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Uptake of geothermal energy as a power source is on the rise but traditional electricity is still favoured by the majority. Geothermal’s current prohibitive price and lack of hard data regarding cost savings are an obstacle to uptake however Professor Hui Chua from UWA’s Centre of Energy is part of a ground-breaking project that’s aiming to change this.

The Cool Earth Project, led by LandCorp, has been created to assess the effectiveness of a geoexchange system against traditional heating and cooling technology. Two identical homes have been built, one with geothermal technology the other with traditional technology.

Size and price represent a typical new property in Perth, and following an open day on 9 April, the houses will be purchased and lived in by members of the public, and monitored for the next two years.

“Scientifically this side-by-side comparison is a very methodical method. It is something I have always wanted to be involved in and the next big experiment in the field,” Professor Chua says.

“In Perth the outdoor temperature can fluctuate to above 40 degrees in summer, and freezing in winter. Water temperatures under the ground however remain relatively constant year-round and the geothermal system will use a shallow underground aquifer to utilise this water source to provide energy.”

The system works by transferring heat to and from the earth. During warmer months, heat is removed from the building and transferred to the ground. The reverse occurs in winter with heat sourced from the ground and supplied to the building.

“Through this we want to scientifically prove that geoexchange systems are 50% more efficient than traditional methods,” says Professor Chua.

“As geoexchange systems burn far less fossil fuel to heat and cool the home we also believe that the system will have little to no environmental impact and will actually result in a quieter, cooler environment.”

Now that the houses are built, Professor Chua’s work really begins. He contributed to the design of the monitoring program and is responsible for the analysis and reporting of results.

“This is a two year project and there will be continuous, remote monitoring of power consumption, indoor and outdoor conditions throughout. This data will help the State Government make informed decisions regarding geothermal energy and how to apply it to a wider population,” Professor Chua says.

“Once we know what the cost savings are, a broader conversation about how to make it affordable can begin, and optimally the proliferation of the technology to the market.”