From Jakarta to Japan: Taking New Zealand's geothermal innovations global
Over the last 6 weeks our team contributed to high-profile events across Asia and the Pacific.
We are proud to work with global industry leaders and connect with international governments to help drive geothermal progress.
Jakarta, Indonesia, 18-20 September
We joined eight other New Zealand organizations in Jakarta to support Indonesia’s geothermal industry at the 10th Indonesia International Geothermal Convention & Exhibition. We were proud to see the launch of the Indonesia-Aotearoa New Zealand Geothermal Energy Programme (PINZ), a five-year partnership between New Zealand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Trade and Indonesia’s Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (MEMR). This landmark program aims to strengthen Indonesia's geothermal sector through targeted technical assistance and capacity building.
Manila, Philippines, 25-26 September
Our team, represented by Samantha Alcaraz, Rob Reeves, and Mark Gibson, attended the 5th Philippine International Geothermal Conference shared expertise and helped support attendees tackle geoscience challenges.
We presented a range of our recent work on geoheat, CO₂ reinjection, supercritical geothermal and working with mana whenua. We were thrilled to engage with this community who are dedicated to achieving a greener future through geothermal energy.
Changchun, China, 22-24 September
At the 1st International Workshop on Hot Dry Rock and Supercritical Geothermal Resources Changchun, Peter Rendel and Lucjan Sajkowski delivered keynote talks at both the opening and closing plenary sessions. They presented our latest advancements in supercritical and hot dry rock (HDR) geothermal energy research.
Following the workshop, they held a seminar at Jilin University’s College of New Energy and Environment, visiting the Key Lab of Groundwater Resources and Environment to explore collaborative opportunities. This workshop highlighted how we can support China’s geothermal development, fostering connections with respected research institutions from China, Italy, Germany, and the USA.
Singapore, 21-25 October
Sheena Thomas, our Head of Commercial and Business Partnerships, presented at the high-profile Singapore International Energy Week’s TechTable session. Sheena’s presentation covered the economic viability of supercritical geothermal in New Zealand, highlighted its potential as a low-emission, reliable energy source, and the potential it may have for international markets.
Her session was met with enthusiastic feedback, and she further shared insights during a 20-minute interview on Money FM(external link), a premier Asia-Pacific business news outlet. We were also honored to share the stage with Eavor Technologies Inc. and Nanyang Technological University Singapore in promoting geothermal's role in shaping a low-carbon future for the world.
Hawaii, 27-30 October
At the Geothermal Rising Conference in Hawaii, we engaged with energy innovators from industry, academia, and government, focusing on the versatile applications of geothermal energy—from 24/7 electricity generation to thermal storage and direct heating.
Isabelle Chambefort spoke on the “Superhot Rock” panel, detailing New Zealand’s potential to harness superhot geothermal resources. Samantha Alcaraz presented on the promise of low-carbon geoheat, Sarah Milicich shared critical insights into drilling technology, and Anya Seward discussed her research on novel techniques for heat loss assessment of geothermal systems. Mark Gibson and German Orozco also connected with international partners to explore future geothermal collaborations.
At home in New Zealand...
Back at home, we led a story on 1News, sharing the groundbreaking potential of supercritical geothermal energy in New Zealand. Isabelle Chambefort, highlighted the importance of drilling to prove the viability of supercritical resources, a step essential to attracting investment for future electricity generation.
In the story, Resources Minister Shane Jones expressed optimism for geothermal expansion, suggesting New Zealand could lead the world in supercritical geothermal energy. Energy Minister Simeon Brown further affirmed that geothermal energy will play an essential role in New Zealand’s renewable energy future, especially for baseload power.
Next Stop: Japan, 17-22 November
As we close a successful month of international engagements, our team is preparing to visit Japan to further strengthen partnerships and explore new geothermal collaborations. We are excited to keep advancing New Zealand’s geothermal leadership worldwide.
