Google Teams Up to Explore Geothermal Energy Potential

Google Australia has partnered with the University of Newcastle to better understand Australia’s untapped renewable resource buried deep below the ground – geothermal energy from the Earth’s heat.

As part of their Digital Future Initiative, Google Australia sought expertise from the University’s Newcastle Institute for Energy and Resources (NIER) to analyse the feasibility of geothermal energy in Australia.

Led by the University of Newcastle’s Associate Professor Elham Doroodchi in collaboration with Solution Energy, the Australian-based research study will help inform Google’s efforts to develop and scale geothermal technologies globally and support their goal to operate carbon-free by 2030.

Associate Professor Doroodchi said there was promising potential to access geothermal reservoirs in Australia and overcome some of the barriers that have historically hindered uptake of this clean energy resource.

“Reservoirs of heat are varying in temperature and depth – they can exist anywhere from several hundred metres to several kilometres below the surface of Earth.”

While geothermal energy is used in some countries across the world, there are currently no large-scale geothermal powerplants in Australia.

“Conventional geothermal production methods require deep drilling, fracking, multiple production injection and wells, and significant water use, which are challenging to implement considering Australia’s geology and environmental conditions,” Associate Professor Doroodchi said.

The study will investigate how the latest research and technology could be applied to address these hurdles and review feasible locations to harness geothermal energy.

Associate Professor Doroodchi said geothermal energy resources are one of the cleanest and most reliable sources of energy generation on the planet.

“Unlike solar or wind, geothermal energy is a firm energy source, so it’s an excellent source of reliable, round-the-clock clean energy to decarbonise Australia’s electricity grid,” Professor Doroodchi said.

Achieving geothermal power generation on this scale will demand cutting-edge power-cycle expertise to overcome environmental and technical challenges specific to this science.

“It’s very exciting to work with Google to better understand this truly sustainable energy solution,” Professor Doroodchi said.

With both the University of Newcastle and Google focused on research and development of advanced clean energy technologies, this partnership has the exciting potential to propel the use of industrial-scale new energy technology to help meet the projected growth in Australia’s electricity demand.

Professor Alan Broadfoot of the University of Newcastle and Executive Director of NIER emphasised the Institute’s long-standing commitment to renewable energy technology innovation.

“At NIER, we have a deep history of research and development in renewable energy technologies, and we are incredibly enthusiastic about applying our expertise to geothermal energy,” Professor Broadfoot said.

“This project aligns perfectly with our mission to drive sustainable energy solutions, and we are excited to work with Google Australia to make this pioneering initiative a reality.”

Giorgio Fortunato, Head of Clean Energy & Power at Google Asia-Pacific said “We’re delighted to partner with the University of Newcastle to explore and develop geothermal energy solutions in Australia. This effort is an investment in Australia’s future to help build a resilient and clean power grid.”

Set to celebrate its 60th anniversary this year, the University of Newcastle is committed to research which will help shape a sustainable future for the next 60 years and beyond.