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Centre for Excellence for Geothermal Research
The first project to be funded from the Renewable Energy Fund will be the South Australian Centre of Excellence for Geothermal Research at the University of Adelaide.
More information...

2nd Annual Australian Geothermal Energy Conference (2009)
Geothermal Downunder - Clean Energy from the Ground Up
10-13 November 2009, Brisbane
More information and invitation to register your expression of interest...

AGEG
Read more about the Australian Geothermal Energy Group...

PACE Theme 2 Drilling Collaboration
Round 5 successful projects...

Read about the PACE initiative...

SARIG
Online mapping application...

New Products
Read about our new data products...

 


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Geothermal energy is the natural heat found within the earth — around the globe, temperature increases with depth, typically by 10–50ºC/km. The bulk of this heat is generated from the radioactive decay of naturally occurring potassium, thorium and uranium isotopes. Localised heat sources occur in active volcanic regions where geysers and hot springs are utilised for hydrothermal energy in over 45 countries, including Japan and New Zealand.

South Australia has large regions of interpreted high crustal temperature associated with buried granite intrusives at depths greater than 3 km, and these form key exploration targets. Other targets include:

  • hydrothermal energy from the Great Artesian Basin in northeastern South Australia
  • residual heat sources in the South East around Australia’s most recently active onshore volcanoes
  • potential radiogenic iron oxide deposits, similar to Olympic Dam and Prominent Hill, which may have even higher heat flow than the granites and enhanced natural thermal systems.

The Government of South Australia is now leading Australia with an effective and expeditious geothermal regulatory and approvals framework under the Petroleum Act 2000. The outcomes are astounding and have positive implications for South Australians being enabled to reduce emissions, adapt to the implications of climate change and to benefit from changes expected in future carbon-constrained economic settings.

South Australia’s comparative advantages in the form of:

  • naturally occurring hot rock geothermal resources
  • world-class, government-designed (supportive) investment frameworks
  • exemplary implementation of a trustworthy regulatory regime
  • effective marketing

have attracted over 58% of geothermal investment in Australia for the period 2002 - 2013. These projects cover a diversity of geological provinces so a range of potential new energy sources are being tested. There has also been strong support by share market investors, including major petroleum exploration and production companies.

Current tenements and geothermal drilling projects in South Australia can be seen here.

Current_geothermal_projects



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