Geothermal pilot heats up

Geothermal experts from the University of Melbourne are working with Department of Primary Industries to demonstrate the efficiency of a form of renewable energy that will play an important role in the energy mix of Victoria's Future. The State Government today announced a $1.6 million grant to support the work of the University of Melbourne and its industrial partners, Geotechnical Engineering and Direct Energy. Professor Ian Johnston and team members from the Department of Infrastructure Engineering's Geotechnical Research Group and their partners, welcomed the grant and the opportunities the funding will provide. "This is a significant shift in the way we think about heating and cooling our buildings. Our trial will collect important data about the use of direct geothermal energy systems in Victorian conditions, in order to help develop greater efficiency in installation practices and design. Although direct geothermal energy is still a relatively new concept in Australia, this technology is used extensively overseas with an estimated three million installations worldwide," Professor Johnston said. "The capital costs of installing a direct geothermal system are still a little high.