Europe:

The EGEC Newsletter May 2015 - The Voice of Geothermal in Europe

The new edition of the European Geothermal Energy Council (EGEC) newsletter is out.

Editorial

• Country update reports from the World Geothermal Congress
• EU Energy Union

Policy

• Juncker plan to start at the end of the summer
• EU decision-makers strike a deal on the future of the EU carbon market

News

• EC launches platform to help regions access funds for sustainable energy
• North America and Europe Lead the Global Geothermal Heat Pump Market
• Continued Development of Geothermal District Heating in Ile-De-France
• African Union Commission grant for study in Grande Comore
• UN Environment Programme (UNEP) Regional Launch of Global District Energy In Cities Initiative
• New tool for estimating geothermal energy potentials from IRENA and the European Space Agency

Projects

• The Heat Under Your Feet: Promoting Geothermal Heat Pumps (ReGeoCities)
• KnowRES

Events

• Developing Sustainable Energy in your City? The Heat Under Your Feet is a Solution (ReGeoCities)
• Announcing the European Geothermal Congress 2016

Events Calendar

Download the Newsletter.......

Science & Technology:

Flexible Power Generation from Geothermal: a Valuable Option for Grid Stability (EGEC)

A fact sheet from the European Geothermal Energy Council (EGEC) explains how geothermal electricity can be crucial to the stabilization of the grid, being both baseload and flexible.


EGEC Fact Sheet (PDF).........

USA, California:

Renewable Energy Bill Progresses (Imperial Valley News)

Assemblyman Eduardo Garcia (D-Coachella) got seven bills yesterday out of Appropriations Committee and will next go to the Assembly floor for a vote.

Topping his bill list is AB 197 (E. Garcia)  – Public Utilities: renewable resources which will continue California’s transition to a clean energy economy and  further development of abundant wind, solar, geothermal and other renewable energy resources to help the statewide target of achieving 50 percent renewable energy procurement by 2030.

The bills will now move onto the assembly floor where they will be heard next week.

Read More.......

GRC Annual Meeting & GEA Geothermal Energy Expo:

Peppermill's Green Initiatives a Winner (Reno Gazette Journal)

Leadership at Reno's Peppermill has made the call: Mother Nature is always the odds-on favorite at the resort-casino.

The property has assumed a pioneering role in environmental stewardship initiatives, as it is the only hotel in the nation to be heated completely by an on-site geothermal well.

And for locals or tourists lucky enough to dip their toes in one of the Peppermill's sparkling pools, they may notice a tangible difference: Comfortably warm water, which is completely compliments of volcanic energy almost three-quarters of a mile below the surface.

In fact, all water at the property, including pools, spas and domestic water for showers and mechanical systems, generates all of its heating energy from the geothermal operation: 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Learn more about Peppermill's pioneering green initiatives at NCET's Tech Wednesday, June 10. Details can be found at www.NCET.org. 

The GRC Annual Meeting & GEA Expo will be held at the Peppermill from September 20-23. Included in the packed program are six tours of the geothermal power plant making the resort the only one in the United States whose heating source is totally provided from geothermal energy produced on the immediate property.

Read More.......

USA:

Heinrich Works To Streamline Permitting for Renewable Energy Projects (KRWG)

US Senator Martin Heinrich (D-NM)

U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), a member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, announced he has introduced S. 1407, the Public Lands Renewable Energy Development Act with U.S. Senators Dean Heller (R-Nev.), Jim Risch (R-Idaho), and Jon Tester (D-Mont.). The bipartisan bill simplifies the permitting process for solar, geothermal and wind projects on public lands.

The Public Lands Renewable Energy Development Act streamlines the environmental review of solar, wind, and geothermal projects on public lands and establishes a program at the Department of the Interior focused on making the permitting process more efficient. The legislation also establishes a revenue share systems that aids local communities that are home to potential projects and helps mitigate the impact construction could have on the land, water, and on wildlife.

Read More.......

USA, Nevada:

Talking Frontier Observatory for Research in Geothermal Energy (FORGE) with Rachel Dahl and James Faulds (altenergymag.com)

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) selected a site near Fallon for consideration for its Frontier Observatory for Research in Geothermal Energy (FORGE), and $2 million in federal funds to launch the ground-breaking research project.

What is the purpose of the Frontier Observatory for Research in Geothermal Energy (FORGE)?
The main purpose is create a laboratory to conduct experiments on how to produce an engineered geothermal systems (EGS).  

Why was Churchill County, Nevada chosen as a site for FORGE? 
Feasibility. The area has the right combination of heat, appropriate rock types and permeability. This has been well established by the drilling of about 45 wells on the Naval Air Station Fallon and adjacent Ormat lease lands over the past several decades.

What were the challenges of having a FORGE location in Churchill County? 
We had to be sure that the FORGE activities would not interfere with Naval Air Station Fallon operations. The Navy was very cooperative in discussing this so that the project can avoid any impact on their operations.

Read More........

Science & Technology:

Geothermal 101(Student Energy)




Although geothermal energy is currently a small portion of the world’s energy supply mix, it holds great potential for future development because it is a reliable source of power generation that can serve base-load electricity needs.

More information from studentenergy.org

GRC Workshop/Field-trip to Yellowstone National Park:

Yellowstone Trips, Slip and Falls Outpace Bear Mauling (ClaimsJournal.com)

Getting hurt at Yellowstone National Park isn’t quite as dramatic as you might think. Although the park is full of hazards like bears, bison, scalding water and canyons, visitors are most likely to be injured from mundane accidents like trips, slips and falls, reports the Casper Star-Tribune.

