World's first granite-hosted EGS power plant

Soultz power plant was inaugurated by the Prime Minister on Friday the 13th of June 08. The world's first granite-hosted EGS power plant to feed power into a national grid. The pilot plant of Soultz-sous-Forets (Alsace, France) is the first EGS power plant based on a fractured reservior at 4-4.5 km. A First ORC module of  1.5 MWe is injecting electricity into the power grid.

Geelong has potential to be a world leader in geothermal energy production

 $20 Million Government Funding for Geothermal

In the Australian on June the 2nd, a story read that The Rudd Government has begun to improve its budget funding for clean energy technologies. The redirection of up to $20 million from solar this year is set to flow into Australia's fledgling geothermal industry. 

Queensland's First Geothermal Permit Granted

The ABC rural Queensland news reported Queensland's first permit for geothermal energy exploration was issued on the 1st of June by the State Government to a New South Wales-based company. Managing director of "Granite Power" Stephen de Belle says it won the tender for its "Nagoorin" tenement near Gladstone about a year ago, but the permit means they can now start drilling..

Final Heat Flows are highest reported values from geothermal drilling on the electricity grid in Australia

Torrens Energy Limited announced on the 15th of May the return of the final results for Parachilna Prospect in South Australia. The final heat flows recorded from drill holes Balrog 1 and Gandalf 1 were 95 and 85mW/m2 respectively, with projected temperatures of 234°C at 5km.  The results to date define the prospect as having the highest reported heat flow values from geothermal drilling on the electricity grid in Australia. Anomalous modelled temperatures highlight the potential for a large new "geothermal field" to be established north of Port Augusta 

For more information see the asx announcement 

Jolokia 1 Drilling Progress

On the 13th of May, Geodynamics Limited announced that the drilling of Jolokia 1 was progressing well, having reached a depth of 3,220 meters. Jolokia 1 is located ~9km from Habanero and is targeting fractured granites, that are known to be 10°C hotter than Habanero wells.

Geodynamics Ltd on March 25th announced that open hole flow from Habanero 3, with reinjection into Habanero 1, had been proceeding since Saturday 22nd. Circulation was sustained at 20 kg/s and the temperature was 212°C at the Habanero 3 wellhead.

Torrens Energy enters agreement with GulfX Ltd 

Torrens Energy Ltd on Monday the 10th of March announced that it has entered into a cooperative exploration agreement with coal explorer GulfX Ltd. The deal will see the two companies sharing costs for things like permitting approval, and sharing geological information. The deal covers an area at the top of St Vincent’s Gulf in South Australia, where both companies are planning drilling programs.

Geodynamics Ltd shareholders voted overwhelmingly at a general meeting on Wednesday 19th to accept the Origin Energy farm-in proposal announced on 29th October.

The deal gives Origin a 30% stake in the Habanero project.