Drilling of the Chowilla-1 hole is expected to take three to six weeks to reach a total depth of 400-500m.

It will be used to acquire core and temperature measurements from within the Renmark Trough to confirm the anticipated high flow status of the region.

Key results from the operation are expected towards early April next year.

Eden Energy holds two licence areas in the Riverland region – GEL175 and GEL176 – located 40km northeast of Renmark, with an additional licence application on the New South Wales side of the border.

In total, these tenements cover 1943 square kilometres of the geological feature known as the Renmark-Tararra Trough.

Eden added that the region was nearby infrastructure and markets.

“Unlike many more remote geothermal prospects, the Renmark area is close to infrastructure and grid powerlines – within 30 to 60 kilometres – including the main transmission lines running to Adelaide and to Broken Hill, enhancing the area's commercial potential for geothermal energy,” the company said.

“In addition to possible ‘clean’ electricity production, the geothermal energy from the Riverland area, which adjoins the Murray River and the saline aquifers of the Murray basin, could be an ideal energy source for a large-scale water desalination project.”