| Abstract |
Vast prospective, domestic geothermal resources and Australia’s desire for competitive, secure and environmentally sustainable energy security have driven astounding growth in the Australian geothermal sector. Since the year 2000 when the first geothermal exploration licence was granted in Australia, 54 companies have applied-for 409 geothermal licences and more than AU$468 million had been spent to year-end 2009 to progress geothermal exploration and proof-of-concept projects in Australia. This astounding growth has been the impetus to create geothermal research centres and alliances, bringing together very experienced earth resources scientists and engineers, and opened opportunities for students to get experience while conducting research to solve problems that now challenge geothermal projects in Australia and worldwide. Centres for geothermal energy research have formed at the University of Queensland, the University of Adelaide and in a joint venture of the University of Western Australia, Curtin University and the CSIRO. Geothermal energy research is also being supported at many universities around Australia. Australia is a member of both the Geothermal Implementing Agreement (GIA) (under the auspices of the International Energy Agency (IEA)) and the International Partnership for Geothermal Technologies (IPGT), and both of these international fora have instigated collaborative research to promote widespread geothermal energy use. In addition, in 2006, companies, government agencies and research institutions formed the Australian Geothermal Energy Group (AGEG) to facilitate the sharing of information and foster growth in the use of geothermal energy. Through its 12 Technical Interest Groups (TIGs), the 105 organisations (84 companies, 9 government agencies and 12 universities) that are members of the AGEG have nominated research topics of the highest priority to the industry, which are closely aligned with the priorities of both the GIA and the IPGT. This paper will provide an update on Australian geothermal research priorities, findings and projects, with particular emphasis on research of international significance. |