Bear attacks are dramatic but exceedingly rare. National Park Service statistics put the likelihood being injured by a bear during a visit to Yellowstone at 1 in 2.1 million. Still, the park works to keep visitors educated about bear safety.

“We see people taking risks that are absolutely unnecessary,” said Yellowstone Public Affairs Officer Traci Weaver. The “Be Bear Aware” campaign teaches visitors how to properly store food, carry bear spray and keep a distance from the animals.

Other wildlife can also be dangerous. The park didn’t have statistics on bison gorings, but Weaver said they happen once or twice a year. Most recently, a 16-year-old Taiwanese girl was gored last week as she posed for a picture in front of the creature.

The GRC will look after it's participants on a Workshop/Fieldtrip to Yellowstone National Park, June 22-26. The workshop will include a tour of the major geologic features of the Park, the site of the greatest concentration of geothermal features in the world, and discussions of its volcanic history, geochemistry, and hydrology.
Read More.......

New Zealand:

Top 5 Geothermal Attractions in Rotorua (The Epoch Times)

Boiling pools, smoking calderas and seething mud pits converge on the Rotorua region in a medley of sulphuric wonders like nowhere else in New Zealand. With that in mind, it’s hardly surprising that the area now attracts just shy of three million visitors annually, all eager to gawp at its wealth of metamorphic sights; those spurting geysers; those piping hot mud pits; roaring cataracts and record-breaking silica terraces.

If you fancy a jaunt through this mystical, otherworldly landscape this year, then be sure to check out this list of the top five geothermal attractions peppering the region!

• Waimangu Volcanic Valley
• Orakei Korako
• Te Puia
• Hell’s Gate
• Wai-O-Tapu
• Kerosene Creek

Read More........

Nigeria:

Nigeria Looks to Renewable Energy Including Geothermal Energy (Information Nigeria)

(Courtesy CIA.gov)

Nigeria has several alternatives to fossil fuel, given its rich endowment with natural resources. If effectively exploited, the country may be on a path to the energy sufficiency it urgently needs to ensure sustainable and inclusive economic growth.

While other renewable energy sources like solar and biomass have been explored, Nigeria is yet to utilize the heat emitted from its earth.

The success of Kenya’s geothermal power generation shows what Nigeria can achieve if the country invests in digging geothermal wells. The East African nation boosted its power generation capacity by 17.5 percent after exploring geothermal resources.

Now that abundant sources of geothermal energy have been found along the Benue trough in Nasarawa, Benue, and Plateau States, as well as the Borno Basin, a successful pilot program will encourage private investment and boost the country’s poor power generation capacity.

Read More........

USA:

Renewables Share of U.S. Energy Consumption Highest Since 1930s (EIA)

Renewable energy accounted for 9.8% of total domestic energy consumption in 2014. This marks the highest renewable energy share since the 1930s, when wood was a much larger contributor to domestic energy supply.

Renewable energy use grew an average of 5% per year over 2001-2014 from its most recent low in 2001. The increase over the past 14 years was in part because of growing use of wind, solar, and biofuels.

Read More........

USA, California:

The Geysers Geothermal Association - Summer BBQ

Thursday, June 18, Calpine Geothermal Visitor Center, Middletown, CA 95461

USA, Oregon:

Oregon Senate Backs Newberry Geothermal Lab (KTVZ.COM)

Joins House in unanimous votes of support

(Courtesy KTVZ.COM)

State Sen. Tim Knopp (R-Bend) successfully carried memorial legislation Wednesday on the Senate floor in support of bringing a federal geothermal research facility to the Newberry Geothermal Project in Deschutes County.

House Joint Memorial 19 would urge the U.S. Secretary of Energy and Congress to site their prospective Frontier Observatory for Research in Geothermal Energy (FORGE) at the Newberry Geothermal Project.

Knopp prompted fellow state senators to vote favorably on HJM 19.

"This is a great opportunity for us to urge Congress to bring a state-of-the-art geothermal lab to Oregon," he said. "There is an opportunity to bring $30 million to Oregon. ... I think it's a great fit for Oregon."

Read More........

USA, Colorado:

2015 Pagosa Verde Symposium

27-28 August, Pagosa Springs, Colorado, USA

The fourth Pagosa Verde Symposium – Community Benefits of Renewable Energy and Sustainable Agriculture – is Thursday and Friday, August 27 and 28, at the Aragon Community Center in Pagosa Springs, Colorado.

Since 2012, the annual Pagosa Verde Symposium has hosted experts from academia, government agencies, and private businesses to southwest Colorado to explore appropriate economic growth. The 2015 theme focuses on direct use geothermal and other technologies. Keynote speakers and expert panelists will emphasize sustainable economic diversity. Participants can look forward to discussion of Colorado’s conservation of natural resources, renewable energy projects, and 21st century agriculture.

More Information.........                    Register..........

Iceland:

Hellisheiði: Icelandic Geothermal Energy Production (Risan Media)

The Hellisheiði Geothermal Power Station is located just outside of Reykjavík. Risan Media's Todd Anders Johnson visited Hellisheiði in May, 2014 and was able to interview Gerður Björk Kjærnested about geothermal energy production in Iceland.

