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$1.6 million for new geothermal energy centre

From left: Bruce Carter, Chair of the RenewablesSA Board, Premier Mike Rann, and the Vice-Chancellor and President of the ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥ of Adelaide, Professor James McWha, at the announcement of $1.6 million State Government funding for the new South ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥n Centre of Excellence for Geothermal Research.
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Tuesday, 2 June 2009

The ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥ of Adelaide has been awarded $1.6 million from the State Government to establish a new, world-class centre for geothermal energy research.

The funding - announced today at the ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥ of Adelaide by the Premier, - will be provided over two years to help establish the new South ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥n Centre of Excellence for Geothermal Research.

"It is an honour that the State Government has chosen the ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥'s new geothermal energy centre as the first project to be funded by the Renewable Energy Fund," says the Vice-Chancellor and President, .

"This funding will enable the ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥ to establish a world-class centre that will play a key role in helping to deliver a geothermal energy future for South ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥.

"The ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥ of Adelaide's expertise in geothermal energy is broad and deep. It includes strong industry links and a very strong collaboration with State Government through PIRSA (Primary Industries and Resources South ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥).

"This new centre will be vitally important in helping the State to achieve its renewable energy production target of 33% by 2020," Professor McWha says.

, Head of the , will be the interim director of the new South ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥n Centre of Excellence for Geothermal Research at the ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥ of Adelaide.

"South ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥ is uniquely positioned to be at the forefront of ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥'s geothermal industry," Professor Hillis says.

"The State is endowed with the nation's most significant source of hot rocks. It is also home to the majority of geothermal licences in ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥ and to the most advanced geothermal projects.

"The new centre will conduct research into enhanced geothermal systems, and in power systems that provide an economically and environmentally viable delivery of geothermal energy.

"The centre will enable South ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥ to remain at the forefront of research and development in geothermal energy, and our work will result in major benefits for industry, the community and the environment," Professor Hillis says.

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