Campaigners have visited a fracking site in North Yorkshire which is now piloting renewable energy.

The KM8 well in Kirby Misperton was due to be fracked in 2016, attracting daily protests that made national headlines.

It is now part of a geothermal project that could pipe hot water to local homes within about two years.

On the visit, opponents of the fracking plans saw how cold water was now being pumped into the 3000m well and heated naturally by the deep rocks.

The company behind the scheme, Third Energy, never fracked KM8 but began the move to clean energy in 2020. It was taken over by a renewables consortium and joined by anti-fracking campaigner, Steve Mason, now a North Yorkshire councillor.

One of the campaigners, Sue Gough, said:

“This could now become a source of clean energy for the community and that will be cheaper. It’s incredible and it’s wonderful.”

Another opponent, Rev Jackie Cray, said:

“I think repurposing the gas well is just amazing. It’s like something really good has come out of something that was so disruptive.”

The visit was filmed for BBC Television’s The One Show, currently available on the BC BBC IPlayer.

DrillOrDrop has reported on Third Energy’s transition to geothermal heat:

30 September 2020 Third Energy seeks geothermal heat from old Ryedale gas wells

13 January 2022 Renewables company takes over fracking firm to rescue stranded assets

1 March 2022 Third Energy awarded government funding for heat network study using old gas wells

24 May 2022 Views sought on green energy plans for ex-fracking site

3 October 2022 People “strongly in favour” of using old gas wells for geothermal scheme – consultation 22 April 2024 Anti-fracking reunion at Kirby Misperton