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Monday, March 6, 2017

Australia: A New National Geothermal Association


Dear geothermal energy enthusiast

Graeme Beardsmore, President of
the new Australian Geothermal Association
It is with profound pleasure that I notify you of the incorporation of the Australian Geothermal Association (AGA) and invite you to become a founding member. AGA will continue the work of the Australian Geothermal Energy Group (AGEG) and the Australian Geothermal Energy Association (AGEA), both of which are now deregistered. Residual funds from AGEA have been transferred to AGA, as approved by the outgoing AGEA Executive. The inaugural Board of AGA comprises myself (President), Adrian Larking (Secretary) and Betina Bendall (Public Officer), with Ludovic Ricard performing the role of Treasurer. We extend our gratitude to the South Australian Department of State Development for providing Secretariat services, and to Finlaysons for pro bono legal assistance in setting up AGA.



The objectives of AGA, as set out in its constitution, are:
  1. to provide a forum for persons and bodies corporate involved or interested in geothermal energy;
  2. to hold, make available and provide information about all forms of geothermal energy, its benefits, risks, usage and potential;
  3. to maintain the Australian geothermal energy sector’s links with the Australian clean energy sector and international geothermal energy sector and with other organisations representing each of those sectors, including with the Clean Energy Council and ARENA and by affiliating with the International Geothermal Association;
  4. to conduct or manage support services including education and training; and
  5. generally to carry on, do or assist in all or any matters which the Association may deem fit for promoting or encouraging the development of, and science and technology relating to, geothermal energy.
The membership fee for the 2017 calendar year is set at $25 (AGA is not registered for GST). Fees will contribute towards the running costs of the association and support the development of an AGA website to provide information about geothermal energy and all its benefits and uses, including ground source heat pumps, direct uses of geothermal heat, and power generation.

The Board anticipates that the website will also host legacy reports from AGEG and AGEA. Direct membership benefits will include automatic affiliation with the International Geothermal Association when AGA negotiates an affiliation agreement with IGA (aiming for ratification at the next IGA BoD meeting in May.)

Following the appointment of founding members, other individuals with interests in geothermal energy can apply for AGA membership by completing a form (yet to be created by AGA) and returning it to the Secretary.

AGA will hold an inaugural Annual General Meeting before the end of 2017, at which all board positions will be vacated and a new executive committee elected.

I look forward to working with you all to build a central point for information and communication of all things geothermal in Australia!

Regards,

Graeme Beardsmore, Technical Director, Hot Dry Rocks Pty Ltd, Australia
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