Legacy BGS geothermal models: theoretical potential 'identified resources' (recoverable he

A vector contour dataset from the British Geological Survey represents the theoretical potential 'identified resources' for hot sedimentary aquifers in Permian formations. The data, derived from legacy models and a 1995 atlas, includes estimated recoverable heat values in GJ/m2, PJ/km2, and MW/km2 for resource temperatures greater than 40 °C. It covers the Collyhurst Sandstone Formation in the Cheshire Basin and the Bridgnorth Sandstone Formation in the Worcester Basin.

Use Cases

• Mapping geothermal resource distribution based on theoretical potential contours.
• Estimating recoverable heat for energy planning based on identified resource values.
• Comparing legacy geothermal models with modern assessments based on the documented methodology.

Strengths

• Data is derived from authoritative sources including a British Geological Survey technical report and the European Geothermal Atlas.
• Includes converted values for 'recoverable heat' in MW/km2 for equivalence with a 2023 published methodology.

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.
• Data is based on legacy models from 1995; freshness should be verified against current geological understanding.

Provenance

Source

British Geological Survey (BGS)

Collection Method

Derived from legacy theoretical models and the 'Atlas of geothermal resources in Europe: UK revision' (1995).

Time Range

Models based on 1995 data; theoretical potential is not time-bound.

Freshness

Last updated 2026-04-09 08:26:39.524258; freshness should be verified

Geography

Cheshire Basin (Collyhurst Sandstone Formation) and Worcester Basin (Bridgnorth Sandstone Formation), United Kingdom.