Geothermal Performance Monitoring

At Star Energy, our commitment to delivering long-term geothermal solutions goes beyond initial design and construction. Ensuring continued system efficiency, reliability, and compliance depends on high-quality performance monitoring. This service forms a vital part of the operational lifecycle of any geothermal installation and is particularly essential in critical infrastructure settings such as hospitals, universities, and local authority buildings.

Oue Performance Monitoring Services

Our geothermal performance monitoring services are designed to give clients full transparency over subsurface and surface-level operations, allowing for early issue detection, data-driven optimisation, and long-term asset management. Through a combination of sensor technology, data analytics, and technical review processes, we help clients verify that their geothermal systems continue to meet design expectations and commercial objectives. Geothermal assets represent a significant long-term investment. Once operational, they must perform reliably across decades of service. Even small variations in flow rate, pressure, or system responsiveness can lead to inefficiencies or unplanned downtime. Star Energy’s operations and maintenance services are structured to deliver full technical coverage of all mechanical, electrical, and control elements of a geothermal energy system, while ensuring each system continues to meet contractual heat obligations and legislative requirements.

Project Scope and Objectives

The objective of performance monitoring is to establish a continuous feedback loop on how the geothermal system is performing against its intended design. This includes monitoring key operational parameters such as flow rates, injection and abstraction temperatures, pump efficiency, energy transfer rates, and pressure differentials. The scope typically includes system-wide instrumentation, real-time data capture, analytics integration, alert configuration, reporting infrastructure, and expert review. Our aim is to ensure the geothermal plant remains within safe operational parameters, delivers heat or cooling as intended, and maintains cost-effective, low-carbon performance throughout its lifecycle.

Monitoring is also central to commercial validation, particularly where long-term heat supply agreements or renewable energy obligations are in place. Accurate performance data underpins client billing, maintenance scheduling, and compliance with government or investor reporting requirements.

Get in Touch

Current System Analysis

For retrofit projects or systems already in operation, our team first conducts a technical review of the current performance monitoring arrangements. This includes identifying the types of sensors installed, the quality and completeness of data being collected, data transfer methods, and the overall control infrastructure. We assess whether current monitoring processes are sufficient to support fault detection, regulatory compliance, and system optimisation. If there are gaps, such as missing data points or outdated sensor technology, we provide a detailed upgrade plan aligned with operational goals.

In new developments, our system design process includes the specification and layout of performance monitoring infrastructure to ensure full coverage from commissioning onwards.

Requirements Definition

Effective geothermal performance monitoring requires a defined set of inputs and outputs.

These include temperature probes at various locations (e.g. wellhead, flow and return lines, heat exchangers), pressure sensors in the borehole and surface system, volumetric flow meters, and power consumption monitors for pumps and controls. Depending on the system architecture, additional monitoring points may be required for thermal storage assets, distribution networks, top-up heat systems, or resilience heat sources.

We work closely with system designers and client engineering teams to ensure all necessary data points are captured and transmitted to a central platform. Requirements also include secure communications, storage capacity, data retention policies, and user interface access for technical and operational teams.

Solution Design and Architecture

Our performance monitoring solutions are built on a modular and scalable architecture, enabling integration with existing SCADA platforms, building management systems (BMS), or independent cloud-based dashboards. This ensures flexibility in how data is accessed and managed. Each system is designed to enable real-time monitoring alongside historical data analysis. Alarm thresholds and performance benchmarks are configured based on system specifications, design assumptions, and client-defined operational KPIs.

We can provide fully remote access to live dashboards, with multi-user logins, tiered permissions, and audit trails to support accountability and traceability.

Technology Assessment

Star Energy evaluates a range of proven sensor and control technologies based on accuracy, reliability, and interoperability. All equipment is selected for compatibility with geothermal system environments, particularly high-pressure, corrosive, or fluctuating temperature conditions commonly seen in deep geothermal boreholes. We assess new and emerging technologies that offer enhanced fault detection, self-calibration, and reduced maintenance requirements. Our preferred technologies are chosen based on extensive field experience and supplier support networks across the UK.

Infrastructure Evaluation

Successful performance monitoring depends not only on sensors but also on the robustness of the supporting infrastructure. We assess whether sufficient network connectivity, power supply, and data cabling are in place to support the system. For remote or challenging sites, we offer monitoring solutions that can be powered by solar or low-voltage DC supply and transmit data via 4G/5G or satellite uplinks. Data resilience is a key consideration, and we build redundancy and buffering into all critical data points.

We also review physical access to monitoring hardware for servicing and sensor recalibration during scheduled maintenance periods.

 

Risk Assessment

Several operational risks can compromise system performance if not properly monitored. These include flow reduction due to scaling or fouling, pump failures, leaks in insulated pipework, or temperature drop caused by aquifer changes. Our risk assessment process identifies the critical indicators that can signal the early onset of these issues. By monitoring at strategic points throughout the system, we mitigate the risk of undetected failure and unplanned downtime.

