Scientists have identified a major Manchester geothermal energy source deep beneath the University of Manchester, revealing the potential for large-scale clean power generation within the city.
The finding emerged from a knowledge exchange project between remote sensing firm Metatek and the University of Manchester. Researchers combined historic subsurface data from the 1980s with new land gravity measurements collected in 2025 to analyse geological structures around 2,000 metres below the university campus.
Using a simplified version of Metatek’s airborne gravity technology, the team mapped high-temperature zones created by burial depth and pressure. These zones suggest conditions suitable for geothermal energy extraction in an urban setting.
Dr David Johnstone, Senior Geoscientist at Metatek, said: “Our project, and subsequent work, provides the building blocks to create a detailed 3D geological model of the strata beneath the University campus, allowing us to select a drill location that could target high temperature zones due to the burial depth and pressure.”
He added that the Manchester geothermal energy source could “unlock a tremendous amount of cheap and clean energy” and potentially offset a significant portion of the University’s annual energy demand, which exceeds 100 GWh.
That level of output would be comparable to the electricity use of around 25,000 homes, roughly equivalent to the town of Altrincham. Researchers said the energy potential matches the output of about 100,000 solar panels, with a similar payback period to other renewable technologies.
A potential drilling site has been identified within Cecil Street Car Park, requiring a surface footprint no larger than a tennis court.
Johnstone said: “We have calculated that the best access point to create a geothermal well would be an area no bigger than a tennis court, in a corner of Cecil Street Car Park.”
The recent survey has produced the most detailed geological assessment yet of Manchester’s subsurface. Given the scale of the findings, the research team plans to expand the work using Metatek’s full airborne gravity imaging system to explore geothermal opportunities beneath other urban areas.