Australia Country Report 2012 - IEA GEOTHERMAL
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IEA GEOTHERMAL
Australia Country Report
2012
IEA Geothermal
Implementing Agreement
National Activities
Chapter 8 of Draft 2012 GIA Annual Report
Australia
Habanero 4 clean up.
(Photo courtesy of Geodynamics)
8.0 Introduction & Overview referred to as the Eromanga Basin) which overlies the
Cooper Basin. Total exported power generation in 2012
The use of geothermal energy for both electricity was 1,487MWh, of which 471Wh was provided by the
generation and direct use purposes is a recent introduction geothermal power plant. This equates to 32% of total
to the Australian energy mix. This is largely due to exported power output, which reduced diesel
Australia’s lack of active volcanism, and its relatively mild consumption by about 125,000 litres and saved about 371
winter climate in the major settled areas. With recent tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions through the year.
significant advances in enabling technologies leading to the Geothermal generation thus constitutes less than 0.001%
development of geothermal resources such as Engineered of National Demand which is estimated at 253851 GWh
Geothermal Systems (EGS) and Hot Sedimentary Aquifers (BREE, 2013). Australia’s total installed capacity in direct
(HSA) elsewhere, it has been recognised however that geothermal applications is estimated to be 30.1MWth.
Australia has substantial potential in these unconventional
geothermal resources. As a result, work is on-going to 8.1 Highlights and Achievements
define and quantify Australia’s significant potential in EGS
No new developments were constructed in 2012
style resources associated with buried high heat-producing
however one new production well, Habanero 4, was
crystalline basement and hot sedimentary aquifer-style
spud and hydraulically stimulated at the Geodynamics’
geothermal resources known to be present in a number of
Innamincka Deeps EGS Project in the Cooper Basin,
deep sedimentary basins.
South Australia.
Currently electricity is produced from geothermal energy On 8 March 2012 the first successful Emerging
at the small Ergon Energy binary power station at Birdsville, Renewables Program (ERP) grant of $1.9 million was
Queensland which has a gross capacity of 120kW and a net awarded to National ICT Australia (NICTA) for a $5
output of 80kW. The 98oC geothermal brine used in this million project to provide enhanced data for
plant is derived from the Great Artesian Basin (also geothermal exploration.
2
The second geothermal-related ERP grant of $1.25 assistance for projects that increase the supply of renewable
million to the South Australian Centre for Geothermal energy and drive down its costs in an Australian context.
Energy Research at the University of Adelaide was
announced on 17 September 2012. The grant will Table 8.1 Status of geothermal energy use in
contribute to a $3.54 million project to better Australia for 2012.
understand and predict the permeability of Hot Electricity
Sedimentary Aquifers.
Total Installed Capacity (MWe) 0.12
An immediate tax deduction for the exploration of
New Installed Capacity (MWe) 0
geothermal energy sources came into effect on 1 July
2012. This is intended to ensure that exploration for Contribution to National Capacity (%)
Nationally, to the end of 2012, 52 companies had applied for community is important, and to this end considerable
356 licence areas (covering 432,000 km2) to progress proof- alignment exists between identified Australian research
of-concept Engineered Geothermal Systems (EGS) and Hot priorities and international research imperatives including
Sedimentary Aquifer (HSA) projects (Figure 8. 1). From 2002 the IEA GIA Research Annexes and International
to 31st December 2012, an estimated AU$815 million Partnership for Geothermal Technologies (IPGT) which
(US$834 million) has been spent on studies, geophysical now comprises Iceland, New Zealand, Switzerland and the
surveys, drilling, reservoir stimulation and flow tests which United States.
comprise the work programs required to sustain tenure in
geothermal licence areas. Australian geothermal industry field expenditure is
considered as research and totalled an estimated AU$101
The current challenge for the non-conventional EGS and Hot million (US$103 million) in 2012. Government funded
Sedimentary Aquifer sector is two-fold: to prove the resource; geothermal research is largely conducted by government
and to prove the ability of the technologies to generate research institutions and universities which are members
sustainable amounts of usable electricity at a commercially of the Geothermal Research Initiative (GRI). The GRI’s aim
viable cost. At a broader scale the geothermal sector is having is to perform research that supports the development of
difficulty in accessing capital for their projects in the current commercial and sustainable large scale geothermal power
finance market. generation in Australia. Consequently, the GRI maintains
close collaborative links with industry to ensure research
Over the past five years, the Australian Government has relevance. Research topics include, but are not limited to:
committed around AU$150 million to the geothermal energy drilling technologies for deep, high pressure and
sector. Approximately AU$16.6 million of these funds have temperature environments; environmental impacts (such
been released to companies thus far, as recipients are as induced seismicity and efficient water use); pre-drill
required to achieve certain milestones prior to payment. The prediction and characterisation of geothermal reservoir
Australian Government has been working with companies to potential; and innovative power generation solutions.
assist the progress of projects and has shown flexibility where Research at these institutions is supported by both State
able in accordance with the Program Guidelines. and Commonwealth Government funding including the
Australian Research Council (ARC) and Australian
Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA). See the 2011 Annual
Report for further detail on the GRI members and their
research programs.
Australian Government funding for renewable energy
specifically is now administered through the Australian
Renewable Energy Agency. On 12 November 2012, ARENA
released its General Funding Strategy which states its
principal objectives and priorities for the provision of
financial assistance for 2012-15 (ARENA, 2012). The
General Funding Strategy was released with an
accompanying Investment Plan which outlines initiatives
ARENA plans to undertake.
