Documenting the journey of discovery to unearth the heat beneath our feet. Laureen Todd, Producer at creative communications consultancy Morrow Communications, reflects on her time producing ‘Unearthing the heat beneath our feet’, the newly released GeoEnergy NI documentary exploring the power and potential of geothermal energy in Northern Ireland.
As communications partner for the GeoEnergy NI project, Morrow Communications began capturing key moments from the project in February 2023. From the schools’ engagement roadshow to the drilling and testing programme, we travelled across Northern Ireland to discover the heat beneath our feet.
From a production point of view, one of our main challenges was to thread all the salient footage captured over the past two years to create a cohesive 30-minute documentary showcasing the exciting potential of geothermal energy in Northern Ireland, that would still be accessible to a range of audiences.
We felt the best way to help tell this incredible story was through a passionate presenter that audiences would relate to. Radio host Paulo Ross, whose degree in Geography and passion for the environment (not to mention his very clean electric car), made him the ideal choice and we were thrilled he felt the same and wanted to join the team. It was clear early on; we had a budding David Attenborough in the making!
The next stage for us was to build a storyboard framework and write the documentary script. The framework would provide a base to weave in existing footage with freshly shot interviews, scripted voice over and pieces to camera for Paulo to deliver while on set across different locations. Having been involved in the project from the outset, we were able to make sure messaging was consistent; vital to ensure the story would resonate and inspire our audience. Our videographer (and qualified drone operator) Shannon brought the documentary to life further through his filming and editing expertise, and so the GeoEnergy NI documentary started taking shape.
It felt like the coldest winter days in November and December were chosen for filming across Northern Ireland! Paulo and the crew braved the freezing winds at Scrabo Tower but were rewarded later with the stunning blue skies at the Stormont Estate. Paulo met different members of the project team, spent an afternoon on the Virtual Reality headsets at the mobile GeoEnergy Discovery Centre alongside Dundonald Primary School pupils, and finally warmed up in a homeowner’s beautiful, geothermally heated home in Randalstown.
The end result is a triumph. Through the documentary, we hope that viewers will appreciate that Northern Ireland has the potential to harness geothermal energy. Many will be pleasantly surprised to learn that we have a huge untapped potential for geothermal energy and many homes and businesses are already reaping the benefits. The film makes scientific information accessible to all and successfully raises awareness about this renewable, low carbon energy source.
Whether you are a geologist or not, this documentary clearly explains what geothermal energy is, what the Department for the Economy is exploring, and how this can ultimately benefit the people of Northern Ireland.
And if that wasn’t achievement enough, we managed to become subject matter experts on geothermal energy, avoid hypothermia, and (perhaps most impressively) ensure that Shannon and I didn’t dirty Paulo’s car!
As we move rapidly towards net zero by 2050, the energy transition is only becoming more urgent. At Morrow Communications, we are proud to play our part in helping promote awareness around geothermal energy and its benefits, empowering those considering alternatives to fossil fuels.
The short film premiered in the Ulster Museum as part of NI Science Festival 2025 and is now available to watch on the GeoEnergy NI project website.