Geodynamics clears milestone as Habanero plant comes online

Australian listed geothermal energy company Geodynamics has announced the achievement of a key milestone, with the commissioning of its 1MWe Habanero Power Plant – set to be Australia’s first demonstration of enhanced geothermal system (EGS) energy technology.

In an ASX announcement on Wednesday – just one week after the withdrawal of Origin Energy from the Innaminka geothermal joint venture – Geodynamics said it would commence commissioning of the pilot plant that same day, having gained the necessary approvals from the South Australian government.

The South Australia-based hot rocks explorer said the process would be kicked off by injecting hot brine from the Habanero 4 well into the plant, to generate the first flow of steam and heat up the brine system, after which it would remove the isolation plug from the Habanero 1 well and begin injection from this well to complete the closed loop system.

The plant is expected to be fully commissioned by the end of April, with the trial of the plant running until approximately August – activities for which Geodynamics says it remains well funded.

Geodynamics CEO Geoff Ward described the milestone event as “long anticipated and major” for the company and its shareholders, and said it marked a significant achievement in Australian and global geothermal exploration.

“We anticipate building on the good results achieved in the first two open flow tests and the major stimulation test already undertaken at Habanero-4, through additional open flow testing and closed loop testing we will undertake during the demonstration trial,” Ward said.