Mobile UPI  |   About UPI  |   UPI en Español  |   UPI Arabic  |   UPIU  |   My Account
Search:
Go

Australia looks to develop geothermal

|
|
 
  
Published: April 4, 2007 at 7:38 PM
Advertisement

CANBERRA, Australia, April 4 (UPI) -- The Australian government is working on a long-term development plan for the geothermal industry.

At last week's first geothermal industry round table in Canberra, government representatives estimated geothermal power could supply 10 percent of the country's energy demand, The Age reported.

"The success of the sector will depend on the readiness of industry, research and government to work together," Resources Minister Ian Macfarlane said.

Torrens Energy Ltd., a Western Australia geothermal mine exploration company, debuted on the Australian Stock Exchange at a 75 percent premium to its offer price of 20 cents a share. The group will look for hot fractured rock geothermal energy sources.

Macfarlane said geothermal is a reliable energy source, able to meet base-load power demand 24 hours a day, as opposed to solar or wind energy. It's also an alternative way to produce electricity without emitting greenhouse gases. Since 2000 the government has invested more than $27 million in geothermal.

"Large-scale geothermal power plants have the potential to substantially reduce Australia's carbon dioxide emissions," said Environment and Water Resources Minister Malcolm Turnbull.

The two ministers were the co-hosts of the meeting in Canberra.

© 2007 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Any reproduction, republication, redistribution and/or modification of any UPI content is expressly prohibited without UPI's prior written consent.

Order reprints
  
Join the conversation
Most Popular Collections
Protesters, police clash at NATO summit Notable deaths of 2012 2012 Billboard Music Awards
The 137th Preakness Stakes Annual Solar eclipse occurs in U.S. Chen Guangcheng arrives in the U.S.
Additional Energy Resources Stories
1 of 29
Members of the Army's Old Guard place flags at Arlington National Ceremtery
View Caption
U.S. flags are seen in the rucksack of a soldier with the Army's 3d U.S. Infantry Regiment, The Old Guard, as he places flags at gravesites in Arlington National Cemetery as part of the Flags-In Memorial Day ceremony on May 24, 2012 in Arlington, Virginia. American flags were placed at each of the more than 220,000 grave markers in honor of those who served and Memorial Day. UPI/Kevin Dietshc
fark
NASA worried that future lunar visitors may destroy historical sites on the moon, issues guidelines...
San Diego Fark Party, THIS SATURDAY May 26th 6:00pm at Pizza Port Solana Beach
Can you grow a bread with Rogaine? Here comes the SCIENCE
High school approves senior prank involving markers. Because you're reading this on Fark, you can...
Guess which German city is having a problem with rats? C'mon, this is an easy one
No one has ever been arrested on the charge of pimping in North Dakota ever before - until now