An Australian Geothermal Renaissance?

Abstract

Australia had high hopes for geothermal energy – with high profile enhanced geothermal projects (e.g. Paralana and Habanero) ultimately being unsuccessful. Is now the time for an Australian geothermal renaissance? The use of binary units offers scope to generate electricity from lower temperature resources, admittedly at lower efficiency than higher temperature resources. What will it take for geothermal to flourish in Australia? Have the recent issues at the Winton plan put a “chill” into the sector?
This paper summarises the current state of geothermal permit applications in Australia and where possible overlays the boundaries of permit applications onto a basemap of temperature at 5km depth. The nature of the commercial entities applying for permits is also considered.