State funding secures geothermal energy future

Geothermal energy

The University of Adelaide has been awarded $1.6 million from the State Government to establish a new, world-class centre for geothermal energy research.

The funding - announced recently at the University of Adelaide by the Premier, the Hon. Mike Rann - will be provided over two years to help establish the new South Australian Centre of Excellence for Geothermal Research.

"It is an honour that the State Government has chosen the University's new geothermal energy centre as the first project to be funded by the Renewable Energy Fund," said the Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor James McWha.

"This funding will enable the University to establish a world-class centre that will play a key role in helping to deliver a geothermal energy future for South Australia.

"The University of Adelaide's expertise in geothermal energy is broad and deep. It includes strong industry links and a very strong collaboration with State Government through PIRSA (Primary Industries and Resources South Australia).

"This new centre will be vitally important in helping the State to achieve its renewable energy production target of 33% by 2020," Professor McWha said.

Professor Richard Hillis, Head of the Australian School of Petroleum, is the interim director of the new South Australian Centre of Excellence for Geothermal Research at the University of Adelaide.

"South Australia is uniquely positioned to be at the forefront of Australia's geothermal industry," Professor Hillis said.

"The State is endowed with the nation's most significant source of hot rocks. It is also home to the majority of geothermal licences in Australia and to the most advanced geothermal projects.

"The new centre will conduct research into enhanced geothermal systems, and in power systems that provide an economically and environmentally viable delivery of geothermal energy.

"The centre will enable South Australia to remain at the forefront of research and development in geothermal energy, and our work will result in major benefits for industry, the community and the environment," Professor Hillis said.

Story by David Ellis