Geothermal Energy News from Around the World

Global Geothermal News - Weekly Update (Geothermal Resources Council)

A round-up of this week's international geothermal energy news.......

Click on the links below to view the whole story and other news on Global Geothermal News.

Canada: Lithium Extraction Pilot Plant will Source Geothermal Brine from Leduc Reservoir in Alberta

E3 Metals Corp. Begins Development of a Field Pilot Plant to Test Its Rapid Lithium Extraction (News Release)

E3 Metals Corp. has announced it has begun the development of its field pilot plant which will incorporate E3’s proprietary concentration technology to further validate the lithium extraction component of the process flow sheet.

This technology has the potential to unlock significant value from E3’s expansive lithium resources of 6.7 Mt LCE (inferred) in the Leduc Reservoir in Alberta.

Read More.........

From the Global Geothermal News archives:

• Wednesday, May 30, 2018 - Canada: Binary Geothermal Energy Plant Could Power Lithium Extraction Facility

China: $250 Million Loan from the Asian Development Bank to Help Develop Geothermal District Heating Resources

Iceland is bringing geothermal heating to China (CNN)

Iceland's Arctic Green Energy Corporation and China's Sinopec (SNPMF) have secured a $250 million loan from the Asian Development Bank that will help develop geothermal resources in China.

The loan, which has been granted to a joint venture between the two companies, will be used to expand geothermal heating in cities near Beijing and reduce the area's reliance on coal.

The plan envisions that geothermal energy will replace 50 million tons of coal by 2020. Last year, the government raised the target to 70 million tons, according to the state-run news agency Xinhua.

Read More........

From the Global Geothermal News archives:

• Monday, September 24, 2018 - China: Special Economic Zone Looks to Geothermal to Provide Clean Power
• Monday, November 27, 2017 - China: Sinopec to Boost Geothermal District Heating to Mitigate Pollution
• Thursday, August 24, 2017 - China: "Rich Geothermal Energy Resources" Discovered in Xiongan New Area
• Monday, April 10, 2017 - China: Geothermal Energy Powers Xiongan Special Economic Zone

USA, California: 20 MW Bear Canyon Geothermal Power Plant Receives Permit Extension

Geothermal plant granted permit (Lake County Record-Bee)

A geothermal power plant located about one mile from the community of Anderson Springs was approved Thursday by the Lake County Planning Commission for a use permit extension which will endure for the entire productive life of the project.

The Bear Canyon Power Plant is owned by Calpine Corporation and has been out of service since 2015. When in operation, the plant, according to Environmental Planner Eric Porter, can generate enough power to serve 10,000 homes, representing 20 percent of Lake County’s geothermal energy output. Calpine is currently undecided about whether or not the plant will be put back into service, but as Regional Manager Bruce Carlsen suggested, a “life of project” permit is better for business than a time-restricted one. “We think ‘life of the project’ is really good for our business,” Carlsen said. Calpine, which had been a publicly traded entity, went private earlier in 2018.

The Bear Canyon plant would not, under the permit issued Thursday, be allowed to expand or change the plant’s operations, and Environmental Planner Eric Porter, who presented Calpine’s request, commented that the plant was “not changing in size.” Under the permit issued, Calpine can resume operation of the plant if the company sees fit, or in the case that “reclamation” was decided on, Calpine would demolish the structures already present on the property.

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Calpine is a Gold sponsor of the GRC Annual Meeting & Expo, 14-17 October at the Peppermill Resort Spa & Casino, Reno, Nevada, USA.

New Zealand: 25 MW Te Ahi O Maui Geothermal Power Plant Enters Commissioning Phase

NZ’s newest geothermal power plant is full steam ahead (News Release)

Te Ahi O Maui geothermal power plant, in Kawerau, has entered the commissioning phase. Once fully operational, the plant will generate around 25 MW of baseload renewable energy.

Initial heating up of the plant began this week, with the first synchronisation of the plant to the national grid expected to occur in the coming days. A reliability run will follow an extensive testing regime, which is being conducted with Ormat Technologies Inc.

The Te Ahi O Maui facility consists of three geothermal production wells, two geothermal injection wells, an Ormat binary power station similar to many others already in operation in New Zealand and around the world, and a transmission connection to the national grid.

