Gloriavale invests in geothermal energy

Gloriavale has given $20,000 towards a study into harnessing geothermal activity on the Alpine Fault.

Scientists drilled a borehole nearly 900 metres deep along the Alpine Fault near Whataroa, on the West Coast, and found water temperatures of 120 degrees Celsius.

The research team is seeking funding to come up with ways of using the water.

Gloriavale Christian Community, Westland District Council, Buller District Council, West Coast Regional Council and Westland Milk Products have each given $20,000 towards the $205,000 study.

Gloriavale’s Fervent Steadfast confirmed the $20,000 investment. The community, which sits near the Alpine Fault at Haupiri, was interested in the geothermal activity as a business opportunity, he said.

It is understood the community has already bought a drill to access hot water deep underground. It runs drilling company Ocean Harvest International, which prospects for oil and gas, and hires out drilling equipment.

GNS Science business development manager Dave Jennings said $160,000 funding had been secured for the study so far. The lead funder was Development West Coast.

GNS Science had enough funding to make a start on the six-month project – the first of three stages into using geothermal resource.

It wanted to find uses for geothermal heat such as horticulture, hot pools, accommodation facilities and industrial applications. The possibility of small-scale electricity generation would also be considered.

The six-month study – the first of three stages – would investigate how the water could be used, he said.

Depending on the study’s outcome, phase two would involve fieldwork on high-priority sites and the final phase would be to develop projects businesses could tap into. The second and third stages would each take up to 18 months and include drilling, consent and seeking funding.

Regional council chairman Andrew Robb said the information from the study would be hugely valuable.

Westland Mayor Bruce Smith told a council meeting yesterday the discovery was ‘‘very exciting’’ for the West Coast.

‘‘The discovery could transform the economy and resilience of Westland, and provide a significant and sustainable clean energy resource. The location of the geothermal activity could provide real benefit to the dairy and tourism sectors,’’ he said.