USA:

2015 U.S. Energy Information Administration Energy Conference

June 15-16, Washington DC, USA

The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) will hold its 2015 EIA Energy Conference on June 15 and 16 at the Renaissance Downtown Hotel in Washington, DC. The EIA Energy Conference has become a premier forum for addressing energy issues in the United States and worldwide. This event provides a unique opportunity to meet and network with fellow energy experts and decision makers.

This year’s conference will feature internationally renowned energy experts:

• John Hoeven, U.S. Senator, North Dakota
• Dr. Ernest Moniz, U.S. Secretary of Energy 
• Pedro Joaquín Coldwell, Secretary of Energy of Mexico 
• Harold Hamm, Chairman and CEO of Continental Resources 
• Matthew K. Rose, Executive Chairman of BNSF Railway Company 
• JB Straubel, Co-Founder and CTO of Tesla Motors

More information.......

Mexico, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Peru, Panama and USA:

Western Hemisphere Countries Plan to Double Renewable Energy by 2030 (EIN News - News Release)

At the Second Energy and Climate Partnership of the Americas (ECPA) Ministerial, hosted May 25-26, 2015 in Merida, Mexico, Energy Ministers of Mexico, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Peru, Panama and the United States announced the creation of a new Western Hemisphere Clean Energy Initiative. The participating countries intend to work toward a collective doubling of renewable sources such as solar, wind, small-scale hydropower, sustainable biomass, and geothermal, by 2030.

This initiative seeks to increase collaboration among participating countries to:

• Facilitate each country’s roadmap to achieve its renewable energy goals in the context of its broader energy infrastructure
• Increase availability of quality renewable resource data
• Share modeling and simulation toolkits
• Cooperate on effective energy policy development and planning
• Enhance the flexibility and resilience of grid systems
• Foster energy innovation and promote workforce capacity and training
• Focus on the energy-water nexus
• Promote energy access, including for remote communities

Participating countries in the Western Hemisphere Clean Energy Initiative intend to foster momentum for technology and policy solutions in support of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Conference of the Parties (COP21) meeting in Paris and beyond. They will identify areas of cooperation with other global and regional efforts, governments, international organizations, private sector, and civil society groups. Participating countries will report on tangible results at the Third ECPA Ministerial to be hosted by Chile in 2017.

USA, Alaska:

GRC Member Looks Underground for Alaska Energy (The Bellingham Herald)

Pete Stelling, assistant professor of geology at Western Washington
University (Courtesy ALEC SANDERG/The Bellingham Herald

The possible answer to the energy needs of a small town on a small island in Alaska lies just below their feet.

Akutan sits in Alaska’s remote Aleutian chain and is home to Mount Akutan, a 4,275-foot volcano that erupted as recently as 1992. With that fresh volcanic activity, there’s plenty of hot water below ground that could be used to generate electricity for the town’s 100 year-round residents and for Trident Seafood’s production plant, the largest such plant in North America, with up to 1,400 employees during peak season.

For power now, more than 4 million gallons of diesel fuel are shipped to the island every year, at a cost of $14 million. GRC Member and Western Washington University assistant professor of Geology Pete Stelling, is working to make Akutan much less dependent on the fuel by tapping the island’s renewable geothermal energy.

Read More........

New Mexico:

Public Meetings on New Mexico Geothermal Energy Development (Forest Service)

The Santa Fe National Forest (SFNF) has scheduled two public meetings to solicit input on the potential effects of geothermal energy development on land within Forest boundaries.

Interested individuals are invited to learn more about the geothermal leasing proposal by attending the public scoping meetings scheduled on the following dates:

• Monday, June 1, 2015, 5:00 p.m., Cuba Ranger Station, 04b County Road 11, Cuba, NM  87013
• Tuesday, June 2, 2015, 5:00 p.m., Santa Fe National Forest Headquarters, 11 Forest Lane, Santa Fe, NM  87509

The U.S. Geological Survey has identified approximately 195,000 acres within the boundaries of the SFNF with “significant geothermal potential,” and the Bureau of Land Management has received expressions of interest in leasing approximately 46,000 acres of SFNF land for geothermal exploration and development.

The Forest Service will prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the proposed geothermal leasing project as part of the decision-making process on whether to open SFNF lands to geothermal leasing.  The EIS will include issues raised at the public meetings and in public comments received through June 12, 2015.

Read More.......

USA, California:

Registration Opens for TOUGH Symposium 2015 (LBNL)

September 28–30, 2015, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), Berkeley, California

A symposium on applications and enhancements to the TOUGH codes for multiphase fluid, heat, and chemical transport will be held at LBNL. The TOUGH Symposium 2015 consists of oral and poster presentations, with proceedings published online, and includes a welcome reception and banquet dinner featuring an invited talk.  Short Courses on select TOUGH codes will be offered immediately preceding and following the Symposium. Selected papers will be submitted for inclusion in special issues of major scientific journals.

Registration is open!
The early-bird pre-registration deadline is August 27; on August 28, registration fees will increase. Please register at: https://www.regonline.com/Register/Checkin.aspx?EventID=1718867. Berkeley Lab is a DOE National Laboratory with special processing for visitors. We strongly encourage you to register early so we can process your guest pass and paperwork in a timely manner.
More information........

USA:

U.S. National Geothermal Summit (GEA)

The U.S. National Geothermal Summit is the leading forum for western state policy discussions, bringing together the geothermal industry for a dialogue with state and federal policy makers and is widely attended by the geothermal community, state regulators, federal legislators and utilities. The 2015 Summit theme is “Geothermal Policies as Stimulus for Economic Growth and Environmental Quality.” The event is supported by the Geothermal Resources Council.

