Hot rocks power new exploration
GEOTHERMAL energy could be Queensland’s next boom industry, with two preferred tenderers announced for geothermal exploration in large areas between Boulia and Winton, as well as near Thargomindah and in the State’s South West.
Six areas totalling 3,600 square kilometres were opened up for tender last October with Minister for Natural Resources, Mines and Water (NRMW) Henry Palaszczuk announcing the proposed exploration expenditure to be more than $46 million.
The concept of geothermal, or hot dry rock (HDR) energy, has been powering debate with scientists and energy enthusiasts for years.
Longreach local Vince Moore is one of a swelling group of Australians who supports the idea of utilising hot rocks in the granite layer below the earth’s surface to create energy.
“It’s a future that I think can happen,” he said.
"Hot dry rocks do not emit any carbon dioxide, unlike coal and gas.
“They are 100 per cent free of all contaminants and are 100 per cent efficient.”
HDR energy utilisation requires drilling through the earth to a granite layer of rocks which are heated by radioactive decay and insulated by a thick blanket of sedimentary deposits above.
The heat from the hot rocks is extracted by water circulating through the drilled reservoir and in turn is generated into electricity.
HDR geothermal projects are underway in France, Switzerland, Germany, California, and Japan, with places in Australia, such as Innamincka in South Australia and Birdsville in Queensland already being explored for HDR energy possibilities.
Mr Moore admitted the logistics of transferring energy from some of Australia’s remotest locations to urban areas was a defining factor in the HDR energy uptake.
However, he believes climate change could be the driving factor in making HDR energy a reality.
“We have all the resources for this technology,” he said.
“We can already drill to depth, which is expensive but not difficult and can generate electricity using steam.
“I can’t understand why this hasn’t already happened.”
David Arnold from the Remote Area Planning and Development Board (RAPAD) and Barcoo Shire Mayor Bruce Scott, believe the State Government’s disregard for the concept is the reason HDR energy has not moved ahead in Queensland while burgeoning in South Australia.
“NRMW have now introduced the State’s first Geothermal Act but until recently, there was no legislation that allowed anyone to stick a hole in the ground and explore for hot rocks,” Mr Arnold said.
“On the other hand, South Australia has taken the lead in HDR exploration,” Cr Scott agreed.
“Their reserves of coal are very limited and they rely on the national grid for energy.
“But HDR energy has greater potential in Queensland than in any other Australian State, which is very exciting.”
However Mr Arnold explained that HDR still had to be proved as a resource.
“Like any new technology, it is still a high risk, speculative industry,” he said.
“But I believe it’s a technology worth further exploration, and it’s disappointing that more resources haven’t been put into it in Queensland.”
Geodynamics Limited is one of the companies whose tender for hot rocks exploration was successful and it focuses solely on developing HDR energy.
However, Geodynamics director Doctor Doone Wyborn is philosophical of the development process so far.
“The government is trying to move things forward as fast as it can,” Dr Wyborn said.
“It’s the bureaucracy that always slows things down.”
Dr Wyborn believes the temperatures of granite around Longreach would be sufficient to power the Central West.
“The area could provide a renewable source of energy for Longreach’s requirements and perhaps some of the surrounding towns.”
Dr Wyborn explained that the sedimentary layer of rock between the granite and the earth’s surface formed an insulation blanket over the granite.
“The sedimentary layer is only about one kilometre deep around Longreach, while it is about four-and-a-half kilometres thick in South Australia,” he said.
“While the right rock types are evident around Longreach, the sedimentary sequences are not quite thick enough to justify large-scale production for the national grid.”
Dr Wyborn said while there was a good chance HDR energy may succeed in Australia and the acceptance of the exploration tenders was a step in the right direction, functioning hot rocks power plants will still be some time off.
“It still has to be proven,” he emphasised.
“We are expecting to prove it fairly soon in Innamincka, but that could still be a few years away as yet.”
An NRMW spokesperson said the government recognised the benefits it would derive from supporting the exploration and development of geothermal energy in the region.
“Not only will we be able to access a potentially vast, clean energy source, we would attract significant exploration and research investment into Queensland,” the spokesperson said.
