A new mobile GeoEnergy Discovery Centre has launched to help inform the public about the potential for geothermal energy in Northern Ireland as a renewable and sustainable energy source.

Initially based on the Stormont Estate during autumn 2023, the centre will be open to the public from World Geothermal Energy Day on 17 October. The GeoEnergy Discovery Centre will then make its way around Northern Ireland educating individuals and businesses on the power of geothermal energy as a sustainable energy source.

The centre is funded by the Department for the Economy (DfE) and is a key part of the GeoEnergy NI project being delivered by DfE with scientific support from the Geological Survey of Northern Ireland (GSNI).

Designed to support the decarbonisation of the energy sector in pursuit of Northern Ireland's net zero carbon targets by 2050, the project is examining shallow and deep geothermal potential at the Stormont Estate in Belfast and at the College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise, Greenmount Campus in Antrim.

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The innovative visitor centre was unveiled at the annual 'Science and Stormont' event which was organised by the Royal Society of Chemistry in Parliament Buildings in cooperation with the local professional science, technology, engineering and maths community.

Ryan White, Director of Heat, Buildings and Climate Change at the Department for the Economy, said: "The GeoEnergy NI project has been making great progress since it was launched, and we are excited to now unveil a key project asset which will help showcase the potential that geothermal energy offers Northern Ireland as an important part of our future energy mix.

"A key strand of the GeoEnergy NI project is its public and stakeholder outreach campaign. Today we were pleased to introduce the GeoEnergy Discovery Centre to key stakeholders and school children at Stormont and look forward to launching it for wider public access on World Geothermal Energy Day on 17th October. We believe it will play an important role in enhancing the public’s awareness and understanding of geothermal and the economic and environmental benefits it offers through an immersive, educational experience."

Marie Cowan, Director of GSNI, stated: "Geothermal is a reliable, low carbon, renewable energy resource that occurs naturally within the Earth, and brings with it a host of environmental, economic, and social benefits. Our research shows that despite having favourable geology conditions for geothermal in Northern Ireland, it is still a relatively little-known or utilised energy source here. Through both data gathering and analysis, as well as public information and education, we believe GeoEnergy NI has the potential to be a catalyst for growth in the geothermal sector. We believe it can encourage future private sector investment in this important technology and the skills necessary to harness it across Northern Ireland."