[LINK] Geo-thermal: clean, permanent electricity

[stephen at melbpc.org.au]

In terms of power generation, many think Geo-thermal is the way Australia
should go .. even wikipedia agrees. One recent local start-up, (with help
from ANU) Geodynamics has come a long way .. and now first, 1MW in March.


Geo-thermal, the perfect power, and we are the perfect country for it. If
this pilot is successful, we might readily power all of Australia forever.


Home> Au Stockmarket News  [GDY] Cooper Basin Project  Update 9-Jan-2009

Geodynamics Limited has advised that the Savina 1 is currently drilling 
ahead in the granite at 3,654m in the 311 millimetres diameter hole. 

410 metres have been drilled since the prior update on December 18, 2008 
with the well intersecting granite at 3,615 metres. 

The company has also reported that the mechanical and electrical erection 
contractor for the Innamincka 1 MW Power Plant is now fully mobilised on 
site and erection activities are in hand. Commissioning of the plant is 
expected to commence in early March. 

http://www.australianinvestor.com.au/news.asp?id=37153

And:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geothermal_power

"Geothermal power requires no fuel, and is therefore virtually emissions 
free. It is insusceptible to fluctuations in fuel costs. And, because a 
geothermal power station does not rely on transient sources of energy, 
unlike, for example, wind turbines or solar panels, its capacity-factor 
can be quite large; up to 90% in practice. Geothermal power is considered
a sustainable resource because the heat extraction is small compared to 
the size of the heat reservoir. 

MIT reports estimated that there was enough energy in hard rocks 10 km 
below the United States to supply all the world's current needs for 
30,000 years. However, favourable locations for geothermal power (eg in 
Central Australia) may require wells only 4 kilometres (2 mi) deep.

Drilling at this depth is now possible, albeit expensive. Wells drilled 
to depths greater than 4 kilometres (2 mi) generally incur drilling costs 
in the tens of millions of dollars. 

The technological challenges are to drill wide bores at low cost and to 
break rock over larger volumes. Apart from the energy used to make the 
bores, the power generation process releases no greenhouse gases. It also 
offers a degree of scalability: a large geothermal plant can power entire 
cities while smaller power plants can supply more remote sites."

Also ..

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geothermal_energy_exploration_in_Central_Aust
ralia
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Cheers people
Stephen Loosley
Victoria Australia