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Successful geothermal direct use projects in Perth, Australia

Successful geothermal direct use projects in Perth, Australia Skyline of Perth, West Australia (source: flickr/amandabhslater, creative commons)
Alexander Richter 14 Oct 2015

The geothermal energy sector in Australia is not dead yet. Successful direct use projects for geothermally heated pools in Perth, West Australia, showcase that geothermal can still play a role in the country.

Following a series of bad news from Australia over the past year or more, at least there is something positive to report from geothermal utilisation in Australia.

How water from an aquifer has been “providing geothermal energy to Perth pools, schools and leisure centres since 1997, and the industry’s future looks bright.” Well if this is not nice to report on. While several developers in the country have abandoned their plans of developing geothermal power plants in Australia, this direct use story is at least showcasing that not all is lost in the country.

The geothermal pools in Perth “have paved the way for bigger, more ambitious projects”, so CSIRO Energy Flagship researcher Dr. Ludovic Ricard.  The plans include additional pools in a variety of other schools, stadiums and leisure centres. They all pump hot water from aquifers to the surface where it goes through a heat exchanger that heats water for the pool water. All projects reinject fluids again.

So far the success rate is 100% for the projects in Perth.

To read more see the link below.

 

Source: ScienceNetwork Western Australia