Geoheat Strategy For Aotearoa NZ, 2017-2030

Strategy implementation is well underway. Actions that are a focus for 2022 and 2023 are identified in the Action Plan below.

Why use geoheat energy

In Aotearoa New Zealand, geothermal energy for process use (“geoheat”) is used in timber industries, food processing, agriculture, aquaculture, heating, tourism, and health and balneology. Currently, this low-carbon, renewable energy source directly supplies about 8 PJ/y of energy to these heat use applications.

The NZGA believes that there is potential for a significant increase in geothermal process heat use.

• Aotearoa has demonstrated the technological, economic and environmental benefits of direct geothermal use.
• Our nation has geothermal resources with significant untapped heat potential that can be used to:
  • supply new and existing businesses with heat;
  • attract industries to take advantage of Aotearoa New Zealand’s geothermal assets, with the flow on environmental benefits;
  • create employment in the ventures that use the geothermal energy, and business that service the ventures.

Why a Strategy?

The Geoheat Strategy seeks to unlock potential, capitalise on interest in renewable energy, assist in coordinating effort and resources of both industry and the government in increasing geoheat energy use.

Achieving the goals of the Geoheat Strategy will contribute towards meeting Aotearoa’s low carbon energy goals, promote renewable energy, contribute to regional economic and social development, and further increase renewable and clean energy use which will assist in meeting our 2030 greenhouse gas reduction commitments.

Developing the Strategy & Action Plans

Action Plans, developed every two years, are being used to implement the Strategy, providing guidance and enabling flexibility to adapt to the prevailing circumstances.

In this report you can find out more about the consultation undertaken over the past decade in the development of the Strategy and three Geoheat Action Plans (2018-2019, 2020-2021, 2022-2023). The report also compiles a record of published papers and presentations to 2021.

Presentations