Plans are in to drill three ‘deep geothermal wells’ as well as create a new sports facility in York.
The University of York is applying for permission to drill the wells and build a new cycle track in Heslington.
It would be on land on the disused velodrome near York Sport Village.
Planning documents state: “The proposed cycle facility has been developed through discussions with British Cycling and York Sport, and would provide an improved, more accessible cycle facility for the local community, replacing the velodrome which is currently unusable due to degradation of the surface materials.”
Geothermal heat is described as “reliable and renewable”. Under the plan, engineers would drill down to depths of about 1.86 miles into underground limestone rock.
At that level the rocks are hot. Water is pumped down, heated by the rock, and brought back to the surface where it would provide renewable heat for the Sport Village and surrounding university buildings.
It would be a significant undertaking. “Following construction, the temporary drilling phase would require a 55m drill rig to be located on site for a period of up to 14 months, allowing 12 months of drilling with a month for mobilisation and a month for demobilisation of the drill rig.
“This would be operational on a 24/7 basis while drilling of the wells takes place, as the drilling process is continuous and requires constant observation and maintenance.
“The wells will be cased in steel which will be cemented in place, which will prevent any drilling fluid or water from escaping the well and entering the watercourse.
“The casing will extend to a depth of approximately 3,000m, thousands of metres below the water table and any abstraction points.”
Once the drilling is complete, “the wells would be connected to the local heat network by underground pipes, and the only permanent structures associated with the geothermal facility would be the well head enclosures and fencing”.
The location, in the sport village of the university’s east campus, is about 185 metres to the west of the A64.
The new cycle facility would include a ‘learn to ride’ area for beginner riders. And an off-road area is proposed, with a “topographically varied track for riders to further develop their skills on more challenging terrain”.
Planning documents state: “The drill phase will result in unavoidable noise, but this has been assessed to be below daytime and nighttime threshold criteria for all sensitive receptors, giving a no observed effect level of noise.
“Vibration from the drilling will be minimal, due to the soft rock and depths that the drilling will be undertaken at.”
The use of geothermal heat would help the University of York transition to net zero.
You can read and comment on the plans here.
