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UoA's Geothermal Institute. Shaping the future of energy through education, research and consulting.

28/10/2026

Last week, we welcomed our newest cohort of Geothermal Energy Project Management (GEPM) participants from Indonesia and the Philippines for a month of learning, industry engagement and collaboration.

Bringing together professionals from geothermal developers, government agencies and universities, this year's cohort represents a range of expertise across geoscience, engineering, finance, law and academia.

The programme is already off to a great start. Participants shared insights from geothermal projects in their home countries, exploring lessons learned, project challenges and the benefits these developments bring to local communities.

Over the coming weeks, they’ll build on these discussions through classroom learning, industry engagement and field visits, exploring different approaches to geothermal project management.

We’re looking forward to the exchange of ideas, experiences and seeing these connections develop throughout the programme.

We gratefully acknowledge the support of the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT), Education New Zealand Manapou ki te Ao (ENZ), Manaaki New Zealand Scholarship Programme (MNZSP), and Kāpuhipuhi Wellington Uni-Professional who have made this programme possible.

30/09/2026

We’re excited to be continuing our Geothermal Energy Project Management (GEPM) and Renewable Energy Project Management (REPM) programmes for 2026/27!

We recently caught up with Associate Professor John O’Sullivan (Course Director) to talk about how the programmes are designed, and the value of bringing together classroom learning, industry engagement and practical experience.

Applications are now open for our next GEPM programme for African professionals. Applications for REPM for Latin America & Caribbean are also open until this Sunday 4 October 2026.

For more information about each programme and how to apply, click the links below:

🌍 GEPM – Africa: Applications now open until 6 December 2026
https://www.geothermal.auckland.ac.nz/geothermal-energy-project-management/

🌎 REPM – Latin America & Caribbean: Applications close 4 October 2026
https://www.geothermal.auckland.ac.nz/renewable-energy-project-management/

We are grateful for the continued investment and support of the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT), Education New Zealand Manapou ki te Ao (ENZ), Manaaki New Zealand Scholarship Programme (MNZSP), Kāpuhipuhi Wellington Uni-Professional, Jacobs New Zealand, and our other programme partners, who help make these learning opportunities possible.

23/09/2026

It was great to be back in the Philippines for the 7th Philippine International Geothermal Conference (PIGC7).

It is an exciting time for the geothermal industry, with strong government support for exploration and development. This year also marks 60 years of diplomatic relations between New Zealand and the Philippines, with geothermal playing an important role in this longstanding partnership.

A few highlights from the conference:

✨ Hearing Energy Secretary Sharon S. Garin reaffirm the Government’s support for geothermal exploration through the Philippine Geothermal Resource De-Risking Facility.

✨ Discussing some of the key technical challenges facing the sector, including exploration risk and the management of corrosion, erosion and scaling.

✨ Sharing updates from our ensemble-based reservoir modelling work, including applications for resource estimates for greenfield developments, critical minerals in geothermal systems, and pumped production from low- to mid-temperature resources.

✨ Reconnecting with friends, alumni and colleagues from across the geothermal community.

Thank you to Jem Austria and National Geothermal Association of the Philippines (NGAP) for bringing the geothermal community together for PIGC7.

Special thanks to Maricon Lim and New Zealand Trade & Enterprise for supporting the Geothermal Institute’s participation.

We look forward to continuing to strengthen geothermal collaboration between New Zealand and the Philippines and contributing to the exchange of knowledge, research and expertise between our two countries.

15/09/2026

LATIN AMERICA AND CARIBBEAN REPM – TWO WEEKS LEFT TO APPLY

We’re excited to be running our first Renewable Energy Project Management (REPM) course for Latin America and the Caribbean!

With just two weeks left to apply, applications are open until 4 October 2026.

Starting in February 2027, this five-week, in-person course will bring renewable energy professionals from across the region to New Zealand to develop the knowledge and practical skills needed to plan, develop and manage renewable energy projects.

The course is fully funded by the Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) through the Manaaki New Zealand Scholarship Programme.

📅 Applications close: 4 October 2026
📅 Course Dates: 9 Feb – 8 March 2027
📍 Location: Auckland, New Zealand | In person

If you’re a renewable energy professional from an eligible country in Latin America or the Caribbean and want to strengthen your project management skills, we encourage you to apply.

Find out more about the course and application process: https://www.geothermal.auckland.ac.nz/renewable-energy-project-management/

08/09/2026

A great few days at the Indonesia International Geothermal Convention & Exhibition (IIGCE) 2026!

Some highlights from our time in Jakarta included:

👉 Connecting with visitors at the New Zealand booth and sharing more about our work across geothermal education, research and consulting.

👉 The Networking Dinner was a great opportunity to catch-up with partners and building new connections across Indonesia’s geothermal sector.

👉 Our Geothermal Institute Alumni Gathering brought together alumni working across the globe, giving us a special opportunity to reconnect and hear where their careers have taken them.