“Hot dry rock energy could place the State at the forefront of an emerging new technology.”
Six areas totalling 3,600 square kilometres were opened up for tender last October with Minister for Natural Resources, Mines and Water (NRMW) Henry Palaszczuk announcing the proposed exploration expenditure to be more than $46 million.
The concept of geothermal, or hot dry rock (HDR) energy, has been powering debate with scientists and energy enthusiasts for years.
Longreach local Vince Moore is one of a swelling group of Australians who supports the idea of utilising hot rocks in the granite layer below the earth’s surface to create energy.
“It’s a future that I think can happen,” he said.
"Hot dry rocks do not emit any carbon dioxide, unlike coal and gas.
“They are 100 per cent free of all contaminants and are 100 per cent efficient.”
HDR energy utilisation requires drilling through the earth to a granite layer of rocks which are heated by radioactive decay and insulated by a thick blanket of sedimentary deposits above.
The heat from the hot rocks is extracted by water circulating through the drilled reservoir and in turn is generated into electricity.
HDR geothermal projects are underway in France, Switzerland, Germany, California, and Japan, with places in Australia, such as Innamincka in South Australia and Birdsville in Queensland already being explored for HDR energy possibilities.
Mr Moore admitted the logistics of transferring energy from some of Australia’s remotest locations to urban areas was a defining factor in the HDR energy uptake.
However, he believes climate change could be the driving factor in making HDR energy a reality.
“We have all the resources for this technology,” he said.
“We can already drill to depth, which is expensive but not difficult and can generate electricity using steam.
“I can’t understand why this hasn’t already happened.”
David Arnold from the Remote Area Planning and Development Board (RAPAD) and Barcoo Shire Mayor Bruce Scott, believe the State Government’s disregard for the concept is the reason HDR energy has not moved ahead in Queensland while burgeoning in South Australia.
“NRMW have now introduced the State’s first Geothermal Act but until recently, there was no legislation that allowed anyone to stick a hole in the ground and explore for hot rocks,” Mr Arnold said.
“On the other hand, South Australia has taken the lead in HDR exploration,” Cr Scott agreed.
“Their reserves of coal are very limited and they rely on the national grid for energy.
“But HDR energy has greater potential in Queensland than in any other Australian State, which is very exciting.”
However Mr Arnold explained that HDR still had to be proved as a resource.
“Like any new technology, it is still a high risk, speculative industry,” he said.
“But I believe it’s a technology worth further exploration, and it’s disappointing that more resources haven’t been put into it in Queensland.”
Geodynamics Limited is one of the companies whose tender for hot rocks exploration was successful and it focuses solely on developing HDR energy.
However, Geodynamics director Doctor Doone Wyborn is philosophical of the development process so far.
“The government is trying to move things forward as fast as it can,” Dr Wyborn said.
“It’s the bureaucracy that always slows things down.”
Dr Wyborn believes the temperatures of granite around Longreach would be sufficient to power the Central West.
“The area could provide a renewable source of energy for Longreach’s requirements and perhaps some of the surrounding towns.”
Dr Wyborn explained that the sedimentary layer of rock between the granite and the earth’s surface formed an insulation blanket over the granite.
“The sedimentary layer is only about one kilometre deep around Longreach, while it is about four-and-a-half kilometres thick in South Australia,” he said.
“While the right rock types are evident around Longreach, the sedimentary sequences are not quite thick enough to justify large-scale production for the national grid.”
Dr Wyborn said while there was a good chance HDR energy may succeed in Australia and the acceptance of the exploration tenders was a step in the right direction, functioning hot rocks power plants will still be some time off.
“It still has to be proven,” he emphasised.
“We are expecting to prove it fairly soon in Innamincka, but that could still be a few years away as yet.”
An NRMW spokesperson said the government recognised the benefits it would derive from supporting the exploration and development of geothermal energy in the region.
“Not only will we be able to access a potentially vast, clean energy source, we would attract significant exploration and research investment into Queensland,” the spokesperson said.
“Hot dry rock energy could place the State at the forefront of an emerging new technology.”
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