Consents allow for the extraction of 15,000 tonnes of geothermal fluid daily from the Kawerau geothermal reservoir, for the next 35 years. Nearly 100% of this fluid will be injected back into the reservoir, ensuring the operation is sustainable.

Initially considered a 22 MW plant, the Te Ahi O Maui plant is expected to achieve around 25 MW – enough to power over 25,000 average homes. The increase in output has improved the plant construction cost, including drilling, to $5.45m/MW.

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Netherlands: Opportunity for Geothermal District Heating to Replace Natural Gas

The Netherlands opens the door to geothermal sector with 2050 natural gas ban (Hydrogen Fuel News)

(Courtesy CIA.gov)

The Netherlands has announced its intention to ban natural gas by 2050 and, in doing so, it is paving the way for the geothermal energy and waste heat sectors to expand.

Among the top alternative energy sources expected to meet the heating demands are geothermal district heating, heat pumps (both electric and hybrid), condensed boilers, and waste heat. According to Treehugger’s report, as much as 20 percent of overall heating sources will be satisfied by district heating networks. Within those, 70 percent will be provided by waste heat, whereas another 30 percent will come from geothermal energy.

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Philippines: Government Could Survey for Geothermal Resources in Misamis Occidental

Energy department to check  geothermal viability in Misamis Occidental (Philippine Information Agency)

Around 20 representatives from different local government units, National Commission on Indigenous People (NCIP), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and other stakeholders gather to discuss with the Department of Energy (DoE) the geothermal viability of Mt. Malindang in the province of Misamis Occidental.

Headed by DOE's Renewable Energy Management Bureau (DoE-REMB) in partnership with the Philippine Information Agency (PIA), the stakeholders were informed about the possibility of putting up a Geothermal power plant in Mt. Malindang which can ease the province's problem on power crisis.

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Finance: World Bank is Maximizing Finance for Development

Maximizing Finance to Power Development (World Bank)

How can countries, like Indonesia, access the financing—but also knowledge and solutions—they need to make the critical, but costly, investments toward sustainable and inclusive development?

With challenges like this in mind, the World Bank Group is redefining how it thinks about development finance.

Building on efforts to mobilize needed resources for member clients, the Bank Group’s Maximizing Finance for Development (MFD) approach is systematically leveraging all sources of finance, expertise, and solutions to support developing countries’ sustainable growth.

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Global: Five Countries Now With Over 1 GW Geothermal Installed Capacity

Global geothermal capacity reaches 14,369 MW – Top 10 Geothermal Countries, Oct 2018 (ThinkGeoEnergy)

The total global capacity stands now at 14,369 MW. While the U.S. continues to be the largest geothermal country by far, limited development activity sees countries such as Indonesia and Turkey catching most of the attention.

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Science & Technology: Patent Application for Once-Through, Closed Loop, Underground Heat Harvester

United States Patent Application - Geothermal heat harvester (USPTO)

Inventors: Moncarz; Piotr D.; Kolbe; Walter R.; Capuano; Louis E.; Ryan; Keanen. Applicant: Geothermic Solution, LLC, Palo Alto, California
Application: #20180274524

Thermal energy is extracted from geological formations using a heat harvester. In some embodiments, the heat harvester is a once-through, closed loop, underground heat harvester created by directionally drilling through hot rock. The extracted thermal energy can be converted or transformed to other forms of energy.

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USA, California: Community Choice Aggregation Could Offer Opportunities for Geothermal Energy in Golden State

The Community Choice Energy Summit

November 29-30, 2018, San Francisco, California, USA

The summit is the place where the Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) community will gather to learn about new developments and share insights on the latest operational strategies and best practices. The Summit is a great opportunity to:

• Stay abreast of the legislative and regulatory landscape
• Track forward progress on CCA joint action
• Share best practices and strategies for procurement and local renewable sourcing
• Learn about the latest in data analytics and billing
• Promote social equity and workforce diversity
• Building on the momentum of the first two highly successful Summits, this edition will feature more content from active and emerging community choice aggregators and provide an in-depth examination of the full range of their plans, programs, and initiatives.

More Information and register........

Community Choice Aggregation in California - An Opportunity for the Geothermal Industry [July/August 2016 Bulletin] by Paul Brophy, Past-President, Geothermal Resources Council, and Vice-Chair, Business Operations Committee, Sonoma Clean Power.