• GEA/GRC member rate: $395
• General rate: $495
• Government/Non-profit: $395
• Past summit participant: $395

Read More.........

USA:

Geothermal Vision Study (EERE/GTO)

The Geothermal Technologies Office (GTO) at the United States Department of Energy has undertaken a vision study—called GeoVision—to conduct a credible analysis of potential geothermal growth scenarios for 2020, 2030 and 2050 across multiple market sectors. By engaging the geothermal industry in this dialogue, GTO anticipates a product that will benefit the entire industry:

• Clearly articulated GTO investment strategies across different sectors, with a cohesive plan to attain near-term and stretch goals:
• Relevant geothermal growth scenarios for 2020, 2030 and 2050, backed by robust data, modeling, and analysis
• Comprehensive approach, inclusive of all market segments: existing and potential hydrothermal, electrical and non-electrical uses, burgeoning EGS advances, and other value streams
• Accessible objectives and peer-reviewed industry data, supportive of and available to geothermal decision-makers in policy, permitting, and development capacities
• Aspirational and inspirational goals

Read More.......

Peru:

Geothermal Project Manager - Peru (Fircroft)

(Courtesy CIA.gov)

A big geothermal company is seeking a Geothermal Project Manager, who would report to their MD of Latin America. This is a project hire role, based in Lima, for an expected duration of 2 to 3 years.

The ideal candidate would have at least 10 years post graduate experience (ideally in renewable energy), including project engineering/management skills and knowledge in civil works at the early stages of a Geothermal project.

Job Scope:

• Lead the planning, execution and monitoring of his assigned Project/s – scope shall include activities related to construction / civil works, transmission line development, power plant development, etc. 
• Direct, control and manage all technical / execution aspects of the project including procurement and all external work undertaken by contractors and consultants 
• Formulate comprehensive project risk assessment and corresponding risk mitigation strategies and measures 
• Manage the project budget and project reporting activities

Read More.......

Climate Change:

Carbon Pricing Is Expanding: Initiatives Now Valued at Nearly $50 Billion (World Bank)

The new Carbon Pricing Watch compiles the latest data on formal carbon pricing initiatives around the world. Several carbon taxes and one of the world's largest emissions trading systems started in the past year and a half, and more are planned in the coming years.

The new and existing systems are also evolving. California and Quebec linked their markets. China has been learning from its seven local carbon markets as it plans for a national emissions trading system.

Read More........

USA, California:

Surge in Renewables Remakes California’s Energy Landscape (Yale Environment 360)

Thanks to favorable geography, innovative government policies, and businesses that see the benefits of clean energy investments, California is closing in on its goal of generating a third of its electricity from renewables by 2020.

Solar farms are blooming across California’s deserts, wind turbines are climbing the Sierra, photovoltaic roofs are shimmering over suburbs, and Teslas are the Silicon Valley elite’s new ride. A clean energy rush is transforming the Golden State so quickly that nearly a quarter of its electricity now comes from renewable sources, and new facilities, especially solar, are coming online at a rapid rate. Last year, California became the first state to get more than 5 percent of its electricity from the sun.

On top of that, the state has ample geothermal energy production, with expansion on the way.

Read More.......

Canada:

Damning Report for Site C Dam (Business in Vancouver)

BC Hydro and the joint review panel ignored new data on geothermal energy potential in B.C.

The report was authored by Robert McCullough, an energy analyst best known for his work in the Enron scandal. He recommends generating power using a mix of renewables and natural gas. His report also concludes that BC Hydro and the joint review panel ignored new data on geothermal energy potential in B.C.

Geothermal power has been developed with some success in other countries. The benefit of thermal power is that, once developed, it provides consistent power generation around the clock, with minimal environmental impacts.

Developers in B.C. have not had a lot of success with geothermal power, however. Although B.C. has an abundance of geothermal potential, past attempts to develop geothermal power here have found it to be simply too expensive.

Last year, the Canadian Geothermal Energy Association (CanGEA) issued a report that said BC Hydro and the joint review panel relied on out of date information when they ruled out geothermal power as too expensive. New “unconventional” geothermal sources have been identified in Northeastern B.C. by the oil and gas sector, the report found.

Since the cost of finding geothermal heat sources is one of the things that makes it so costly, CanGEA said the oil and gas sector had already done some of the heavy lifting.

Read More.......

USA, Hawaii:

Ormat's 25 MW Hawaii Geothermal Contract Should be Approved, Consultant Says (Pacific Business News)

Boston Pacific Co., the firm monitoring the bid process for the development of a 25 MW geothermal energy project on Hawaii’s Big Island, which was awarded to Nevada’s Ormat Technologies Inc., is recommending Hawaii regulators approve the selection.

Ormat already operates the 38 MW Puna Geothermal Venture plant on the Big Island.

Boston Pacific said in a letter this month to the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission that the state agency should approve Ormat’s Moana Geothermal project because its bid was able to meet the threshold price of 12 cents per kilowatt hour.

Read More.......

Australia:

Anything but Coal: Solar the Most Popular Energy Source in Australia, Geothermal Lags Behind (The Sydney Morning Herald)

Solar energy is the most popular source of electricity in Australia with more than three times the backing of coal-fired or nuclear power, a survey by Ipsos has found.

