ENCOURAGING REPORTS ON USE OF VOLCANIC STEAM FOR POWER

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 22851, 22 January 1949, Page 3

ENCOURAGING REPORTS ON USE OF VOLCANIC STEAM FOR POWER

(P.A.) WELLINGTON, Jan. 22. If success had been achieved at Larderello, in Italy, it could be attained in New Zealand. The amount of power generated from volcanic steam would he equal to the output of all the hydroelectric installations on the Waikato River, said the Minister of Works, Mr. R. Semple, yesterday. Mr. Semple was discussing the visits made to Italy by Mr. E. R. McKillop, Commissioner of Works, and Mr. M. Ongley, director of the Geological Survey Department, to study the work done in harnessing thermal activity at Larderello.

Until he had received full reports from Mr. McKillop and Mr. Ongley, said Mr. Semple, he was unable to announce a plan of development, but he was greatly impressed bv the optimism of these two experts on their return to New Zealand.

Large Area to be Mapped

Mr. Ongley had told him that the marked similarity in the geological character of Larderello and our own thermal region amply warranted the commencement of a full-scale investigation of local potentialities. The area to be mapped, however, was fairly extensive and involved the mapping of the volcanic belt stretching from White Island to Taupo. This would have to be clone systematically to secure a reliable picture of the formation, stratigraphy and general structure of the area to ascertain whether or not the structure of earth was suitable for the collection of steam under pressure.

In Mr. Ongley’s opinion, there seemed little doubt that the origin of volcanic steam was situated at a considerable depth, but it was difficult to estimate at this stage the depth of the drilling that would be necessary to secure its practical utilisation. The Italian supply came generally from a depth of 200 metres, although an experimental bore they now proposed would go down to 3000 metres.

The results of these experiments might be of particular value to New Zealand in the event of it being found necessary to go to similar depths here. Help From Italian Geologists Mr. Semple said Mr. Ongley had received every assistance from the Italian geologists, who had a surprisingly good knowledge of our own thermal regions. Experimental work and research in the generation of power had been going on in Italy for about 50 years, and Mr. Ongley had received the assurance of the Italian people that the full benefits of this experience could be made available to New Zealand.

Mr. Semple said Mr. McKillop, who had also visited Larderello, had given an oral report on his return. “The problem of utilising volcanic heat for power production in New Zealand,” Mr. Semple concluded, “is not one of simple solution. There are a number of technical factors to be considered on which at the present time the Government has insufficient information. If, however, these problems can be satisfactorily overcome, a very substantial increment to our power potential will be available.”