News 
 Local News 
 News 
 General 
 $7m boosts Hunter 'hot rock' project 

$7m boosts Hunter 'hot rock' project

14 Dec, 2009 04:00 AM
A COMPANY drilling for geothermal or "hot rock" energy in the Hunter Valley has won $7 million in assistance from a Federal Government geothermal drilling program.

Geodynamics, a Queensland company listed on the Australian Securities Exchange, is one of five companies to get $7 million grants from Resources and Energy Minister Martin Ferguson.

A spokesman for Mr Ferguson said Geodynamics would receive $7 million in dollar-for-dollar assistance for a drilling program at its Bulga exploration areas near Singleton.

The money would be used to help cover the cost of hiring drilling rigs, probably from overseas, to drill two 4500-metre holes, followed by "stimulation and flow testing".

The spokesman said Geodynamics believed its Bulga resource had "the potential to support a 200-megawatt [power] plant".

The other "dollar-for-dollar " grants of $7 million would go to Hot Rock in Victoria's Otway Basin, GRE Geothermal near Perth, Greenearth Energy near Geelong and Torrens Energy in South Australia.

Geodynamic has been drilling in the Hunter since at least 2000, when a two-kilometre test drill was described as Australia's first deep geothermal research hole.

Yesterday's $7 million is the second federal windfall for Geodynamics.

Early last month, Mr Ferguson announced the company would receive $90 million to help build a 25-megawatt geothermal power station in the Cooper Basin in South Australia.

Geodynamics managing director Gerry Grove-White said then the company had been "delighted" over the $90 million in funding.

"The company believes funding of this nature is vital in ensuring that companies are able to bridge the gap between proving a concept and commercial demonstration of emerging technologies," Mr Grove-White said.

Print
Increase Text Size
Decrease Text Size

comments


Date: Newest first | Oldest first
do you know happens when pouring cold water on to hot rock in brakes or just cracks what will happen then and wont pouring water onto something hot eventually cool it down and what future consequence then occur
Posted by hot rock, 14/12/2009 6:32:01 AM, on The Herald
Want a grant from the Federal Government? Make sure you are a rent-a-quote for their 'climate change' policies...nice work Flannery Pity that every geothermal project has been an absolute disaster with wells being capped (geodynamics) and projects shut due to earthquakes being caused by drilling (AltaRock). The Government flushes yet more of our money down the toilet.
Posted by Chuck, 14/12/2009 7:37:23 AM, on The Herald
Should have given them $70m no strings.
Posted by Bigfeller, 14/12/2009 9:24:42 AM, on The Herald
this technology should be getting alot more attention in the debate about alternative/renewable energy. It has enorous potential and few of the drawbacks of wind and solar which sceptics often sight as arguments against renewables.
Posted by light_green, 14/12/2009 10:15:06 AM, on The Herald
@hot rock, a hot dry rock well will provide power for about 100 years before it cools down. However if you stop using it for 25 years it will heat up again. Once you drill a well it will provide geothermal power for about 27,000 years (with "recharging" breaks) before it can no longer be used. Australia has some of the bext hot dry rocks in the world. It can supply renewable 24/7 base load power. There is still a place for wind and solar but we should be tapping geothermal instead of a folly like nuclear.
Posted by Brad, 14/12/2009 1:29:21 PM, on The Herald
This is the sort of bright thinking and practical projects that are really good and not the delusional carbon sequestration proposals. Keep the clean green bright ideas coming and eliminate the destructive business as usual thinking. Good work.
Posted by regretswevehadafew, 14/12/2009 1:34:23 PM, on The Herald
Hope they don't strike Coal on the way down!!
Posted by Bondy, 14/12/2009 1:54:04 PM, on The Herald
@ Chuck, geothermal has also had a lot of success. Look at the US and Iceland. @ Light_green this technology is getting more attention in the "debate" about alternative energy, one in which I am heavily against. However I do believe a combination of both renewable and non-renewable resources should be used. Geothermal energy is perfect for this and "hot spot anomalies" such as the one in the Hunter should be taken advantage of.
Posted by dark_black, 14/12/2009 2:27:43 PM, on The Herald

post a comment


Screen name  *
Email address  *
Remember me?
Comment  *
 
We invite and encourage our readers to post comments. Comments are moderated and will appear as soon as our editor has approved them. When posting comments you agree to be bound by our Terms and Conditions.

Most popular articles


 
Balance Health Club-Wests Tower
 
Bounce
 
Landcom Sanctuary


Newcastle Herald







Weather brought to you by:

Weatherzone

Classifieds

Front Page

Current Issue
Privacy Policy | Conditions of Use | Advertising Terms | Copyright © 2012. Fairfax Media.
 SEND...
 SAVE...
 SHARE...