| Title | Developing a User-Focused Tool to Highlight Geothermal Heating Opportunities for New Zealand Greenhouses |
|---|---|
| Authors | Anya Seward, Antony Haywood, Celia Wells, Yale Carden, Helen Barnes, Dinah Cohen, Paul |
| Year | 2026 |
| Conference | World Geothermal Congress |
| Keywords | |
| Abstract | New Zealand’s geothermal resources present a valuable and underutilized opportunity for sustainable greenhouse agriculture. While regions like the Taupō Volcanic Zone are well-known for high-temperature geothermal activity, there is widespread potential for low-temperature geothermal heat use across the country. Currently, 77% of New Zealand’s covered crop operations depend on fossil fuels for space heating, with energy currently accounting for ~40% of growers cost. Rising energy costs and declining natural gas availability, combined with the global shift toward low-carbon energy sources, have prompted increased interest in geothermal heating among local growers. Naturally occurring geothermal heat offers several advantages: it is stable, cost-effective, and low-emission, aligning with New Zealand’s climate change and sustainability targets. Greenhouses typically require heated water between 60–80°C to maintain optimal growing conditions. These temperatures can be accessed directly from the subsurface or achieved via ground sourced heat pumps. This project aims to support greenhouse growers by developing a publicly accessible, web-based prototype tool that provides useable information about the potential for geothermal heat use in the North Island. The project collates subsurface information, case-studies, and financial feasibility estimates, in a publicly available web-based tool. It is being developed through close collaboration between earth-scientists, engineers and growers, ensuring that the tool is accurate, informative and useable. |