Hot rocks about to blow steam  

Australian company Geodynamics is about to commence testing their geothermal energy system.

A 'hot rocks' renewable energy project in South Australia is due to begin further testing next month, researchers say.

The testing at Innamincka, in the state's northeast, involves letting off steam from some of the deepest, and certainly the hottest, wells ever drilled into mainland Australia. The wells, named Habanero 1 and 2 after the world's hottest chillies, reach temperatures of more than 250°C at their depths.

Conventional geothermal production generates steam by using naturally available water, which may eventually run out. But Australian company Geodynamics will pump water at high pressure down one well to obtain steam from the other.