Subsurface Energy
Investigating the geomechanical behaviour of rock and fluid systems underground to enable safe, efficient extraction and storage of energy resources.
PW
Senior Lecturer in Geotechnical Engineering
Dr. Pabasara Wanniarachchige
School of Engineering
University of Wollongong, Australia
My research explores the geomechanics of subsurface energy systems, from geothermal heat recovery in underground mines to the safe rehabilitation of post-mining landscapes.
About
Dr. Pabasara Wanniarachchige is a Senior Lecturer in Geotechnical Engineering at the School of Engineering, University of Wollongong. She completed her PhD at Monash University in 2018 and has since built a research program centred on the geomechanics of subsurface energy and post-mining land use.
In 2024, she was awarded an Australian Research Council Discovery Early Career Researcher Award (DECRA) to investigate geothermal heat recovery and energy storage from underground mines. The project aims to develop new, low-impact methods for harnessing heat from underground mine environments without further drilling or excavation, supporting the transition of post-mining landscapes into productive community assets.
Research Themes
Three connected strands of work on how we use, and recover, the subsurface.
Mine Rehabilitation
Developing methods to transition disused mine infrastructure and post-mining landscapes into safe, productive assets for future communities.
Geothermal Energy
Studying how elevated rock temperatures and mine water in underground mines can be harnessed as low-carbon geothermal heat sources.
Projects
Current and recent research grants, and the tools built from that work.
Early Career Fellowship
Mar 2024 – Feb 2027
Geothermal heat recovery and energy storage from underground mines
Australian Research Council (ARC DECRA)
Developing new, low-impact methods for harnessing heat from underground mine environments without further drilling or excavation, supporting the transition of post-mining landscapes into productive community assets.
Project Grant
Apr – May 2025
Investigating microstructural damage in geothermal reservoir rocks for enhanced heat recovery
Australia India Institute
Seed Funding
2022 – 2023
Investigation of geothermal energy recovery using screw-pile foundation systems
University of Wollongong
Dissemination & Impact
2024
Synergistic hybrid marine renewable energy harvest system
University of Wollongong
Project Tools
Feasibility Tool for Mine Geothermal Energy
A screening tool for assessing the geothermal heat recovery potential of disused and flooded underground mines.
Feasibility Tool for Ground Source Heat Pumps
A site-screening tool for evaluating ground source heat pump viability for residential and commercial applications.
Publications
The most recent entries from her official publication record, newest first.
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2026
Identification of potential mine sites for low-enthalpy geothermal energy extraction in Australia: a geospatial framework
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2026
Integrating CO₂ abatement pathways and second-use mine technologies: a life cycle assessment of mine-hosted geothermal systems
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2026
CO₂ fracturing in pre-conditioned reservoir rocks maximizes geothermal extraction potential while minimizing induced seismicity
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2026
Geothermal resource identification in Australia using shallow groundwater temperature data
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2026
CO₂ foam vs. conventional methods: enhancing deep geothermal energy recovery in extreme conditions
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2025
Fire-induced mechanical transformations in Hawkesbury sandstone: experimental observations and analysis
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2025
Predicting rock strength in in-situ stress and thermal environments: bridging experimental data with failure criteria and machine learning models
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2024
Innovative applications of carbon dioxide foam in geothermal energy recovery: challenges and perspectives, a review
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2024
The role of thermal cycling in micro-cracking development and flow alteration: advanced insights from CT and lab studies
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2024
Australia's geothermal frontier: unlocking granite's energy secrets
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2024
Geothermal reservoirs (book chapter)
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2023
An overview of underground hydrogen storage with prospects and challenges for the Australian context
View DOI
Teaching
Dr. Wanniarachchige teaches across geotechnical engineering, construction, and surveying, integrating her research and industry experience into the classroom wherever possible.
Her teaching philosophy favours a project-based learning approach that asks students to participate actively and share knowledge in a practice setting. Interactive lectures, tutorials, laboratory and field experience, and group projects inspired by real applications are combined to strengthen student learning outcomes.
Courses Taught
- CIVL272 Surveying Lecturer, Coordinator
- CIVL361 Geomechanics Lecturer, Co-coordinator
- CIVL394 Construction Lecturer
- ENGG105 Engineering Design for Sustainability Coordinator
News & Recognition
- 2024 Awarded an ARC Discovery Early Career Researcher Award (DECRA) for research into geothermal heat recovery and energy storage from underground mines.
- 2024 Named a UOW research "Future Leader" for work on geomechanics and mine-based geothermal energy.
Get in Touch
For collaboration, student enquiries, or media requests, reach out via the University of Wollongong staff profile or connect through the links below.