CeraPhi Energy, a leading developer of geothermal energy solutions, has been awarded a contract to implement an innovative low-carbon heating system at Scunthorpe General Hospital, part of the Northern Lincolnshire and Goole NHS Foundation Trust.
The pioneering project will see CeraPhi Energy Ltd transform an existing 550-metre borehole on the hospital site into a proprietary CeraPhiWell geothermal system. This system will be integrated with a new energy centre to supply continuous, reliable, green heat from deep below the grounds of the hospital to a heat network, significantly decarbonising a number of hospital buildings, reducing the site’s reliance on fossil fuels and helping to achieve the trust’s Net Zero targets.
This development marks a significant step in the NHS’s commitment to achieving Net-Zero emissions and will position Scunthorpe General Hospital as a trailblazer in public sector decarbonisation. The geothermal heat network is expected to deliver reductions in carbon emissions and long-term energy cost savings.
Gary Williams, Chief Operating Officer of CeraPhi Energy Ltd, commented:
'We are immensely proud to be partnering with the NHS on this infrastructure project. Re-purposing an existing asset like the 550m borehole with our CeraPhiWell technology provides an accelerated, cost-effective, and low-risk pathway to delivering baseload geothermal heat. This contract is a testament to the versatility of our ‘plug and play’ system for commercial and public sector decarbonisation, and we are committed to supporting Scunthorpe General Hospital in setting a new standard for sustainable healthcare.'
The new energy centre and heat network will provide a stable, efficient source of heating and hot water, crucial for patient and staff comfort as well as clinical operations. By harnessing the constant thermal energy from beneath the ground, the system will offer a robust alternative to traditional gas-fired boilers.
Group Deputy Director of Capital Services and Sustainability, Alex Best, said:
'We are proud to be one of the most pioneering NHS organisations in the country in using sustainable, green energy to power and heat our hospitals. We believe this is important for a number of reasons. Firstly, we want to create healthy, clean environments for
our patients, visitors and staff – and the wider communities living and working around our hospital sites.
We also want to invest in technology that will help to make our buildings more efficient, creating comfortable spaces for patients to heal and recuperate, that are more economical to run.
This latest phase of works, that will see us using a geothermal system to heat some of our buildings at Scunthorpe is a really exciting development, which we hope will pave the way for similar schemes in the future.'
CeraPhi Energy’s work will involve:
Converting the pre-drilled 550m borehole into a closed-loop CeraPhiWell system.
Designing and installing a new, highly-efficient energy centre to house the necessary heat pump technology.
Installing a new heat network to connect multiple hospital buildings to the geothermal heat source.
It is thought that this project will be the deepest of its type ever installed in the UK and forms part of CeraPhi Energy’s drive to install low cost and low carbon emission system across the UK.
Work commenced in October 2025 and is scheduled to be complete and commissioned by the end of February 2026.
This project forms a key component of the hospital’s broader sustainability strategy.
Source: CeraPhi Energy
