The Australian War Memorial in Canberra has activated a state-of-the-art geothermal heat exchange system, marking a national first.
The project, which boasts an impressive 128 kilometres of piping and 216 vertical closed loop boreholes, stands as the largest of its kind in Australia.
Minister for Climate Change and Energy, Chris Bowen, was present at Tuesday’s ceremony to commemorate this milestone.
According to Bowen, the system is being hailed as a fitting tribute to Australia’s veterans, symbolising a commitment to safeguarding the future for upcoming generations while honouring those who fought for the country.
“This Geothermal System could save the Memorial up to $1 million dollars each year compared to the energy costs of a conventional system” he said.
He added that the installation would reduce emissions by 1400 tonnes of CO2 equivalent annually, comparable to eliminating the carbon footprint of 87500 students traveling from Sydney to Canberra to visit the memorial.
The Geothermal System in War Memorial is expected to play a crucial role in the memorial’s expanded operations, with the overall development project scheduled for completion in 2028.
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