👉 The IIGCE conference workshop, which we help deliver each year alongside other New Zealand companies. This year, we collaborated with Seequent to explore low- and mid-temperature geothermal systems and how modelling can help reduce risk in their development.

A special thank you to New Zealand Trade & Enterprise, especially Putri Seruni Wuningsari, for their support in delivering another strong New Zealand presence at IIGCE, and to IIGCE for bringing together the international geothermal community to share knowledge, experience and perspectives on the future of the industry.

Thank you to everyone who stopped by, joined us at an event, or took the time to connect with our team. It was great to be back in Indonesia!

Photos: New Zealand Trade & Enterprise (NZTE) and Geothermal Institute

04/09/2026

The latest New Zealand-Indonesia Joint Ministerial Commission statement is a welcome signal of the depth and growing ambition of the relationship between our two countries.

Great to see geothermal energy and renewable energy cooperation highlighted as a priority — including through the Indonesia Aotearoa New Zealand Geothermal Cooperation (PINZ) programme, the Indonesia International Geothermal Convention & Exhibition (IIGCE), and New Zealand Geothermal Week.

These platforms matter because the energy transition is not simply a technology challenge. It is also about building enduring partnerships, developing capability and skills, sharing knowledge, and connecting research and innovation with the people and institutions that can put it into practice.

The University of Auckland Geothermal Institute is proud to contribute to this relationship, including as a delivery partner in PINZ and through its engagement with IIGCE and the wider Indonesian geothermal sector.

There is a strong foundation here to build on. New Zealand and Indonesia have complementary strengths, shared interests and significant opportunities to deepen collaboration across geothermal and the broader clean energy transition.

It is great to see that ambition reflected at ministerial level — and even better to see research, education and capability development playing a practical role in turning it into sustained cooperation.

With thanks to Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and Phillip Taula for their ongoing support of New Zealand–Indonesia geothermal cooperation.

02/09/2026

It’s great to be back in the Philippines for the 7th Philippines International Geothermal Conference (PIGC7)!

This year, the conference takes us to Batangas, one of the Philippines’ key geothermal regions, bringing the geothermal community together around the theme “Sharpening the Geothermal Tip: Technology, Investment and Policy.”

Ryan Tonkin and Alexander Catalinac are attending on behalf of the Geothermal Institute. If you’re at PIGC7, come and say hello and chat with us about the teaching, research and commercial work we do in the Philippines and around the world.

We’re looking forward to catching up with you over the next few days!

📍 Mount Arayat Golf & Country Club, Lipa City, Batangas
📅 2–4 September 2026

27/08/2026

We were pleased to welcome a group of early-career diplomats and trade officials from ASEAN to the Geothermal Institute as part of a New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade study tour in New Zealand.

Associate Professor John O'Sullivan introduced the group to geothermal energy, the work of the Geothermal Institute, and some of the ways we contribute to geothermal education, research and industry engagement in New Zealand and internationally.

It was a valuable opportunity to share perspectives on the role geothermal energy plays in the region, and to connect with the next generation of diplomats and trade officials from across ASEAN.

Thank you to MFAT for including the Geothermal Institute in the programme, and to the group for visiting us!

26/08/2026

In memory of Associate Professor Patrick “Pat” Browne

We are deeply saddened by the passing of our colleague and friend, Associate Professor Patrick “Pat” Browne, whose contribution to geothermal science and education reached far beyond New Zealand.

Pat was a world-leading authority on hydrothermal alteration and geothermal petrology. His careful field observations, meticulous mineralogical studies, and thoughtful interpretations transformed our understanding of geothermal systems and helped establish New Zealand as an international centre of geothermal expertise.

He joined the Geothermal Institute as one of its founding staff members between August 1978 and January 1979. From the first Geothermal Diploma course in February 1979 through to 2002, he played a central role in educating generations of geothermal scientists and professionals.

For the Geothermal Institute, Pat was above all a remarkable teacher and mentor. He gave generously of his knowledge to students from New Zealand and across the world, many of whom returned home to lead the exploration and sustainable development of their countries’ geothermal resources. Through them, Pat’s work has contributed to renewable energy development, scientific capability, and stronger communities worldwide.

We will remember Pat for his intellectual curiosity, humility, warmth, and unwavering willingness to help others. His legacy is written not only in the scientific literature, but also in the lives and careers of the many people he inspired.

06/08/2026

Will you be attending IIGCE? Join us for an informal Geothermal Institute alumni gathering over drinks and nibbles on Thursday, 20 August.

This event is a chance to reconnect with former classmates and colleagues, catch-up with familiar faces, and meet other alumni working in the geothermal community in Indonesia.

When: Thursday, 20 August 2026
Time: 7-9pm (Jakarta time)
Location: Bima Room at Artotel Gelora Senayan Jakarta

If you’re interested in joining us at the event, please register your interest below. We’d love to see you there!

https://www.geothermal.auckland.ac.nz/iigce-2026-alumni-gathering-rsvp-form/

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https://www.geothermal.auckland.ac.nz/

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