Above Ground Geothermal and Allied Technologies (AGGAT) – Paving the Research Roadmap

Abstract

Above Ground Geothermal and Allied Technologies is an initiative born out of the need to represent and build a technological research and development base for above ground technologies in power generation. New Zealand (NZ) holds significant authority internationally in below ground research activities which is now being complemented with a parallel arm to support above ground research activities through the AGGAT programme. The Heavy Engineering Research Association of NZ has initiated a series of national efforts to launch this programme which has been in development for 4 years now and took a major step forward with government funding last year allowing us to partner with major universities across NZ in our research and development roadmap. This paper presents on the programme strategies, the drivers, its achievements and associated challenges that are being overcome to move the programme forward. Lot of the international research in above ground technologies is disparate. One of the primary AGGAT objectives is to bring them all together under the AGGAT umbrella so as to maximise output through leveraging for the industry as a whole. Hence this paper also presents on future AGGAT activities and our strategies to align international research with our objectives to unify and maximise its output.