The poll of almost 1200 people around the country found that solar panels on roof tops were supported by 87 per cent of respondents, with large-scale solar farms "strongly" or "somewhat" backed by 78 per cent.

Geothermal energy is supported by 45% of respondents, listed above nuclear and coal.

Read More.......

Australia:

The Heat is On, as Australia Plumbs the Depths (The Sydney Morning Herald)

The second of a two-part series on geothermal energy investigates whether Australia is making the most of its vast underground potential.

On the face of it, Australia's future is rosy: renewable energy, a World Wildlife Fund report claims, could meet all our electricity needs by the middle of the century – and at a cost little more than 0.1 to 0.2 per cent of gross domestic product.

Sad to say, none of this deterred the government and opposition from reaching a so-called "compromise deal" last week that slashes the nation's original target of 41,000 gigawatt-hours of annual renewable energy production by 2020 to 33,000 gigawatt-hours.

More is the pity given Australia's enviable range of renewable energy options, including hot rocks. This almost inexhaustible supply of heat beneath our largely arid island continent is ready and waiting to be harnessed, with Victoria and South Australia, in particular, veritable hot spots of geothermal potential.

Read More.......

New Zealand:

Body of Geothermal Pioneer Missing for Decades Found in Ngaio Bush (The Dominion Post)

John Holmes Smith died in 1986

Police announced on Monday that they had now identified remains as being those of John Holmes Smith, a pioneering geothermal engineer, who was 76 when he went missing from his home in Ngaio, northern Wellington, in March 1986.

In May 1986, a memorial service was held for the retired former chief geothermal engineer for what was then the Ministry of Works and Development.

By August, with still no clue as to his whereabouts, the case was referred to the coroner, who found he must have died on or about the day he went missing.

Colleagues told The Evening Post at the time of his disappearance that Smith was a pioneer, who conducted one of the world's first investigations into how geothermal steam could be used as a natural energy source.

His legacy lives on in the Wairakei geothermal field near Taupo, now known as Te Mihi, which was the first wet-steam station in the world when it was commissioned in 1958.   Today it has enough capacity to power about 160,000 homes.

Read More.......

Japan:

42 MW Yuzawa Geothermal Power Plant Begins Construction (Nikkei)

Some 22 years after an on-site survey began, construction on a large-scale geothermal power plant in Akita Prefecture kicked off Monday.

The project will generate 42 MW, or enough electricity for 80,000 households a year, and is expected to cost the consortium of J-Power, Mitsubishi Materials and Mitsubishi Gas Chemical around 30 billion yen ($244 million).

Slated to go online in 2019, the plant in the city of Yuzawa will be Japan's first geothermal station with output of more than 10 MW in 23 years.

More than five other big geothermal projects in Japan are also on the drawing board. Idemitsu Kosan and Japan Oil Development are among those conducting drilling surveys.

The government projects geothermal energy to rise from 0.3% of the country's overall power generation mix to around 1% by 2030.

Read More........

Canada:

Geothermal Research Could Come to Grande Prairie (Grande Prairie Daily Herald-Tribune)

Town in Alberta could be site of a 2 MW demonstration geothermal power plant

The City of Grande Prairie in north-west Alberta is moving to participate in another renewable energy project after a delegation at last week’s council meeting piqued interest.

Jonathan Banks, a University of Alberta (U of A) research associate with a background in geothermal energy, pitched the green dream and explained he was looking for financial assistance to build geothermal reservoir models within the next year.

“We are looking to put together a portfolio of the top-10 best potential geothermal electricity producing projects in Alberta, three of which are located right here in Grande Prairie,” he said.

The council voted unanimously to direct administration to identify potential funding sources for a portion of the project budget.

Eventually, Banks wants to see a 2 MW geothermal demonstration plant at one of the 10 sites, potentially Grande Prairie. There are currently no geothermal plants in Canada.

Read More.......

New Zealand:

Contact Energy Ditches $1 Billion International Geothermal Plans (Otago Daily Times)

Contact Energy has ditched an unpopular option to invest in Pacific Rim geothermal power, instead opting to deliver shareholders a $367 million special dividend.

In mid-February, Contact took its shareholders and the market by surprise, announcing it was looking to invest $1 billion, generated over five to eight years, in Pacific Rim geothermal markets, a sector where its major shareholder, Australian company Origin Energy, has Indonesian geothermal interests.

Analysts at the time correctly predicted a shareholder backlash.

Contact chief executive Dennis Barnes said yesterday that after considering offshore investment, there were ''no material investment opportunities available'' which could reward shareholders but Contact could support increased distributions to shareholders.

Read More.......

Japan:

Goldman Sachs Targets $1 Bln in Japan Renewable Energy Bonds (News Release)

Goldman Sachs Group Inc plans to establish a bond facility to target $1 billion in investment within the next few years in renewable energy projects in Japan, people familiar with the plan said.

The latest initiative is part of Goldman's 2012 plan to channel investments totaling $40 billion into renewable energy projects over the next decade.

The Japan Renewable Project Bond Trust product will provide a structure to give institutional investors the chance to invest in investment grade-rated securitized renewable energy bonds. It will initially focus on solar energy, and will be expanded to other types of renewable energy assets as projects arise.

Read More.......

Kenya:

Railway Line to Extend to Naivasha Geothermal Industrial Zone (Capital FM Kenya)

The Kenyan government has started negotiations with the company building the Standard Gauge Railway for the extension of the line from Nairobi to Naivasha after they complete construction from Mombasa to the capital city.

