Joint media release: Australian War Memorial switches on geothermal

The Hon Chris Bowen MP, Minister for Climate Change and Energy

The Hon Matt Keogh MP, Minister for Veterans' Affairs, Minister for Defence Personnel

Today we mark another important milestone in the Australian War Memorial Development, switching on the largest Geothermal Heat Exchange System in the country.

The Australian War Memorial is an iconic national institution, commemorating those who secured our nation.

This Geothermal System could save the Memorial up to $1 million dollars each year compared to the energy costs of a conventional system.

It will also reduce emissions by 1400 tonnes of CO2 equivalent each year – the same as cutting emissions from the travel of around 87,500 students from Sydney to Canberra return for their visit to the Australian War Memorial.

This system features 216 vertical closed loop boreholes and some 128kms of pipe, making it one of the largest systems of its kind in the world.

This system will contribute to ensuring the sustainable ongoing operation of the expanded Memorial, with the overall War Memorial Development Project due for completion in 2028.

Australia’s service personnel have worked to make our nation the secure, democratic society it is today, it’s only appropriate that in commemorating their service, we are preserving it for generations to come.