Geothermal power in Australia was at one time hoped to provide cost effect, renewable power for Australia.[1] There are locations that have been shown to contain hot granites at depth which hold good potential for development of geothermal energy. Exploratory geothermal wells have been drilled to test for the presence of high temperature geothermal reservoir rocks and such hot granites were detected. However, all these projects have since been abandoned.[2] A small geothermal plant in Queensland experienced problems during commissioning and as at May 2022, remains idle.[3]
Interpreted Temperature at 5km Depth
Australian radiogenic granite and sedimentary basin geothermal hot rock potential map
Exploration 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 which could then be used to rotate steam turbines.[4]
There are vast deep-seated granite systems in Central Australia that have high temperatures at depth and these have been drilled by companies such as Panax Geothermal, Geodynamics Ltd, Petratherm, Green Rock Energy and Pacific Hydro to depths of more than four kilometres.
Parts of central Tasmania have been identified by KUTh Energy as having the potential to generate up to 280MW of power. Such a resource would be able to supply 25% of Tasmania's electricity needs.[5]
However, these projects have been discontinued.
Projects
In 2010, 47 projects were identified in Australia. Of the larger projects, Geodynamics Cooper Basin demonstration plant managed to progress the furthest. As at May 2022, no geothermal power plants are operating in Australia.
Geodynamics Cooper Basin Demonstration Plant, South Australia
A Cooper Basin demonstration project to assess the potential of hot-rock geothermal energy for zero-emission, base-load power was built by Geodynamics. The 1 MWe Habanero pilot plant operated for 160 days in 2013 and prior to closure of the trial, the plant was operating at 19kg/s and 215 degrees celsius production well head temperature.[6] However, the project was abandoned after being assessed as uneconomic due to a combination of the cost of commercialising generation and the remoteness of the site.
"The technology worked but unfortunately the cost of implementing the technology and also the cost of delivering the electricity that was produced to a market was just greater than the revenue stream that we could create," Geodynamics chief executive Chris Murray said. Geodynamics wells have been plugged and remediated.[7]
Geodynamics is no longer exploring geothermal power and is instead looking at other green energy initiatives. It has therefore changed its name to ReNu Energy and changed its ASX code to RNE.
gTET Winton, Queensland
A small 310kW geothermal power generation plant commenced commissioning in 2019 with the promise of becoming Australia's only operating geothermal power station.[8] The plant was to utilise 86oC bore water from existing bores to produce electricity using an Organic Rankine Cycle. However, commissioning problems were not overcome and as at May 2022, the plant remains idle and the subject of legal dispute.[3]
^Roberts, Peter (2019-10-23). "gTET commissions Australia's only geothermal power station". Australian Manufacturing Forum. Retrieved 2022-02-08.
^ ab"'A white elephant': The $4m outback geothermal plant that's never delivered power". ABC News. 2022-05-29. Retrieved 2022-05-30.
^ abBig energy role for central Australia’s hot rocks
^"Hot rocks set to roll". The Mercury. 2010-02-22. Retrieved 2010-02-22.
^"Cooper Basin Enhanced Geothermal Systems". Australian Renewable Energy Agency. Retrieved 2022-02-08.
^GeoEnergy, Think (2016-08-29). "Geodynamics closure on geothermal activities in Australia & Pacific | ThinkGeoEnergy - Geothermal Energy News". Retrieved 2022-02-08.
^Roberts, Peter (2019-10-23). "gTET commissions Australia's only geothermal power station". Australian Manufacturing Forum. Retrieved 2022-02-08.
External links
(PDF). Environmental Protection Agency, Queensland Government. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2007-09-27.
