Queensland Geothermal Energy Workshop (Presentations are posted below)
On Monday, we had the Queensland Geothermal Energy Workshop. This was an event jointly hosted by the Office of Clean Energy and the Queensland Geothermal Energy Centre of Excellence (QGECE).
The workshop was well-attended with 81 delegates. We had our first Stakeholders Workshop last year where we presented our research program and asked feedback. The Centre research strategies were reconsidered and modified based on that feedback in consultation with the QGECE Advisory Board and the Technical Advisory Committees. The Workshop this year was an occasion where we reported to our stakeholders on the progress in our research projects.
It was also an occasion for the Queensland Government to reaffirm its commitment to the development of geothermal energy. This commitment is evidenced through its allocation of $5 million to the Coastal Geothermal Energy initiative under the direction of the Geological Survey of Queensland and of up to $4.3 million to Ergon to upgrade the only operating geothermal power station in Australia at Birdsville. The passage of the Geothermal Energy Bill in 2010, with accompanying Regulations to be forthcoming in 2011 is also expected to provide added incentive and certainty for exploration and investment in the development of the geothermal resources of Queensland. Finally, it was the $15m grant from The Queensland Government that made it possible for the University of Queensland to establish the Queensland Geothermal Energy Centre of Excellence (QGECE) in 2009.
Presentations
The morning of the Workshop was dedicated to presentations that related progress under these headings to the Workshop participants:
- Welcoming Addresses by Professor Trevor Grigg, Chairman, Queensland Geothermal Energy Centre of Excellence and Benn Barr Executive Director (Policy) Office of Clean Energy, Queensland Department of Employment, Economic Development & Innovation
- Geothermal Energy Challenges and Opportunities and Update on the QGECE Research, Hal Gurgenci, Director, QGECE
- Update on Birdsville Geothermal Plant Expansion, Bashir Gabriel, Ergon Energy
- Progress in the Coastal Geothermal Initiative Project, Behnam Talebi, GSQ
- Geothermal Energy Act 2010, Myria Makras, Manager, Legislation Unit, DEEDI
- Geothermal Energy Framework Implementation, Kerrie Musgrave, Project Manager - Implementation
The afternoon was dedicated to group discussion where the workshop participants discussed the following questions:
1. How could the QGECE help the geothermal industry?
- Work with the companies to develop proposals for Queensland geothermal energy projects.
- Work with the Government and Geosciences Australia to explore new resources in Queensland.
2. The following three objectives were acknowledged by speakers in a recent US Workshop as requirements for commercial deployment of EGS geothermal energy:
- reduce the drilling costs by 20%
- double the production flow rate; and
- increase power conversion efficiencies by 20%.
Do you agree with these objectives? How do you see the QGECE work as relevant to these objectives?
3. How can Government assist Industry?
- What are the impediments for industry in getting projects up?
- What is the business model that will work for Queensland?
- Given the current funding constraints what is the role of Government in developing the geothermal sector?
The reported from each group reported the outcomes to the audience. These were recorded and will be compiled into a short report as the Workshop Outcomes.
Click here for the QGECE Weekly Seminar Schedule
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