A new strategy to grow geothermal energy use in New Zealand by 2030 has received a warm welcome by a group made up of energy suppliers and venture groups.
The Bay of Connections (BOC) Energy Group from the Central North Island have been working to grow geothermal energy use on a commercial and industrial scale.
They says the launch of the Geothermal Association (NZGA) Geoheat strategy fits well with their plans.
"The Geoheat strategy focuses on developing continuous and sustainable direct geothermal energy use on a commercial and industrial scale," BOC's energy strategy leader Brian Carey said.
"We have been looking to promote the growth of direct geothermal energy use in our area."
He said the Geoheat strategy would provide his energy group with support and expertise on how to further grow the opportunity.
The Geoheat Strategy envisages the creation of four or five large direct use projects like timber processing and large glasshouses, as well as a range of smaller ventures over the next 10 to 12 years.
The Strategy focuses largely on the Central North Island which has the higher temperature geothermal resources.
A number of timber processing plants are already using geothermal energy for kiln drying in the Central North Island region, with milk processing and commercial glasshouses also operating in the area sourcing heat directly from geothermal.
"There's good opportunity for employment with 500 new jobs anticipated should the target of 7.5 Peta Joules per annum with the new projects be reached," Mr Carey said.
New Zealand has a long history of utilising high temperature geothermal resources with about 60 years of extensive large scale geothermal energy use for industrial direct heat and electricity generation.
"We are in the perfect position to take full advantage of the shift towards cleaner and more responsible energy. It's a great opportunity for us to use a renewable resource and help reduce our CO2 footprint."