Geothermal in a low carbon future for New Zealand

NZGA Seminar 2021 (source: NZGA website)

In a recently held workshop by the New Zealand Geothermal Association (NZGA), the role of the geothermal industry in reducing national and global carbon emissions was highlighted. The annual winter seminar was held on July 29 and had almost 150 registered participants consisting of both newcomers and seasoned experts of the geothermal industry.

NZGA President Paul Siratovich kicked off the event with an update on the current activities of the Assocation. Notable talks were given by Genelle Palmer of Contact Energy, Isabelle Chambefort of GNS Sciences, and Eylem Kaya from the University of Auckland among a handful of others.

True to the theme of the workshop, the talks focused on ways to reduce carbon emissions through the strategic use of geothermal energy. The methods ranged from CO2 reinjection in geothermal fields to the utilization of superheated geothermal fluids to facilitate energy transition to low-carbon sources.

The final presentation was given by Mitchell Collins of Pink & White Geothermal Gin, a Double Gold award-winning gin distillery. It was made clear during the talk, however, that the company is yet to integrate geothermal energy into their operations.

The presentations of the event can be found via the NZGA website.

Source: New Zealand Geothermal Association