A 3.75MW geothermal plant in Paralana, northern South Australia, could be online by the end of 2012. This follows successful small-scale testing at the site. Larger testing is expected next month and, if successful, well drilling could begin in the second half of the year. The company behind the project, Petratherm, are also seeking to apply for A$5m of government funding after the Australian Government’s annual budget for renewable energy increased. The money will be used for its Heliotherm project, which aims to combine geothermal, solar and natural gas technologies.