An ambitious target to create 400 jobs attributed to direct use geothermal projects by 2025 will be helped by the development of a new role, aimed at removing barriers and speeding up investment in the geothermal industry.
The Government announced $150,000 funding last week for the project, to match a further $150,000 from Bay of Connections and industry partners, which means the Geothermal Business Development Lead role can now become a reality.
Bay of Connections chairman Doug Leeder said the combined funding was a significant boost to the work being done on a regional level to grow the Bay of Plenty economy, with geothermal opportunities identified as one of the nine action streams in the Toi Moana Bay of Plenty Economic Action Plan.
In order to progress these opportunities, the Bay of Connections identified the need for such a role to work with a range of different organisations, including industry, iwi and others, to encourage investment in direct use geothermal opportunities.
Mr Leeder said demand for direct use geothermal heat has been limited, however, the significant potential opportunities provided by geothermal require an increased focus on stimulating demand from industry and firms that use heat as a key component of their operations.