Auckland is set to become a testing ground for innovative geothermal technology that could help reduce household power bills.

Associate Professor Sadiq J. Zarrouk, Co-Director of the University of Auckland’s Geothermal Institute, is leading a research project to explore how underground temperatures can be harnessed to cut water heating costs.

In collaboration with Drill Force, a water well drilling company, the team is drilling a well beneath the city to study temperature patterns and assess the potential for geothermal energy to supplement heating systems for homes and businesses.

The project could save households about $20 per month on their power bills, with much greater potential for commercial buildings. Novel phase-change material will used to help store and accumulate the geothermal energy between the two daily peak demands.

This study, the first of its kind in Aotearoa, New Zealand, can potentially change how the country uses energy and could lead to more sustainable, affordable heating solutions.

If successful, the findings could lead to long-term scientific and practical benefits, offering a sustainable and affordable energy alternative that could reduce reliance on traditional power sources.

The project is expected to continue monitoring temperature behaviour over the next year, with plans to install heat extraction systems if the data supports its viability.