Untapped Geoheat ‘low-hanging fruit’ for reducing manufacturing emissions

Geothermal process heat (Geoheat) works by accessing geothermal energy from underground and transferring that energy to manufacturing processes through heat exchangers. This transferred energy can be used to power wood processing, food and beverage manufacturing, dairy processing, timber drying, horticulture, aquaculture, biotechnology operations and more.

Industrial-scale geothermal heat is already reducing emissions and is readily accessed at several steam fields within the Taupo, Rotorua and Kawerau districts. The steam or water is piped from the fields to nearby factories.

“We know it works. GNS has been supporting businesses to transition to Geoheat for a decade or more, cementing New Zealand as the world leader with the largest use of geothermal process heat by industry of any nation globally.

While experience is aplenty - GNS has more than 70 years’ experience in geothermal - a lack of awareness of the technology has meant capacity is sitting idle and unused in three key regions across New Zealand. 

“Geoheat really is manufacturing’s ‘low-hanging fruit’ and, with investment, industries could reduce their emissions, and the costs related to those emissions, and improve their overall production resilience and energy mix,” says Brian.

The action plan brings together key players in the geothermal space with a view to ensuring that future development projects can be supported with the right expertise to achieve maximum value.

A recent $15.5 million Geoheat project converted natural gas to geothermal energy for a large tissue drum dryer at the Essity plant in Kawerau, where tissue products are manufactured for a global market. This conversion, supported by a $1.65 million grant from the Government Investment in Decarbonising Industry Fund, will see a reduction in carbon emissions of 136,610 tonnes over the life of the project.

“Every bit helps and, with the energy sector accounting for around 27 percent of our overall domestic greenhouse gas emissions."