Philippines: Study on Potential of the Mati-Lupon-Tarragona Geothermal Field Set to Complete in 2021

DoE gears up for geothermal energy exploration in Davao Oriental (MSN.com)

The Philippines Department of Energy (DoE) is undertaking a study on the potential of the Mati-Lupon-Tarragona geothermal field in Davao Oriental, officials announced.

The Davao Oriental provincial government, in a statement, said the identified area covers the villages of Buso in Mati. Cabagayan in Tarragona town, and Don Mariano Marcos in Lupon. 

DoE Science Research Specialist II Joel Miguel said the study, which already started in other areas in 2017 and is targeted for completion by 2021, is intended not just to look into Mati-Lupon-Tarragona’s potential energy source, but also to update the national database and identify areas for geothermal development. 

Governor Nelson L. Dayanghirang welcomed the exploration saying he hopes that the province would be able to contribute in power generation for economic growth.

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Middle East: Region has Potential for Geothermal Energy Development

Why Geothermal Energy Is Taking The Spotlight (Utilities Middle East)

The global potential for geothermal is estimated to be in the region of 200 gigawatts. Countries in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) are already considering it a viable option for alternative energy as the region increasingly looks beyond fossil fuels for its power plants.

Dubai in the United Arab Emirates is already considering the use of geothermal energy to provide power needs in desalination plants, with preliminary studies into the energy source already showing promising results.

According to experts, geothermal is more suitable for applications such as desalination rather than power generation since UAE’s temperatures are below 200°C, the minimum temperature required for power generation from geothermal energy, which is a result of heat from beneath the Earth’s surface.

Neighbouring Saudi Arabia is eyeing geothermal power as part of its strategic energy plan that also includes massive use of solar energy and wind farms.

Speaking last year at the World Future Energy Summit in Abu Dhabi, Saudi energy minister Khalid Al Falih highlighted the Kingdom’s rich geothermal resources, which are located mainly in the country’s western region. Saudi Arabia’s geothermal resources are related to the general tectonic activity of the Red Sea and associated with a series of volcanic rocks and ridges.

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Italy: Researcher Believes Geothermal Energy in Tuscany Has a Bright Future

Attività di ricerca nel campo della geotermia - Research activity in the field of geothermal energy (ARPAT)

Adele Manzella

Intervista ad Adele Manzella, Primo Ricercatore del Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR) e Presidente dell’Unione Geotermica Italiana - Interview with Adele Manzella, First Researcher of the National Research Council (CNR) and President of the Italian Geothermal Union

A mio avviso ed auspicio la Toscana, grazie alle sue straordinarie risorse, continuerà a giocare un ruolo di spicco a livello mondiale per la produzione di energia elettrica e potrà ampliare notevolmente la produzione di calore realizzando reti di teleriscaldamento e piccoli impianti per uso del calore in molti luoghi, con livelli di elevata efficienza energetica e professionalità altamente specializzata. Tutto questo non può essere realizzato con imperativi a mantenere lo status quo, paure, minacce o pressioni: occorrono volontà ad innovare e migliorare, opportunità per la ricerca e sistemi di misura e controllo, la messa in opera di sistemi di partecipazione dei cittadini che, con modalità ben definite e tempi certi, porteranno a progetti che tengano conto di tutti i pareri.

(From Google Translate) In my opinion and I hope Tuscany, thanks to its extraordinary resources, will continue to play a prominent role in the world for the production of electricity and will significantly expand the production of heat by creating district heating networks and small systems for the use of heat in many places, with levels of high energy efficiency and highly specialized professionalism. All this can not be achieved with imperatives to maintain the status quo, fears, threats or pressures: we need to innovate and improve, opportunities for research and systems of measurement and control, the implementation of systems of citizen participation that, with well-defined methods and certain times, they will lead to projects that take into account all the opinions.

Leggi di più........                         Read More..........

Europe: Geothermal News from EGEC

The EGEC Newsletter August/September 2018 - The Voice of Geothermal in Europe

The August/September issue of the European Geothermal Energy Council (EGEC) Newsletter is now available.

