Cornwall is now home to the UK’s first deep geothermal power station, as Geothermal Energy Lithium (GEL) activated its United Downs facility on Thursday 26 February 2026.
The site is generating electricity around the clock using heat drawn from more than 5km beneath the surface, while also producing zero‑carbon lithium carbonate on a commercial scale.
Geothermal power for UK homes
United Downs is delivering what GEL describes as the country’s first geothermal electricity from deep geothermal resources. Octopus Energy has agreed a long‑term Power Purchase Agreement to take at least 3 MW of constant, weather‑independent power, expected to supply roughly 10,000 homes.
Water heated to over 190°C – the hottest recorded in the UK – is pumped from the nation’s deepest onshore well. The heat is converted into electricity 24/7 before the mineral‑rich fluid is processed for lithium extraction and reinjected underground in a closed‑loop system. GEL plans two further Cornish sites, aiming for an additional 10 MW of baseload power by 2030.
Zero‑carbon lithium for the UK battery sector
United Downs has also begun producing zero‑carbon lithium carbonate, with an initial capacity of up to 100 tonnes per year. The geothermal water contains more than 340 parts per million of battery‑grade lithium carbonate equivalent. GEL intends to scale output to more than 12,000 tonnes annually within a decade, enough for around 250,000 electric vehicle batteries.
Political and industry response
UK Chancellor Rachel Reeves, Dr Ryan Law, CEO of GEL; Dr Alan Whitehead, Minister of State in the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero; and Greg Jackson, Founder of Octopus Energy; all welcomed the project, calling it a major step for clean energy, domestic lithium supply and UK energy security. The development is backed by Kerogen‑CX, Thrive Renewables plc and the Government’s Automotive Transformation Fund.
Image: United Downs. Credit : GEL