Alarm thresholds are configured with tolerances designed to reflect both regulatory limits and optimal efficiency zones, allowing prompt intervention before performance deteriorates.

Compliance and Regulatory Considerations

Performance monitoring supports compliance with various statutory and voluntary frameworks. For example, operators may need to demonstrate compliance with abstraction licences, reinjection consents, and discharge permits, particularly where systems interface with aquifers or surface water bodies. Monitoring also supports compliance with BS EN 16903 standards for geothermal boreholes, CIBSE Heat Networks Code of Practice, and reporting requirements under the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) or successor schemes.

Star Energy designs all monitoring systems to support full traceability, with timestamped logs, data integrity controls, and formatted outputs for regulator review.

Cost and Schedule Estimates

Our service includes the development of costed proposals for the design, installation, and commissioning of performance monitoring systems. These are based on system size, monitoring scope, sensor types, data volume, and integration needs. Schedule estimates account for lead times on sensor procurement, installation access, commissioning activities, and integration testing with existing platforms. Installation is typically completed in parallel with system commissioning or as a standalone retrofit project.

Evaluation and Recommendations

As part of our performance monitoring service, Star Energy conducts regular system evaluations. These reviews cover key performance indicators such as seasonal variation in heat output, pump energy efficiency, system load profiles, and trend deviations from expected thermal response. We issue structured reports containing visual performance summaries, anomaly detection, and technical commentary. Where performance declines are noted, we provide clear guidance on remedial actions, such as well flushing, system recalibration, or component replacement.

Our evaluations also help to validate long-term performance guarantees and support contract renewal decisions in heat supply agreements.

 

Proof of Concept (POC) Testing

For complex or novel systems, Star Energy offers proof-of-concept testing of performance monitoring infrastructure. This includes pilot installations, data validation exercises, and interoperability checks with control systems. POC testing allows clients to evaluate system capabilities, confirm alarm functionality, and assess usability before full deployment.

Staffing and Expertise Requirements

Star Energy provides a fully managed performance monitoring service delivered by a multi-disciplinary team. This includes geothermal engineers, controls specialists, data analysts, and compliance experts. We offer both remote support and site-based visits, with defined service level agreements (SLAs) to ensure response times meet operational needs. In addition to system commissioning, we provide training for client staff on dashboard use, reporting tools, and basic fault identification.

Market Analysis

With the growth of low-carbon heating in both the public and private sectors, geothermal energy is gaining traction as a reliable and sustainable solution. However, the operational integrity of these systems is critical to their continued adoption. Clients—including NHS trusts, universities, industrial sites, and local authorities—are under increasing pressure to demonstrate value for money, energy security, and decarbonisation outcomes. Performance monitoring is the mechanism through which these outcomes can be measured, validated, and improved.

Star Energy is positioned as a trusted partner to deliver these services with the technical depth, regulatory awareness, and field experience necessary to support critical infrastructure.

Financial Projections

While performance monitoring represents a relatively small share of total project costs, it delivers significant value over the lifecycle of a geothermal system.

Improved fault detection, energy efficiency gains, reduced downtime, and extended asset life contribute to a lower cost of heat over time. We work with clients to quantify these benefits, linking performance data to commercial metrics such as £/MWh delivered, cost avoidance, and contractual compliance.

Contact Us

A depth of knowledge & experience in the Geothermal arena gives us the edge over competitors

Ross Glover, Chief Executive

Our strategy is to create value for shareholders, employees and communities by being a leading operator of oil and gas assets, renowned for operational excellence and strong safety standards.

Ross Glover, Chief Executive

Geothermal energy is an ideal solution to the urban deployment of renewable energy, geothermal energy.

Ross Glover, Chief Executive

Our Projects - Geothermal

Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust

The Carbon Energy Fund released a tender to select Innovation Partners to work with NHS Trusts across the UK to identify Low Carbon Heat opportunities. We were selected as preferred Partner by the CEF and Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust for the Wythenshawe Hospital.

Manchester Therme Group

Feasibility work for an innovative geothermal geo-exchange solution for the Therme Wellbeing Resort in Trafford Park, Manchester. A trial borehole was drilled and thermal response testing carried out to determine the potential capacity for heat and cooling supplies to the development. This work identified that the Trafford Park area has amongst the highest capacity in the country.

Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust

The Carbon Energy Fund released a tender to select Innovation Partners to work with NHS Trusts across the UK to identify Low Carbon Heat opportunities. We were selected as preferred Partner by the CEF and Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust for the Salisbury Hospital.

Investors

Regulatory News

Read More

Annual Report

Read the Report

Lastest Presentation

View the Presentation