Land in the Rotokawa Geothermal Reservoir, located in the Taupō Volcanic Zone, has been chosen as the preferred location for New Zealand’s inaugural supercritical geothermal exploration, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones said.
Design work is already in progress to develop the first well.
“This early-stage exploration could help prove the viability of supercritical geothermal energy, which has the potential to deliver several times the power output of conventional geothermal wells. This groundbreaking work could be a game changer for securing New Zealand’s future energy needs,” Jones said.
The Rotokawa site was chosen after comprehensive geological and geophysical studies conducted by Earth Sciences New Zealand.
“Tauhara North No.2 Trust is the guardian of the Rotokawa geothermal resources and has deep cultural and historical connections to the area. Its people have used geothermal energy for cooking, bathing, and healing for generations.”
A Memorandum of Understanding has been signed by Tauhara North No.2 Trust, the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, and Mercury NZ, the operator of the Rotokawa geothermal power station, to investigate the potential for supercritical geothermal energy at the site.
Earth Sciences NZ is providing technical and scientific expertise.
As part of the project, a multidisciplinary design team made up of local and international experts is being formed to oversee regulatory approvals, design, risk assessment, geoscientific modelling, engineering, procurement, drilling, and asset management.
The Coalition Government has pledged up to $60 million from the Regional Infrastructure Fund to support the development of the first well, with plans to drill two more wells as part of a wider programme.
“Three exploratory wells are the minimum needed to understand the energy resource. New Zealand has pioneered geothermal development in the past with government-led geothermal exploration during the 1950s and 1970s,” Jones said.
“During this time, more than 40 wells were drilled across the motu to explore geothermal resources.”
“Drilling into supercritical zones means going 1 km-3 km deeper into the Earth and managing higher pressures and temperatures than current conventional generation.”
“Safely converting and commercialising supercritical geothermal energy is the next step.”
Jones said the government supports this pioneering project, which seeks to unlock long-term, transformative clean renewable energy to enhance energy security and create an impact both nationally and internationally.