The Australian Geothermal Energy Conference (AGEC) is the only geothermal conference in Australia run by the geothermal community, which includes the exploration, development and service companies, governments and research institutions. The community is represented by the Australian Geothermal Energy Association (AGEA) on policy, market and advocacy matters and the Australian Geothermal Energy Group (AGEG) on all technical aspects.

This year’s AGEC pulled together a first class program, fully supported by the sector that provided up-to-date information on progress from each of the leading companies, updates from government on support for the industry and a comprehensive briefing on the various technical aspects that make up the industry.

The program included presentations on cutting edge research from both national and international leaders in the research and academic fields. Attendees heard about the enormous amount of innovative work being undertaken by Australian geothermal experts and their contribution to the international geothermal energy community.

There is no doubt that the Australian Geothermal Energy Industry is poised on the verge of a great future.

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We are fortunate in that our continent is endowed with a world-class heat resource, but it is the enterprising spirit and great persistence of the industry’s pioneers that is driving us to address and overcome the challenges and to make a leading contribution to the creation of a globally significant geothermal energy industry.

This effort is a fully collaborative one where companies, research and technical experts and governments are all working together through a range of initiatives, including the AGEG’s Technical Interest Groups, the AGEA’s Committee System, the Federal Government’s Geothermal Energy Industry Framework and the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) Technology Road Map.

Our inaugural AGEC in 2008 was recognised through the award of a prestigious Sir Mark Oliphant Science grant from the Australian Academy of Science. That sponsorship and recognition remains very much appreciated by the industry and the innovative research community that supports it.

The geothermal energy community is keen to encourage a broader understanding of our progress and technical achievements, the diversity in the industry across a broad range of geological settings and of the timescale for developing geothermal projects.