Centre to study geothermal energy at Univ of Adelaide
Primary Industries and Resources SA - Geothermal Energy
geothermal, power, australia, time, hoped, provide, cost, effect, renewable, power, australia, there, locations, that, have, been, shown, contain, granites, depth, which, hold, good, potential, development, geothermal, energy, exploratory, geothermal, wells, h. Geothermal power in Australia was at one time hoped to provide cost effect renewable power for Australia 1 There are locations that have been shown to contain hot granites at depth which hold good potential for development of geothermal energy Exploratory geothermal wells have been drilled to test for the presence of high temperature geothermal reservoir rocks and such hot granites were detected However all these projects have since been abandoned 2 A small geothermal plant in Queensland experienced problems during commissioning and as at May 2022 remains idle 3 Interpreted Temperature at 5km Depth Australian radiogenic granite and sedimentary basin geothermal hot rock potential map Contents 1 Exploration 2 Projects 2 1 Geodynamics Cooper Basin Demonstration Plant South Australia 2 2 gTET Winton Queensland 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksExploration EditExploration 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 which could then be used to rotate steam turbines 4 There are vast deep seated granite systems in Central Australia that have high temperatures at depth and these have been drilled by companies such as Panax Geothermal Geodynamics Ltd Petratherm Green Rock Energy and Pacific Hydro to depths of more than four kilometres South Australia has been described as Australia s hot rock haven and this renewable energy was hoped to provide an estimated 6 8 of Australia s base load power needs by 2030 4 Parts of central Tasmania have been identified by KUTh Energy as having the potential to generate up to 280MW of power Such a resource would be able to supply 25 of Tasmania s electricity needs 5 However these projects have been discontinued Projects EditIn 2010 47 projects were identified in Australia Of the larger projects Geodynamics Cooper Basin demonstration plant managed to progress the furthest As at May 2022 no geothermal power plants are operating in Australia Geodynamics Cooper Basin Demonstration Plant South Australia Edit A Cooper Basin demonstration project to assess the potential of hot rock geothermal energy for zero emission base load power was built by Geodynamics The 1 MWe Habanero pilot plant operated for 160 days in 2013 and prior to closure of the trial the plant was operating at 19kg s and 215 degrees celsius production well head temperature 6 However the project was abandoned after being assessed as uneconomic due to a combination of the cost of commercialising generation and the remoteness of the site The technology worked but unfortunately the cost of implementing the technology and also the cost of delivering the electricity that was produced to a market was just greater than the revenue stream that we could create Geodynamics chief executive Chris Murray said Geodynamics wells have been plugged and remediated 7 Geodynamics is no longer exploring geothermal power and is instead looking at other green energy initiatives It has therefore changed its name to ReNu Energy and changed its ASX code to RNE gTET Winton Queensland Edit A small 310kW geothermal power generation plant commenced commissioning in 2019 with the promise of becoming Australia s only operating geothermal power station 8 The plant was to utilise 86oC bore water from existing bores to produce electricity using an Organic Rankine Cycle However commissioning problems were not overcome and as at May 2022 the plant remains idle and the subject of legal dispute 3 See also Edit Australia portal Energy portal Renewable energy portal Environment portalGeothermal desalination Renewable energy in Australia Australian Renewable Energy Agency Wind power in Australia Solar power in Australia Biofuel in Australia Renewable energy by countryReferences Edit Geothermal electricity Utility grade plants Roberts Peter 2019 10 23 gTET commissions Australia s only geothermal power station Australian Manufacturing Forum Retrieved 2022 02 08 a b A white elephant The 4m outback geothermal plant that s never delivered power ABC News 2022 05 29 Retrieved 2022 05 30 a b Big energy role for central Australia s hot rocks Hot rocks set to roll The Mercury 2010 02 22 Retrieved 2010 02 22 Cooper Basin Enhanced Geothermal Systems Australian Renewable Energy Agency Retrieved 2022 02 08 GeoEnergy Think 2016 08 29 Geodynamics closure on geothermal activities in Australia amp Pacific ThinkGeoEnergy Geothermal Energy News Retrieved 2022 02 08 Roberts Peter 2019 10 23 gTET commissions Australia s only geothermal power station Australian Manufacturing Forum Retrieved 2022 02 08 External links Edit Geothermal energy PDF Environmental Protection Agency Queensland Government Archived from the original PDF on 2007 09 27 Geodynamics says it has hottest rocks on earth in Cooper Basin Hot rock energy Centre to study geothermal energy at Univ of Adelaide Primary Industries and Resources SA Geothermal Energy 3m For SA Geothermal Energy Project Geothermal Energy Hot Dry Rocks CSIRO permanent dead link Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Geothermal power in Australia amp oldid 1105151301, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
