Scientists get their hot rocks off over green nuclear power

SMH Article  

This is about pumping water through fine fissures in granite rocks, superheating it to make electricity.

Some scientists say hot-rocks technology could soon deliver huge
volumes of economically viable power, thanks to the continent
having the hottest and most geologically favourable granite
deposits on earth.

"There's enough energy to run the country for thousands of
years," said Prame Chopra, a scientist who sits on the Geodynamics
board.

I did a story on this around seven years ago and it's nice to see it making the front page of the Herald now (I was writing for a small State-based business newspaper). They are hoping to have electricity on the Sydney grid by 2015. This is all from research from ANU and UNSW. We should be proud. The scientists involved have been plugging away at the sceptics for years - and the other battle with coal-fired electricity which can be provided at a cheaper rate (and we have a huge supply of it) . The rocks are in SA so its challenge is getting electricity to populated areas. Sounds like they have worked out ways of doing it though. I am really interested to see how they go.

I am a huge fan of this. And it's not just an Australian phenomenon, but it has its problems.

How far away are the hot rock sites from places of population, business, the grid?

It is necessary to be able to generate enough load, consistently, to be able to push through to (at least) the grid.

There is a serious lack of funding of the committed sort that only government can provide (and I am no fan of sucking on the public teat). And as Australia approaches a Federal election, the Coalition have been woeful and  Labor are not selling it as a part of their energy platform. They, the Labor party, are not radical enough (not that this technology is) - they are sticking to outdated notions of low base load solar and even playing with the "happy" notion of "clean" coal. And we know where the Coalition stand.

I think the most fascinating part of this is the fact that test drilling has exposed not just hot rocks, but trapped fresh (albeit hot) water, which Australia seriously needs.There was a plan to pump water in, heat it and use that to drive, via a heat exchanger, turbines. But there is no need, the hot water is already there, the selling of that water would pay for this programme, if only the government and the opposition would get their collective fingers out.