Geothermal project to produce clean energy and fresh water

RMIT University researchers are developing new technology to meet two of the greatest challenges facing Australia today, through an all-in-one geothermal system that can simultaneously produce clean electricity and drinking water.

The $1.12 million research project, conducted with industry partner Greenearth Energy, has been launched by Victorian Energy and Resources Minister Peter Batchelor at RMIT’s Bundoora campus.

Professor Aliakbar Akbarzadeh is leading a team of researchers developing an innovative system that combines fresh water production with electricity generation, using entirely renewable sources.

“Our research focuses on the development of a dual geothermal system that can desalinate hydrothermal waters while generating renewable power,” he said.

“While our dam levels may be low, Australia has billions of litres of hot salty water stored in geothermal reservoirs between two to four kilometres underground.

“With the environmental pressures facing our hot, dry continent, we need to develop systems that can effectively tap into this vast and under-utilised resource.”

Researchers have seen promising results from a small-scale concept prototype developed at the Thermo-Fluids Laboratory in RMIT’s School of Aerospace, Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, which was on display at the launch.

The three-year project, funded through an Australian Research Council Linkage grant and Greenearth Energy, will focus on further development of the prototype and performance improvement and evaluation of the dual geothermal system.

Greenearth Energy Managing Director Mark Miller said the research outcomes, if successful, would be used to develop commercial systems for a range of applications, including units capable of producing 0.1 MW of electrical power and 75,000 L of water per day, suitable for small and isolated communities off the main electricity grid.

“This project could pave the way for the effective use of suitable hydrothermal waters, offering export opportunities through the commercial manufacture of small to medium-scale dual geothermal systems,” Miller said.