This was revealed Tuesday at a meeting President Uhuru Kenyatta, Deputy President William Ruto and Cabinet Ministers held with officials of China Road and Bridge Corporation in Voi.

The extension of 120 kilometers will link special industrial zones that would be established at Naivasha, which is home to the Olkaria geothermal power plants to Nairobi and Mombasa.

To attract investors to set up industrial complexes at the specially designated zones near Olkaria, the government will offer them subsidized power tariffs.

Firms will also have their power connected directly from Olkaria to ensure uninterrupted supplies, and in some cases, companies -such as those dealing in apparel manufacturing – will be allowed access to steam.

Read More........

Mexico:

Mexico Can More Than Quadruple Share of Renewable Energy by 2030 (Zawya)

Mexico can achieve a 21 per cent share of renewable energy in the energy mix and save billions by 2030 - geothermal energy can provide 4.5 GW

Mexico can increase the use of renewable energy in its energy mix from 4.4 per cent in 2010 to 21 per cent by 2030, according to a report released today by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA). Renewable Energy Prospects: Mexico, prepared in collaboration with the Mexican Energy Secretariat (SENER), also finds that Mexico could generate up to 46 per cent of its electricity by 2030 from renewable sources including wind, solar, hydropower, geothermal and biomass - a six fold increase from today's levels.

Mexico already has the world’s fifth largest geothermal power installed capacity after the US, the Philippines, Indonesia and New Zealand, and could utilize its high-temperature reservoir potential to reach 4.5 GW in 2030.

Read More.......

Mexico:

Grupo Dragon wants to Partner with CFE on Geothermal Power (SeeNews Renewables)

Mexican energy services firm Grupo Dragon is interested in associations with state-run power utility Comision Federal de Electricidad (CFE) on geothermal projects in operation, local daily El Economista reported on Friday.

The company is also willing to compete on its own for exploration permits and 30-year concessions, CEO Jose Pablo Fernandez told the daily.

The government is reviewing a list of geothermal assets which CFE has asked to retain. Some of the fields will be reserved for the utility, while others will be offered to private investors. Reportedly, CFE is expected to retain one half, or about 450 MW, of the operating geothermal capacity.

In January, Grupo Dragon put on stream a 5 MW geothermal plant in San Pedro Lagunillas, Nayarit state, whose installed capacity will be doubled in the next days and then increased to 25 MW in 2016 and 50 MW in two years.

Read More........

Global:

Climate Investment Funding Could Leverage 2.9 GW of Geothermal Power (Fierce Energy)

Geothermal power harnesses the earth's heat to generate electricity, offering a reliable energy source that is universally available, as it does not depend on a steady supply of sun or wind. Geothermal energy is one of the lowest-cost sources of renewable electricity, and can provide both "baseload" and backup power for other renewable energy sources. Though a recent study showed that private investors are increasingly taking the geothermal plunge, most investors are still reluctant to invest in the technology because of the perceived high risk of early-stage exploration, which includes drilling and development.

"This is one of several areas in which Climate Investment Funds (CIF) investments can be game changing," said CIF Manager Mafalda Duarte. "We estimate that the CIF's concessional $746 million of financing, which leverages much more from other sources, in geothermal energy could add 2.9 gigawatts (GW) of geothermal power, equivalent to 25 percent of current global installed capacity, simply by reducing the risk to investors associated with geothermal exploration."

CIF funding is supporting some of the first large-scale geothermal development projects in Armenia, Chile, Dominica, Ethiopia, and Tanzania.

Read More......

St. Kitts and Nevis:

St. Kitts and Nevis Still Keen on Geothermal (WINN FM)

St Kitts and Nevis Energy Minister Alexis Jeffers is appealing to the public to be patient as the Nevis Island Administration works on making geothermal energy a reality. Mr. Jeffers says some progress is being made in developing geothermal.

Both the previous Nevis Reformation Party administration and the current administration have worked on realizing the production and distribution of geothermal energy in Nevis. But skeptics have doubted whether this will ever become a reality citing that lack of proven track record around the region in geothermal energy and the availability of financing.

Read More.......

Science & Technology:

Radio Interview On Geothermal Power

Professor Michael Mehta from Thompson Rivers University discusses geothermal power with Justin Crewson (Policy Advisor, Canadian Geothermal Energy Association). Topics include Geothermal Power 101, power production potential across Canada and in particular in British Columbia, economics, environmental benefits and concerns, and required policy approaches to support geothermal.

New Zealand:

Executive Success: It took a While to Get up Steam (NZ Herald)

Interview with Dr Juliet Newson, President of the IGA

Dr Juliet Newson's ability to back herself has taken her to the top.

Her day job as a geothermal reservoir modelling engineer at Contact Energy has her harnessing computer power to visualise the underground steam resources of the Wairakei area.

Fronting up for opportunities - even those that may have made her feel slightly out of her depth - has also resulted in her being elected to the presidency of the International Geothermal Association, an organisation representing 5000 members across 65 countries.

Newson, who splits her time between her Auckland home and Wairakei, where she helps to manage underground geothermal systems for power production, says New Zealanders are seen globally as the experts in that field.

She was supported into the presidency by the outgoing president and fellow Kiwi, the Stanford University-based Professor Roland Horne.

Read More.........

