Geothermal Exploration in Victoria, Australia

Abstract

Geothermal energy is keenly sought as a sustainable, low emissions energy source for Victoria. Exploration companies have been active since 2006, using legacy groundwater and petroleum data to investigate potential geothermal systems whose temperature would allow electricity generation.
Active volcanic systems are not present but there is good potential for hot sedimentary aquifers already known from legacy petroleum exploration. Other heat sources such as Palaeozoic radioactive granites or residual magmatic heat from recent basaltic volcanism are possible but data is very limited.
As exploration progresses, a number of geothermal plays are being investigated, and inferred resources have been declared, in preparation for deep appraisal drilling.