Geoheat strategy warms up

Large CNI glass houses use geoheat for heating. Photos: Supplied.

A strategy to grow geothermal energy use in New Zealand by 2030 is receiving a warm welcome from energy suppliers and venture groups.

The Bay of Connections Energy Group has been working to grow geothermal energy use on a commercial and industrial scale and says the launch of the Geothermal Association Geoheat strategy fits well with their plans.

'The Geoheat strategy focuses on developing continuous and sustainable direct geothermal energy use on a commercial and industrial scale,” says BOC's energy strategy leader Brian Carey.

'We have been looking to promote the growth of direct geothermal energy use in our area.”

The Geoheat strategy will provide BOC with support and expertise on how to further grow this opportunity, says Brian.

The strategy envisages the creation of four or five large direct use projects like timber processing and large glasshouses, as well as a range of smaller ventures over the next 10–12 years.

Bay of Connections Energy Strategy leader Brian Carey.

The strategy focuses largely on the Central North Island, which has the higher temperature geothermal resources.

A number of timber processing plants are already using geothermal energy for kiln drying in the Central North Island region, with milk processing and commercial glasshouses also operating in the area sourcing heat directly from geothermal.

'There's good opportunity for employment with 500 new jobs anticipated should the target of 7.5 Peta Joules per annum with the new projects be reached,” says Brian.

New Zealand has a long history of utilising high temperature geothermal resources with approximately 60 years of extensive large scale geothermal energy use for industrial direct heat and electricity generation.

'We are in the perfect position to take full advantage of the shift towards cleaner and more responsible energy. It's a great opportunity for us to use a renewable resource and help reduce our CO2 footprint.”

Some BOP timber processors use geothermal energy.

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1 comment

MMMnnn

Posted on 26-07-2017 14:35 | By rastus

On the one hand this new organization wishes to reinvent the wheel suggesting that geothermal heat has not been adequately exploited - I was involved with exploitation of this basically free energy source when the Wairakei power station was built over fifty years ago - then the same 'greenie' starts pushing the concept of growing greenhouse crops using geothermal heat - again something that has been exploited for years - then has the temerity to start scoffing about reducing the CO2 footprint - does he have any idea how plants work - the CO2 along with light and water are the basic building blocks for plant growth - here is a fact rather than a bunch of flowery text - without CO2 we would all be dead since without plant Photosynthesis we would have no oxygen to support life - so without CO2 life on Earth is over.


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