Published Feb 2025 | G. Beardsmore, R. Webster, B. Rismanchi, K. Gjoka, D. Brooke, A. Hall, M. Pujol, B. Bruce, S. St Hill
A techno-economic assessment by the University of Melbourne demonstrates that geothermal heating from the Lower Tertiary Aquifer (LTA) in Gippsland can be a cost-competitive and sustainable alternative to natural gas for industrial heat.
Published 31 July 2017 | G. Beardsmore, K. Mee, E. O'Donnell, R. de Nys, L. Godden
A report by the Melbourne Energy Institute at the University of Melbourne for Regional Development Victoria, assessing the feasibility of geothermal energy as an alternative heat source for the Hazelwood Pondage barramundi fishery. The study proposes a sustainable scenario using energy balance modelling to maintain optimal water temperatures for barramundi habitat year-round. An economic analysis forecasts a positive net present value (NPV), suggesting potential financial viability. Additionally, the report outlines key steps, considerations, and regulatory requirements for Regional Development Victoria to support a successful transition to a geothermally-heated barramundi fishery.
Published 2014 | T. J. Rawling, M. Sandiford, G. R. Beardsmore, S. Quenette, S. H. Goyen, and B. Harrison
Coal-bearing basins possess a significant economic potential for enhanced geothermal systems due to the thermal insulation properties of coal and associated organic-rich sediments. In such insulation-dominated prospects, heat refraction effects caused by buried insulators can lead to negative surface heat-flow anomalies in most prospective areas. The Latrobe Valley in Victoria, Australia, serves as a prime example of a coal-bearing basin. Numerical simulations incorporating the region’s coal geometries reveal that the Latrobe Valley coals could elevate the temperature of rocks at a depth of 4 km by approximately 30–35°C compared to a ‘base’ condition without coal. This translates to a 30% increase in the average geothermal gradient, significantly enhancing the economic viability of geothermal energy development in the Latrobe Valley.
Published 2021 | G. Beardsmore
The report commissioned by the Latrobe Valley Authority provides an overview of the global applications of direct geothermal energy and outlines the experiences and circumstances of 12 regions worldwide that have adopted the use of geothermal energy from aquifers with comparable temperatures to those beneath Gippsland.
Published 2022 | C.D. O'Neill, M.J. Hocking, C.P. Riley
This report presents geological datasets that support the evaluation of geothermal energy potential across Gippsland.
Published 2023 | B. Fu, G. Beardsmore, R. Webster
This report assesses the economic feasibility of using geothermal energy to replace natural gas as a heating source for the Gippsland Regional Aquatic Centre.