The Eden Project has turned to geothermal energy this winter in what it says is a major step in the organisation’s pathway to achieving net zero and realising its goal of becoming climate positive by 2030.

For the first time in the UK since 1986, geothermal energy was used to heat the biomes, offices, and new plant nursery at the site in Cornwall.

The five-kilometre well located on the site is expected to save up to 500t of CO2 per year and take the Eden Project almost entirely off gas. 

Using deep geothermal heat has allowed its horticulture team to grow produce, such as fresh herbs, fruits and vegetables over a longer seasonal period, as well as experiment with exotic produce that would typically need to be imported, including bananas, papayas, ginger and lemongrass.