Geothermal energy exploration in Central Australia

Geothermal energy exploration in Central Australia is an area of considerable activity, which involves finding vast blocks of "hot rocks" with fracture systems that could generate electricity through water being injected, circulated through the fractures, and being returned to surface as steam. [http://www.mineweb.net/mineweb/view/mineweb/en/page38?oid=20361&sn=Detail Big energy role for central Australia’s hot rocks] ]

Exploration and drilling

There are vast deep-seated granite systems in Central Australia that have high temperatures at depth and these are being drilled by companies such as Geodynamics Ltd, Petratherm, Green Rock Energy and Pacific Hydro to depths of more than four kilometres.

Australian pioneer Geodynamics has proved flow of geothermal energy from its Habanero 1 and 2 wells and completed drilling a third well, Habenero 3, to a depth of over 4km in early 2008. These wells are near Innamincka, South Australia. The rock is up to 290 Celsius. The company intends to develop a 1 MW demonstration power station based on these wells to power Innamincka for 10 yrs.

Petratherm has drilled two wells and deepened one, Paralana 1B, that suggests temperatures of 200 degrees Celsius at 3.6 km and the next step is to take one well Paralana to 3.6 km and flow test for proof-of-concept.

As at 2007 there were 19 companies Australia-wide in 141 areas spending $A654 million in exploration programmes. In South Australia, where most of the hot rock exploration had occurred until 2008, 12 companies have applied for exploration permits in 116 areas and can be expected to invest $A524 M ($US435 M) in their projects in the next six yearsFact|date=February 2008. Ten projects are expected to achieve successful exploration and proof of concept, that is, heat flows, by 2010, and at least three power generation demonstration projects on stream by 2012.

Future potential

South Australia has been described as "Australia's hot rock haven" and this emissions free and renewable energy form could provide an estimated 6.8% of Australia's base load power needs by 2030. According to a conservative estimate by the Centre for International Economics, Australia has enough geothermal energy to contribute electricity for 450 years. [ [http://www.smh.com.au/news/environment/hot-rock-power-the-way-ahead/2007/04/11/1175971183212.html Scientists get hot rocks off over green nuclear power] ]

Politics

On 30 May 2007, Australian opposition environmental spokesperson Peter Garrett announced that if elected at the 2007 Australian Federal Election, the Australian Labor Party would subsidise putting the necessary drilling rigs in place. [ [http://www.abc.net.au/lateline/content/2007/s1938273.htm Garrett discusses Labor's stance on climate change] , "Lateline", 30 May 2007] On 20 August 2008, Martin Ferguson announced that the Federal Government will "provide $50 million to the geothermal industry to help it begin making the technology viable for baseload energy production". [ [http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/08/20/2340898.htm?section=justin Govt announces $50m for geothermal drilling] ]

ee also

*Geothermal desalination
*Geothermal energy in the United States
*List of Australian renewable energy topics
*List of renewable energy topics by country
*Green Rock Energy

References

External links

*cite web |url=http://www.epa.qld.gov.au/register/p00395aa.pdf |title=Geothermal energy |format= |work= |publisher=Environmental Protection Agency, Queensland Government |accessdate=
* [http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/3/story.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=10431793 Energy company Torrens makes hot ASX debut]
* [http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,21525816-30417,00.html Geodynamics says it has 'hottest rocks on earth' in Cooper Basin]
* [http://hotrock.anu.edu.au/index.html Hot rock energy]
* [http://www.theage.com.au/news/National/Centre-to-study-geothermal-energy/2007/07/09/1183833392530.html Centre to study geothermal energy at Univ of Adelaide]
* [http://www.pir.sa.gov.au/geothermal Primary Industries and Resources SA - Geothermal Energy]
* [http://www.ausindustry.gov.au/content/content.cfm?ObjectID=FF0A1E29-D280-4228-939361EA82ECB6D1 $3m For SA Geothermal Energy Project]
*cite web |url=http://www-old.dpr.csiro.au/research/hdr.html |title=Geothermal Energy - Hot Dry Rocks |format= |work= |publisher=CSIRO |accessdate=