Lessons Learned on the Road to Regulatory Nirvana for Geothermal Resource Development

Abstract

frameworks that enable profitable and environmentally sustainable development of geothermal energy resources for matters including but not limited to induced seismicity, water-use and waste management. Nirvana regulation will entail: • Fit-for-purpose certainty of licence tenure without stifling competition; • Expeditious land access for environmentally sustainable operations welcomed by stakeholders; • Regulatory certainty and efficiency without taint of capture; and • Risks are reduced to low or as low as reasonably practicable (ALARP) while also meeting community expectations for net outcomes. This paper describes how these principles are deployed in the State of South Australia (Australia) where: • An estimated $631 million has been spent on amagmatic, deep geothermal energy projects in 10 year s (2002-11); • 54% (196 – see figure 1) of all geothermal licenses and licence applications in Australia are located to year -end 2011; and • Australia’s three flagship geothermal energy projects are located. An update will be provided for each of these three projects in this paper.