This map shows the geothermal potential over the entire country of Australia. According to an analysis by Hot Dry Rocks, a geothermal consulting group, and Google, just 2% of Australia's geothermal potential could generate ten times more electricity than its total coal and gas electricity production today. (Image credit: Hot Dry Rocks)

Last week, geothermal consulting company Hot Dry Rocks released a geothermal map of Australia that shows the country's incredible potential for tapping its geothermal energy supplies. The map, which was developed in conjunction with Google.org, shows that if Australia were to only use 2% of its geothermal potential using today's technology, it could produce 395,092 MW - about ten times more than Australia's total coal and gas production.

One of a major benefits for using geothermal energy in Australia is that, as you can see from the map above, it's generally available everywhere. Australia has some of the highest temperatures in its known near-surface rocks anywhere in the world and its geothermal potential is distributed over the entire country.

"This is clean, renewable energy that is realistically accessible today with existing drilling and power conversion technologies," HDR’s Managing Director Graeme Beardsmore said. "Not only that, EGS has the potential to provide base load power; it is one of the most abundant sources of renewable energy available and is more than sufficient to replace current coal and gas power supply."

This will likely interest power companies in Australia, given that the government has recently passed a major carbon pricing law, which will assist in making geothermal power more price competitive with coal and gas.

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