Oct 30 2010
The Queensland Government, led by Bligh, has declared the availability of funding for the exploration of new geothermal energy resources that can produce enough electric power to supply clean energy to its coastal cities and towns.
According to the announcement made by Stephen Robertson Mines and Energy Minister of the state, the government will invest around $5 million to spot out the potential geothermal locations that are in close proximity to the current power transmission facility. This initiative happened to be the first of its type by any state in Australia. The geothermal potential assessment project will be engaged in the compilation and investigation of geo scientific data collected from various coastal locations to recognize the high heat potential of geothermal belts located in places east of the state. The coastal places currently identified by the government to have geothermal potential include Maryborough Basin South, Hillsborough Basin, Tarong Basin and Duaringa Basin North. Most of the locations are placed in close proximity to the available high voltage transmission facility for carrying the electricity generated from geothermal power. Queensland currently owns and manages a geothermal power station located at Birdsville placed in far south west of Queensland
Under the proposed geothermal program, christened as Coastal Geothermal Energy Initiative, shallow holes with less depth will be bored to find out the level of heat flow, to identify the potential geothermal locations. The data collected from such holes will be analyzed to identify the quality and amount of heat flow to identify the ideal locations.