Case studies > Renewable energy: media, stakeholder and community engagement
The Brief
Geothermal Engineering Ltd (GEL) was founded in 2008 with the aim of developing the UK’s first commercial-scale geothermal power plant, to be based in Cornwall. The power plant’s development is subject to planning permission decisions and local approval, and needs to raise a total investment figure of £40 million. Deep geothermal power is an exciting renewable energy source already in use in countries such as America, Germany and Australia.
GEL chose Epoch to run two distinct PR programmes: a media campaign to launch the project and secure high-profile media coverage of deep geothermal potential in the UK; and a community campaign working with local residents and politicians to explain the benefits of geothermal power and to aid the planning application process. GEL also wanted a strong online presence to replace an outdated website.
The Result
The announcement of GEL’s Cornish power plant was pushed out by Epoch in October 2009 and since then, Ryan has commented on industry issues such as feed-in tariffs, government investment and geothermal science across a raft of national, local and trade publications, including BBC Spotlight, BBC Radio Cornwall, the Independent on Sunday, the Daily Mail, Western Morning News and New Civil Engineer.
The new GEL website was written, developed and launched within the given timeframe of just two weeks, with Epoch as project manager. This new site included a blog for GEL’s founder Ryan Law; a media centre, and a feedback section.
The community programme has secured a number of meetings for Ryan with local and national politicians, as part of an ongoing campaign to place Ryan in front of political decision-makers who influence energy policy.
Epoch also ran a series of public consultation events in Cornwall near the proposed power plant site, to give local residents the chance to meet the GEL team, ask questions, see how the technology works and understand the local benefits. The community engagement is part of an ongoing policy of transparency, honesty and accessibility.