Hot for geothermal energy? Go west!
The west is amongst the best when it comes to tapping into naturally occurring heat energy stored underground.
Perth has just been recognised as one of the world’s top five “geothermal cities” by the Western Australian Geothermal Centre of Excellence (WAGCOE).
Established in 2009, WAGCOE brought together researchers, industry, investors and government agencies to create zero-emission geothermal cities.
Perth’s inclusion on the list was unique, as it was earned on the basis of its plans to become the world’s first geothermally-cooled city.
“When we consider the challenges of climate change and the need to develop reliable sources of renewable energy, the work of WAGCOE is less about the last four years, and more about the next 50 years,” WAGCOE Director Professor Klaus Regenauer-Lieb said.
“We provided a world-class research and training environment where scientists developed local solutions to revolutionise energy development in Western Australia and contribute to the goal of powering zero-emission geothermal cities,” Professor Regenauer-Lieb said.
Among WAGCOE’s other major achievements was the development of a 3-D computer model illustrating a comprehensive geological assessment of the entire Perth Basin, which will act as a template for future geothermal developments in the region.
The centre was also instrumental in securing $20 million of Australian Government funding for the CSIRO Geothermal Project, which aims to prove the viability of using geothermal energy on a large-scale.
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