The Australian geothermal sector may benefit from
ARENA programs, such as the AU$126 million Emerging
Renewables Program (ERP) which supports the
development of renewable energy technologies in
Australia across the innovation chain, and is included in
Figure 8. 1 Geothermal licences, applications and gazettal ARENA’s portfolio of funding mechanisms. Under the ERP,
areas as at 31 December 2012. at least $40 million will be available for developing
technologies with potential to contribute to large-scale
8.4 Research, Development & Demonstration base load power generation, such as ocean and
geothermal. The ARENA Chair has publicly announced to
the geothermal sector that the focus of any ARENA
Geothermal R&D in Australia is largely focussed on
funding for geothermal would be for pre-competitive
advancing technologies associated with unconventional
activities such as long-term R&D and information sharing
geothermal resources (i.e. EGS and HSA). The geothermal
that will reduce of cost of assessing the geothermal
sector recognises however that coordinating local research
resource.
efforts with those of the wider international geothermal
4ARENA is currently administering over $150 million in Department of Resources, Energy and Tourism (DRET),
grants for geothermal energy projects, including a 2012. Energy White Paper 2012, Australia’s Energy
$1.9 million grant to National ICT Australia Ltd for a $5 transformation’. Commonwealth of Australia, Canberra.
million project to provide enhanced data for targeted Accessible online at:
geothermal exploration. In addition, on 17 September http://www.ret.gov.au/energy/facts/white_paper/Pages/
2012, Minister Ferguson announced the first official grant energy_white_paper.aspx
from ARENA would provide $1.25 million to the South
Australian Centre for Geothermal Energy Research at the Authors
University of Adelaide, to assist a $3.54 million project to
better understand and predict the permeability of Hot Dr Betina Bendall
Sedimentary Aquifer geothermal resources. Throughout Principal Geothermal Geologist
2012, ARENA continued to manage projects under the Energy Resources Division
Renewable Energy Demonstration Program and the Department for Manufacturing, Innovation, Trade,
Geothermal Drilling Program. Resources and Energy (DMITRE)
State Government of South Australia
8.5 Geothermal Education Level 6, 101 Grenfell St
Adelaide, South Australia 5000
The Victorian Department of Primary Industries awarded $1.6 GPO Box 1264
million to the Education & Demonstration of Direct Adelaide, South Australia 5001
Geothermal Energy (edDGE) program which is a partnership T +61 (08) 8463 3243
between the University of Melbourne, Direct Energy Australia F +61 (08) 8463 3229
and Geotech. E-mail: betina.bendall@sa.gov.au
8.6 Future Outlook
Barry A Goldstein
Key activities scheduled for 2013 include completion and Executive Director
testing of the Habanero 1 and 4 doublet at Geodynamics’ Energy Resources Division
Innamincka Deeps EGS Project in the Cooper Basin of South Department for Manufacturing, Innovation, Trade,
Australia. Successful demonstration of subsurface Resources and Energy (DMITRE)
connectivity between these wells will be followed by State Government of South Australia
commissioning of the Habanero 1MWe Pilot Plant and Level 6, 101 Grenfell St
longer term operational trials of the closed system. Adelaide, South Australia 5000
GPO Box 1264
Adelaide, South Australia 5001
8.7 References and Websites T +61 (0)8 8463 3200
M +61 (0)413 007 365
Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA), 2012. Draft F +61 (08) 8463 3229
General Funding Strategy 2013-2014/2015-2016. E-mail: barry.goldstein@sa.gov.au
Available online at:
http://www.arena.gov.au/_documents/ARENA-Draft-GFS- http://www.geothermal.dmitre.sa.gov.au/
20130424.pdf http://www.geothermal.dmitre.sa.gov.au/ageg
Bureau of Resources and Energy Economics (BREE), 2013.
‘2013 Australian energy update.’ Commonwealth of
Australia, Canberra.
Accessible online at:
http://www.bree.gov.au/documents/publications/aes/20
13-Australian-energy-statistics.pdf
Lund, J. W., Freeston, D. H. & Boyd, T. L., 2011. Direct
utilization of geothermal energy: 2010 worldwide review.
Geothermics, Vol. 40, Issue 3, pp. 159 – 180.
5To Find Out More
If you are interested in learning more about the IEA Geothermal Programme,
or you wish to join the GIA:
Contact the IEA-GIA Secretary
Dr Mike Mongillo
IEA-GIA Secretary
c/o GNS
Wairakei Research Centre
Private Bag 2000
Taupo
NEW ZEALAND
Tel: +64-7-378-9774; +64-7-374-8211
Fax: +64-7-374-8199
E-mail: mongillom@reap.org.nz
OR
Visit the IEA-GIA Website
IEA Geothermal
Supporting and Advancing Worldwide
Sustainable Geothermal Energy Use
Through
International Cooperation
www.iea-gia.org
Cover Photo: Courtesy of Lothar Wissing
The IEA Geothermal Implementing Agreement (GIA), also known as the Implementing Agreement for a
Cooperative Programme on Geothermal Energy Research and Technology, functions within a framework created
by the International Energy Agency (IEA). Views, findings and publications of IEA GIA do not necessarily
represent the views or policies of the IEA Secretariat or of all its individual member countries.
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