Star Energy is pleased to announce a new partnership with Veolia to support the development and delivery of large-scale geothermal heating schemes in the UK. This collaboration brings together two organisations with deep expertise in energy, infrastructure, and environmental services, focused on enabling a low-carbon future through reliable, renewable heat.
The partnership will combine Star Energy’s extensive subsurface capabilities with Veolia’s operational expertise in energy infrastructure, with a shared goal of accelerating the rollout of geothermal heating across multiple sectors. Target applications include district heating networks, hospitals, university campuses, industrial facilities, and commercial property developments.
Building Momentum for Decarbonised Heat
Heating accounts for around 30% of the UK’s total energy consumption and over 40% of its carbon emissions. Decarbonising heat remains one of the country’s most significant energy challenges, especially for large sites and high-demand facilities that are poorly suited to full electrification. Geothermal energy offers a low-carbon, locally available solution that can operate independently of electricity markets, with long asset life and low operational costs.
Star Energy and Veolia’s joint work will involve the full geothermal project lifecycle, including hydrogeological and seismic studies, thermal simulation, system design, and directional drilling. These methods are based on tried-and-tested technologies already deployed successfully across Europe and globally.
By combining strengths, the two companies aim to overcome some of the traditional barriers associated with heat network decarbonisation, delivering commercially viable, scalable solutions for clients with ambitious sustainability targets.
A Strategic Partnership
This collaboration marks another key step in Star Energy’s strategy to diversify into renewable heat, applying its subsurface expertise—gained over decades as the UK’s leading onshore oil and gas operator—to the growing geothermal market.
Ross Glover, CEO of Star Energy, commented: “Star Energy is playing a key role in the UK’s transition to sustainable and predictable heat provision, and geothermal has an important role to play in the UK’s energy transition by providing a home-grown, predictable, renewable heat option for businesses and households, contributing to the Government’s 2050 net-zero ambitions.
We look forward to working with the Veolia teams and developing new projects using our unique expertise, gained over decades in the energy sector. Through partnerships such as this, we fully expect our geothermal business to grow significantly as it delivers to customer requirements to secure and decarbonise their energy supply.”
Veolia brings extensive experience in the operation of heat networks, energy services, and emissions reduction strategies, with active geothermal projects already underway in continental Europe. The partnership with Star Energy aligns with Veolia’s ‘GreenUp’ strategy, focused on delivering net-zero solutions at scale.
John Abraham, COO – Industrial, Water, and Energy UK, Ireland, and Nordics at Veolia, said: “Veolia has a proven track record of delivering carbon savings through district heating, and our plan is to increase the number of district heating schemes in the UK – aligned with our global GreenUp strategy. So we particularly welcome this new partnership that will be able to deliver significant carbon savings in a sector where delivery can be complex, we know that geothermal energy is attractive, both from an economical and emissions perspective, when compared to other renewable and fossil fuel solutions. By working together, we will be able to deliver the significant benefits of low carbon heat that is needed across a wide range of domestic, commercial and public sector applications.”
Supporting the UK’s Net Zero Goals
This partnership builds on Star Energy’s growing geothermal footprint in the UK. The company is currently working with Bring Energy to support a feasibility study into the expansion of geothermal heating in Southampton. Elsewhere, Star Energy is developing multiple geothermal projects with NHS partners and has secured a €25 million facility to support geothermal development both in the UK and Croatia.
Geothermal systems offer a particularly strong case in areas where high-powered heat pumps or electrified systems face grid limitations. With comparatively low power requirements, geothermal heat can reduce long-term operational costs while supporting system resilience and energy security.
As the UK continues to define the path toward net zero, strategic partnerships such as this one between Star Energy and Veolia demonstrate the scale of opportunity that exists in tapping into the UK’s subsurface energy. With the right expertise and collaboration, geothermal heating can form a major part of the country’s future energy mix.