient heat source for campus buildings and contribute valuable data on geothermal technology for sustainable urban energy solutions.