USA, California:

Geothermal is Key to Clean Energy Future (Sacramento Bee)

by Steve Ponder, Executive Director of the Geothermal Resources Council

Water boils at the surface of a pool at The Geysers,
billed as the world’s largest geothermal resource for
generating electricity. (The Press Democrat)

Gov. Jerry Brown is pursuing a goal for California to get at least 50 percent of its power from renewable energy sources by the year 2030. While the focus has been on solar and wind, geothermal is our oldest and most proven source of renewable energy, and the only source that can ensure a balanced and stable portfolio.

California’s unique geology has created underground pockets of steam and hot water that can be tapped to generate energy. The Legislature declared Thursday as Geothermal Awareness Day – a reminder that as early as the 1960s, long before attention turned to solar and wind, utilities were harvesting this form of energy to power homes and businesses throughout the state.

Ever the pioneer in alternative energy, California built the second geothermal power facility ever used in the world. Although we now value geothermal as a way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, in those early years it was valued for its reliability.

Read More.......

GRC Workshop/Field-trip to Yellowstone National Park:

GRC Yellowstone National Park Workshop/Field-trip - June 22-26, 2015

Must Register by Midnight Tonight!

The GRC reminds interested individuals to sign-up for the GRC Workshop/Field-trip to Yellowstone National Park as places are filling fast. The workshop will include a tour of the major geologic features of the park, the site of the greatest concentration of geothermal features in the world, and discussions of its volcanic history, geochemistry, and hydrology.

Limited number of spaces are available. Sign-up by midnight tonight.

Workshop Leaders: Duncan Foley and Joe Moore.

The Cost of the workshop:

• Double-Occupancy Room: $1,500 for GRC Members, $1,700 for Non-GRC Members.
• Single-Occupancy Room: $2,050 for GRC Members, $2,250 for Non-GRC Members ($550 upgrade fee for those who have already paid for a double-occupancy room).
• GRC Student Rate (Double-Occupancy Only): $700 (Must provide a copy of your current student ID with a valid date or a copy of your class schedule when registering).

USA, California:

Geothermal 101 - A Presentation for Geothermal Awareness Day

Presentation to the California Energy Commission Renewable Energy Division
by Geothermal Resources Council and the Geothermal Energy Association

May 21, 2015, 2:00-4:00pm, California Energy Commission, 1516 9th Street, Hearing Room B, Sacramento, CA 95814

• 2:00pm-2:05pm - Welcome and Introduction, Steve Ponder, Executive Director GRC
• 2:05pm-2:15pm - Opening Remarks, Bill Blackburn, Office Manager, Renewable Energy Office, Renewable Energy Division, California Energy Commission
• 2:15pm-2:30pm - Geothermal Energy Legislation, Terry Page, Director of Regulatory Affairs, Enel Green Power, North America
• 2:30pm-2:40pm - Economics of Geothermal, Randy Keller, Director of Development, California Energy Company
• 2:40pm-3:10pm - Geothermal 101, Gene Suemnicht, Partner and Geologist, Earth Geological Sciences
• 3:10pm-3:20pm - Geothermal Drilling, Louis Capuano, III, Drilling Engineer, Capuano Engineering
• 3:20pm-3:35pm - Geothermal Power Plant Operations, Jim Kluesener, Calpine, Vice President Geothermal Operations
• 3:35pm-3:40pm - Closing Remarks, Commissioner Hochschild, California Energy Commissioner
• 3:40pm-4:00pm - Final Questions and Answers, Steve Ponder

Join WebEx meeting

USA:

10 Must-have Yellowstone Experiences (Billings Gazette)

There are four types of geothermal features to search out in Yellowstone: erupting, gushing geysers; colorful, bubbling hot springs; steaming, hissing fumaroles (or steam vents); and last but not least, my favorite ... gurgling, stinky mud pots.

When walking around Fountain Paint Pots, Artist Paint Pots or Mud Volcano, you will inevitably hear the question, “What smells like rotten eggs?”

That is hydrogen sulfide, a gas that alerts our noses to the presence of mud pots in the area, often times in a not-so-pleasant way. However, in my mind, hydrogen sulfide is the smell I think of when I reminisce about Yellowstone, and I love the smell for that reason. That’s why you need to seek out one of these burping, belching beauties with your family so you can share a smelly experience that you won’t soon forget.

The GRC is hosting a Workshop/Fieldtrip to Yellowstone National Park, June 22-26. The workshop will include a tour of the major geologic features of the Park, the site of the greatest concentration of geothermal features in the world, and discussions of its volcanic history, geochemistry, and hydrology.

Read More...........

USA:

Heat Exchange Industry News (Geothermal Exchange Organization)

The latest GEO Industry News is now available from the Geothermal Exchange Organization (GEO).

GEO Industry News is an electronic publication of GEO, the Geothermal Exchange Organization, a 501(c)(6) non-profit trade association based in Springfield, Illinois, USA that advocates the environmental, energy efficiency and economic benefits of geothermal heat pump systems for heating and cooling applications in residential, commercial, and institutional buildings in the USA.

GEO Industry News (PDF)

USA, California:

Proposal For Restoration of The Salton Sea

A New Methodology for Harnessing Geothermal energy and Restoration of the Salton Sea by using the “Scientific Geothermal Technology” by Nikola N. Lakic, Architect, Founder & CEO of Geothermal Worldwide, Inc.

Included is an exemplary method for restoration of the Salton Sea, which implements the "Scientific Geothermal Technology" for exchanging water from a salty terminal lake with oceanic water and treating farmland runoff waters. 

