CEO David looks back over TownRock’s twelfth year, everything from solid baselines to safaris
If you’ve seen Leah, TownRock’s Senior Geothermal Engineer, present on the two-year update of BODYHEAT, you will have seen the huge spike in cooling demand on the night of the Black Traffic Techno event nearly a year ago. Hard working ravers were able to generate enough heat in just a few hours to heat 47 homes, and we stored all of that heat in the ground for future use! After nearly 3 years of operation, BODYHEAT is storing more heat than is needed, and this creates an opportunity to expand the system to heat more buildings. One possible building may be the new Kastle Hotel down the street which obtained planning permission shortly after the Black Traffic Techno event.
The joy I feel as a result of our team being able to bring the BODYHEAT idea to life is not just from the innovation being proven, and carbon been saved, but it’s that we’ve created an opportunity for people to help the planet whilst doing something they love.
The past twelve months comprised TownRock Energy’s twelfth year in existence, and it certainly wasn’t all cutting shapes to solid basslines. We, along with others, experienced a scary slow down in project work in the UK, perhaps a delayed hangover from the change of government, perhaps a response to a new political era of rolling back climate action.
Several big opportunities came in the nick of time, including a significant feasibility study with NHS Grampian to identify the best reservoir independent deep geothermal heating system for their central Aberdeen health care facilities. Our team grabbed this opportunity and ran with it, delivering a state of the art comparison of ‘next generation’ geothermal technology. Huge testament to our Engineering Director John who broke and then rebuilt CMG Stars reservoir simulation software. This enabled realistic 4D EGS (Engineered or Enhanced Geothermal System) simulations, the outputs of which our Senior Hydrogeologist Mikey brought together into a robust and fully costed project plan in less than three months.
Meanwhile we won a highly competitive tender with the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority to deliver five subsurface mine water geothermal studies from Bath to Bristol. Working closely with our mine water pioneer Dr Dave, Geothermal Hydrogeologist Sally has been working alongside Durham University to shape their mine water modelling software GEMS tool-box.
The most exhilarating win was an international contract, funded by Alinea through Climate Action Africa, to study the Meru volcano in Tanzania. Working closely with, and building capacity within, the Tanzanian Geothermal Development Company, we have just delivered a detailed surface study of the resource. Our client is the 100+ strong department of the Tanzanian Government’s Ministry of Energy, who are delivering geothermal projects across Tanzania’s volcanic resources. Commuting through the Arusha National Park past giraffes, buffalo, zebra and many more exotic animals every day for the last month took me full circle back to the experience of mingling to techno music with the wondrous creatures of Glasgow’s nightlife. This epic programme of work culminated with two of our Geothermal Geologists Mike and Sam, and myself, summiting Mount Meru at 4566m altitude as the sun rose over Kilimanjaro in the distance, poking out of the vast cloud inversion.
There’s a lot more commotion now than ever before in the geothermal industry, and I’m delighted, because I want many more people to have the opportunity to work in this incredible industry of the future.
None of the above experiences or projects would have been possible without our amazing orchestrator, Project Manager Morven and our diligently detailed Finance Manager Barbora. Thank you to the whole team, to our suppliers, our collaborators, and our inspiring clients for making our mission possible.
Finally, a huge thank you to our former Senior Engineer Sean who after nearly three years of contributing has moved back into academia, and the newest member of our team, Engineer James, welcome!