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Induced seismicity associated with geothermal power production in Australia

Created 16/10/2025

Updated 16/10/2025

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Educational factsheet discussing geothermal induced seismicity, what it is, why it happens, potential risks and mitigation strategies. Short abstract from factsheet header below: Hot Rock geothermal power production relies on using buried hot rocks to heat water and generate electricity. Australia is thought to have an enormous geothermal resource, capable of providing low-emission, cost-competitive energy for centuries to come. The nature of most Hot Rock resources in Australia necessitates artificial enhancement of the resources to make them viable for geothermal power production. One possible hazard associated with developing geothermal resources is induced seismicity. Induced seismicity is the term used to describe earthquakes generated by human activities. Induced earthquakes are associated with the movement of material into or out of the earth, for example during water reservoir filling, underground mining, and development of Hot Rock reservoirs. Exploration for geothermal energy in Australia has rapidly increased over the last five years, and geothermal exploration leases have been taken out around Melbourne, Adelaide, Hobart and Geelong. If shown to have viable geothermal resources, geological enhancement of these areas for Hot Rock power production may generate induced seismicity. However, experience in Australia to date suggests that the risks associated with geothermal induced seismicity are very low compared to that of natural earthquakes, and can be reduced by careful management and monitoring.

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Field Value
Title Induced seismicity associated with geothermal power production in Australia
Language eng
Licence Not Specified
Landing Page https://data.gov.au/data/en/dataset/3a067b1a-8b5a-40d3-969b-b414ac94af49
Contact Point
Geoscience Australia Data
clientservices@ga.gov.au
Reference Period 20/04/2018
Geospatial Coverage
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors
{
  "coordinates": [
    [
      [
        113.0,
        -43.0
      ],
      [
        163.0,
        -43.0
      ],
      [
        163.0,
        -6.0
      ],
      [
        113.0,
        -6.0
      ],
      [
        113.0,
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      ]
    ]
  ],
  "type": "Polygon"
}
Data Portal Geoscience Australia

Data Source

This dataset was originally found on Geoscience Australia "Induced seismicity associated with geothermal power production in Australia". Please visit the source to access the original metadata of the dataset:
https://ecat.ga.gov.au/geonetwork/srv/eng/csw/dataset/induced-seismicity-associated-with-geothermal-power-production-in-australia