An Aberdeen company is aiming to use geothermal energy to heat King Charles' estate at Balmoral.
A new study, co-funded by industry with the Royal residence, is working to find out whether the sustainable energy source can be used at the location.
It will also act as a first step in providing a viable commercial heating source to the Cairngorms and wider Highlands, according to the firm behind the venture.
Aberdeen-based ZeGen Energy, a specialist in geothermal technology, has completed the first phase of the work, which has shown there is technical feasibility to use geothermal resources in the region.
The team has now mapped out several potential uses of the technology for low-carbon heating at the Balmoral Estate.
Kirsten Pasturel, CEO of ZeGen Energy, told Energy Voice: "The heart of this project lies within the community. Not only in provision of low-carbon heating, but also in skills transfer from a local and highly-skilled workforce and provision of jobs for young locals wishing to remain in the area."
Drilling wells
The production of geothermal energy involves drilling wells and pumping fluid into the holes.
The fluids, once warmed by the Earth's heat, can then be used to heat buildings, or when brought to high enough temperatures for the generation of electricity.
The energy source has been picked up in some countries like Iceland and the Philippines.
Paris has also been using geothermal energy to heat homes since 1969 and is used in 250,000 households via 50 heating networks.
In addition to funding from Balmoral Estate, the project is also being backed by Aberdeen's Net Zero Technology Centre.
It is being carried out in collaboration with Aberdeen University and is being supported by Ross DK, a Danish drilling company, and Xodus, an Aberdeen-based engineering firm.
Potential
Iain Martin, project manager at the Net Zero Technology Centre, said to Energy Voice: "Geothermal energy has the potential to provide long-term, low-carbon, sustainable power and heat.
"The north-east of Scotland has a rich potential for deep geothermal energy.
"Projects like this are part of a growing portfolio of projects and initiatives undertaken by the Net Zero Technology Centre to promote and demonstrate the huge potential of geothermal energy to decarbonise offshore and onshore operations.
"The Balmoral project provides an exciting step towards commercialising the onshore geothermal industry in Scotland, providing heat and power networks in rural and urban areas."
Professor Clare Bond, of Aberdeen University, added: "It was exciting to be involved in this scoping project investigating the potential of Grampian granites for geothermal heat and energy and to apply geological expertise from the University of Aberdeen to the energy-transition challenge for net-zero technologies."
This is not the first instance of renewable energy being used at Balmoral - earlier this year, Queen Elizabeth had solar panels installed.