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Geothermal energy for Local Authorities, the NHS and public estates

Most public estates never reach a feasibility study, because it’s hard to build the financial case to find out. TownRock Energy does that part for free, for local authorities, NHS trusts and boards, universities, combined authorities and public estate managers.

University estate building
NHS & councilsEstates across the UK
Grant-readyEvidence built for funding bids
IndependentAll heat options compared
Principal DesignerWe can deliver, not just advise

Where public estates get stuck

In our experience it is almost never the geology. It’s:

  • No budget to investigate, and geothermal is competing with every other option
  • Nothing concrete to put in front of decision-makers
  • An early screening that stopped short of designs and costs
  • Capital funding that requires evidence you do not yet have

What the free screening gives you

Data, not a guess

We hold NHS Scotland and NHS England spatial and energy datasets in GIS, overlaid with our own resource screening tool, covering more than 3,000 NHS sites. That means an evidence-based answer on whether your estate sits above a viable resource before any commitment to spend.

Something you can share

A short pack built to be shared internally, not just read by you, which is clear and accessible. This is what wins the budget line.

A route to capital you do not hold

Grant and load applications need technical and commercial evidence. We provide that and stay with you through the application process and beyond.

Public sector work

Geological map

Discover study · Aberdeen

Deep geothermal for a hospital campus

Three deep technologies assessed to meet a multi-megawatt heat demand, with reservoir modelling and a techno-economic comparison against the gas baseline. This led directly to a second study looking at the geothermal potential of other NHS Grampian sites.

£50kStudy budget
Multi-MWHeat demand
Flooded mine workings

Discover study · South west England

Heat from mines across five sites

A detailed desktop study for the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority evaluating mine water for heating, cooling and thermal energy storage at five sites, with a conceptual model, bespoke capital cost estimates, carbon savings and costs normalised per MW for comparison. All five sites were found to be feasible, and we continue to support the client beyond the study.

£90kStudy budget
5 of 5Sites feasible
Mine water discharge

Feasibility · North Lanarkshire

Scotland’s first mine water scheme in 15 years

We project-managed feasibility, economic viability and development strategy for a community heat network across mixed-tenure existing housing, designed as a replicable UK demonstrator.

RetrofitMixed tenure
Grant-fundedScottish Government

Working within the budget you actually have

Free

Resource screening

Presented on a call and built to be forwarded. No procurement needed.

First appointment

Options appraisal & feasibility

Can be combined into one study where budget allows, to save time and procurement admin.

The decisive bit

Funding & commercial model

Working out how the capital project gets paid for, and giving you the evidence you need.

Delivery

Construction & operation

Groundwater Investigation Consent, abstraction and reinjection licences, Heat Access Agreement and Permit to Enter Workings secured early rather than discovered late, then drilling and construction supervision as Principal Designer, planned around your operations and site access constraints.

Common questions

What if there is no budget for a study at all?

That is precisely who the free screening is for. It gives you something concrete to take to whoever controls the budget, and it costs nothing but a call.

Will this have to be tendered?

The screening is free and requires no procurement. Beyond that it depends on your thresholds. Tell us what is ring-fenced and we will scope the work to fit it, or we’ll say honestly if it cannot be done properly for that amount. We are a Bloom Accredited Supplier, if this helps with your procurement process.

We have already had a study done looking at one or more geothermal options, what do we do with this?

Good, that is a head start. We will review it, tell you whether we agree, and pick up from there rather than charging you to redo work already done. Once we’ve reviewed it we can advise you on our recommended next steps.

Where does this fit in a heat decarbonisation plan?

We will review your plan to ensure that what we’re proposing helps you to move towards you decarbonisation aims, and provides you with the data to evidence this.

What if geothermal does not work at our site?

We will tell you as soon as we know. We want to give you honest answers, not push a technology that will not work for you.

Tell us what your budget is and we will tell you what it buys

Or start with the free screening, which costs nothing and needs no procurement.