The “Self Contained In-Ground Heat Exchanger” (SCI-GHE) system uses heat from the Salton Sea Geothermal Field (SSGF) for generation of electricity and production of fresh water. 

This method is self sustained, environmentally friendly and has great commercial potential.

Read More........

USA, California:

Carlsbad Gas Plant Aces Out Renewable Option (U-T San Diego)

Imperial Irrigation District officials offered geothermal, say it was turned away

Last month, California Public Utilities Commission President Michael Picker overruled a decision from one of his agency’s judges and said a new gas-fired power plant should be constructed on the beach in Carlsbad.

Picker’s decision was announced three weeks after one of his aides met privately with NRG Energy, the New Jersey firm behind the $2.6 billion project.

In announcing his decision, Picker said the plant is needed to replace the Encina Power Station that is scheduled to be removed from service as soon as 2018 and to make up for the loss of the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station, which closed prematurely in 2012 after a radiation leak.

While the greenhouse gas-emitting Carlsbad Energy Center is scheduled to be reconsidered at a commission hearing on Thursday, years-long efforts to promote development of geothermal power in Imperial County have not received as much support from state policymakers.

The Imperial Irrigation District board last week voted unanimously to hire lawyers to pursue civil action against the utilities commission and the California Independent System Operator, the nonprofit manager of most power transmission.

“If they had a level playing field, we could build out 1,400 megawatts and then some of the untapped, known geothermal resources in and around the Salton Sea,” district General Manager Kevin Kelley said.

Read More.......

USA, California:

Salton Sea Geology - Geothermal Mud Pots  (Palomar TV)

Short video about the geothermal properties of the Salton Sea region.

USA:

FORGE: The Next Frontier of Renewable Energy (EERE)

The Energy Department recently announced the teams selected for negotiation for Phase 1 of the Frontier Observatory for Research in Geothermal Energy (FORGE).

FORGE is a dedicated site where the scientific community can develop and test enhanced geothermal system (EGS) technologies in a permitted and drilled test field, with the end goal of creating market-ready, renewable energy. EGS, unlike natural geothermal systems, are engineered geothermal reservoirs beneath the surface of the Earth, where there is hot rock but limited pathways through which fluid can flow. During EGS development, underground fluid pathways are created and their size and connectivity increased. Through these enhanced pathways, fluid can flow throughout the hot rock, heat up to hundreds of degrees, and channel the abundant heat source to the surface to generate electricity.

Read More......

USA, Nevada:

AltaRock Yieldco Acquires the Blue Mountain Geothermal Power Plant (News Release)

Baseload Clean Energy Partners (BCEP), a yieldco owned and operated by AltaRock Energy, is announcing the acquisition of Blue Mountain Power LLC. Located in northern Nevada, Blue Mountain Power owns the 49.5 MW Faulkner 1 geothermal power plant supplying electricity to Nevada’s public utility, NV Energy. BCEP is purchasing 100% of the equity, plus the assumption of remaining debt, for an undisclosed sum from EIG Global Energy Partners. The company is planning an improvement program to increase the plant
output.

Baseload Clean Energy Partners was established for the purpose of building the leading portfolio of clean, baseload power assets by leveraging the unique advantages of next generation enhanced geothermal energy (EGS). Faulkner 1 is Nevada’s second largest geothermal plant and contributes to BCEP’s overall goal of acquiring projects that benefit substantially from improvements using more advanced technology.

Read More.......

GRC Workshop/Field-trip to Yellowstone National Park:

GRC Yellowstone National Park Workshop/Field-trip - June 22-26, 2015

Must Register by Friday, May 22nd

The GRC reminds interested individuals to sign-up for the GRC Workshop/Field-trip to Yellowstone National Park as places are filling fast. The workshop will include a tour of the major geologic features of the park, the site of the greatest concentration of geothermal features in the world, and discussions of its volcanic history, geochemistry, and hydrology.

Limited number of spaces are available. Sign-up by Friday.

Workshop Leaders: Duncan Foley and Joe Moore.

The Cost of the workshop:

• Double-Occupancy Room: $1,500 for GRC Members, $1,700 for Non-GRC Members.
• Single-Occupancy Room: $2,050 for GRC Members, $2,250 for Non-GRC Members ($550 upgrade fee for those who have already paid for a double-occupancy room).
• GRC Student Rate (Double-Occupancy Only): $700 (Must provide a copy of your current student ID with a valid date or a copy of your class schedule when registering).

USA, California:

Los Angeles DWP Commissioners Vote to Sell Holdings in Coal-fired Navajo Generating Plant (KPCC)

Will be replaced by an even larger amount of more solar and geothermal energy - official says

Navajo Generating Station in Arizona
(Courtesy SQUEAKS2569/FLICKR)

Water and Power Commissioners in Los Angeles have approved a sale of the city’s interests in the coal-fired Navajo Generating Station in Arizona. The vote will cut LA’s coal interests by a quarter, and represents a significant step towards a goal of total divestment from coal set by former Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa in 2013.

Selling out of the Navajo plant has become less costly to ratepayers than keeping LA’s interests in it, says DWP’s Mike Webster. “The coal costs are going up. The operations and maintenance are also going up,” he says. “By us divesting now, it actually reduces the impact on ratepayers.”

Webster says 477 megawatts of coal energy that come down transmission lines to light up LA soon will be replaced by an even larger amount of more solar and geothermal energy.

Read More.......