NZ researchers exploring option to tap geothermal energy from extinct volcano

A team of scientists of the Geologoy Department at the University of Otago in the Southeastern region of New Zealand’s South Island, is researching the potential of tapping geothermal energy at an extinct volcano.

To this day, significant amounts of fossil fuels are used for heating buildings and for industrial use, so Dr. Mike Palin of the Unvirsity of Otago is hopeful that geothermal energy can cover parts of that demand.

The scientists are exploring to drill up to two exploration wells about 500 meters into a volcano that is 11 million years old. They want to explore if the residual heat from long extinct volcanoes could be used as a geothermal heat resources. “The scientists hope to drill beneath the veneer of sedimentary rock to monitor any residual heat from the now solidified magma chamber that lies beneath, from the area’s volcanic past.”, so local paper Otago Daily Times.

If results from the drilling are successful, energy could be derived by a loop concept that sees pumping water down the wells and getting it back up to the surface heated. For that though deeper drilling might be required.

The university’s team will seek funding through a smart ideas scheme of the NZ Ministry for Business, Innovation and Employment.