New Zealand is set to join an elite group of international geothermal scientists, reported China’s Xinhuanet news agency on 26 October.
New Zealand is due to be admitted to the International Partnership for Geothermal Technology (IPGT) in Melbourne on 16 November.
“This recognition of our geothermal research programmes will allow our scientists to collaborate with an elite group of researchers in the United States, Australia, Switzerland and Iceland,” said Wayne Mapp, the science minister.
Established in 2008, the IPGT seeks to develop advanced, cost-effective geothermal energy technologies through international research cooperation.
The New Zealand government has evidenced its commitment to geothermal energy through the announcement of three large geothermal projects to be undertaken by 2020. The largest of the three is Contact Energy’s 250 megawatt Tauhara II geothermal project.
The project is expected to produce enough electricity to meet the needs of around 270,000 homes when it becomes fully operational in 2015.