Petratherm’s successful proof of concept
 

Petratherm’s successful geothermal trial is a hot topic in SA

11 August 2009
SOUTH Australia’s Premier Mike Rann has witnessed the proof of concept drilling phase for Petratherm’s Paralana world-leading hot-rocks energy project.


Rann says a successful geothermal trial will allow Petratherm to unlock an emissions-free, renewable source of energy from deep within the Earth to generate base-load power in remote areas of the State. The Minister says that Petratherm’s Paralana project, if successful, will be a key contributor to the vision posed by the Australian Geothermal Energy Association of generating between 1,000 MW to 2,200 MW of Australia’s base-load capacity from hot rocks by 2020.
The project involves drilling eleven wells to attain sufficient reservoir development to fuel a 30MW commercial-scale demonstration plant for power generation by 2015.
Geothermal technology seeks to generate electricity by injecting water deep into the Earth where it can be heated by naturally occurring hot rocks and returned as steam that can drive turbines.
Rann says the South Australian Government has directly supported Petratherm with a total of $240,000 in grants from the Plan for Accelerating Exploration, or PACE scheme.
To mid July 2009, South Australia has attracted 28 companies to invest an estimated $874 million in the term 2002 to 2013 to define vast geothermal energy resources in 271 geothermal licences.

http://www.drillblast.com.au/article...sa/493987.aspx

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