The Queensland Geothermal Energy Centre of Excellence (QGECE) has been officially opened at the University of Queensland, with funding of $15 million from the Queensland Government allocated in 2007.

 

The QGECE is headed by Director, Professor Hal Gurgenci, and overseen by a board chaired by Professor Trevor Grigg. It is undertaking research and development to progress large-scale electricity generation from subterranean hot rocks and hot sedimentary aquifers.

 

Research includes electricity transmission and power network modelling; geothermal reservoir exploration, characterisation and management; plus development of new turbines and cooling systems to optimise geothermal power plant production and efficiency.

 

Collaborative research partnerships have been established with the Central Research Institute for Electrical Industry of Japan; GFZ-Potsdam of Germany and United States power plant and turbine manufacturer, Verdicorp.

 

QGECE is also working with other Australian universities to create undergraduate and post-graduate programs to develop a skills base for jobs in emerging geothermal industries.

 

According to the University, it is the only centre in the world that addresses one of the biggest remaining challenges of geothermal technology — how to increase power conversion efficiencies.

 

Other investments in geothermal energy by the Queensland Government include:

  • $5 million Coastal Geothermal Energy Initiative to identify areas of high geothermal heat flow along the Queensland coast that may unlock viable geothermal resources closer to power transmission networks.
  • $4.3 million to upgrade Australia’s only operating geothermal power station at Birdsville from its’ current 80 kilowatt capacity to up to 400 kilowatts.

 

The Government has also announced it will develop a new regulatory framework to enable the development of large-scale geothermal energy projects and provide exploration and investment certainty to industry.