Click here to download. In this issue:

Policy

• The EU’s long term decarbonization strategy at risk of losing consistency if it fails on heating and cooling

News

• Webinar on Geothermal Heat: Recording available
• French Ministry highlights the benefits of geothermal heating
• Geothermal energy predominant in Dutch “Energy Agenda”
• Geothermal energy, an opportunity for coal-fired power plant replacement in Germany

Projects

• Designing the future of geothermal energy: ETIP-DG releases factsheet on the Vision for Deep geothermal
• CHEAP-GSHPs release its 5th newsletter 
• GEOTABS: Model Predictive Control (MPC) for renewable integration in heating and cooling systems

USA, Nevada: State Geologist Jim Faulds Talks Geothermal and Silver State Geology

IndyMatters Episode 69: State Geologist Jim Faulds talks geothermal and the chaotic origin story of minerals in Nevada (IndyMatters)

Jim Faulds

Reporter Daniel Rothberg sat down with Jim Faulds, director of the Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology and long-time GRC Member. The bureau, which serves as the state’s geological survey, develops maps that assess everything from earthquake risk to geothermal potential.

They talk about the state’s dynamic geology, why Nevada came to be targeted for mineral exploration and how much more there is to learn about the processes that continue to shape the Basin and Range.

Stream MP3 file (41:59 Minutes)......

Jim Faulds will lead a GRC Fieldtrip - Searching for Blind Geothermal Systems utilizing Play Fairway Analysis, Western Nevada - on Thursday, October 18, and will present two Technical Papers at the GRC Annual Meeting & Expo, October 14-17 at the Peppermill Resort Spa & Casino, Reno, Nevada, USA.

USA, California: Fervo Energy Believes it Can Improve Performance of Enhanced Geothermal Systems by Isolating Multiple Zones Inside a Well

Bill Gates has added a geothermal startup to his clean energy fund’s first bets (MIT Technology Review)

The team at Fervo Energy, an enhanced geothermal startup that has secured funding from Breakthrough Energy Ventures. COURTESY FERVO ENERGY.

Fervo Energy’s CEO Tim Latimer, who previously worked as a drilling engineer for BHP Billiton’s shale operations, says the startup intends to use the funding to move forward with field deployments to test and refine their so-called enhanced geothermal systems. The company’s other cofounder is Jack Norbeck, who was a reservoir engineer at The Geysers in Northern California, the world’s largest geothermal field.

Fervo’s founders – currently fellows at the Cyclotron Road program at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory – believe they can improve the performance of enhanced geothermal systems, by isolating multiple zones inside a well and optimizing water flow within each of them. 

While some of the technical details are proprietary, Latimer says the company is using horizontal drilling techniques that have become far cheaper, thanks to improvements developed by the booming natural gas industry. It is also employing fiber optic temperature gauges that can run through underground wells, along with other sensors and simulation software, to create a clearer understanding of underground structures and dynamics.

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Science & Technology: The Huge Potential for Enhanced Geothermal System Technology

Engineered geothermal systems have wide potential as a renewable energy source (Physics Today)

Core samples are studied to learn where and how to create fractures for heat reservoirs. This mostly granitic core is about 10 centimeters in diameter. Clay Jones, Energy and Geoscience Institute, University Of Utah

What will it take to put geothermal energy to use on a large scale? Iceland uses it nearly exclusively for heat and hot water and for about a fifth of its electricity. 

Many countries have geothermal projects. But the vast stores of heat deep beneath Earth’s surface remain largely untapped. “If we can unlock the technologies to make extracting heat in the subsurface technically and commercially viable on a large scale, the promise is huge,” says Bridget Ayling, director of the Great Basin Center for Geothermal Energy at the University of Nevada, Reno (and GRC Board member). 

That’s why, she adds, “despite only incremental gains over the last 40 years, the geothermal community continues to pursue engineered geothermal systems,” or EGS, also known as enhanced geothermal systems.

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Germany: First Well Completed at Garching Geothermal Project

Erste Geothermiebohrung erfolgreich abgeschlossen – Erwartungen erfüllt
 - First geothermal well successfully completed - expectations fulfilled (News Release)

Silenos Energy hat die erste geothermische Tiefbohrung in Garching a.d. Alz abgeschlossen. In 3.832 Metern Tiefe ist das Unternehmen im Malm der bayerischen Südost-Molasse auf heißes Thermalwasser gestoßen. Nach einer zweiwöchigen Testphase konnte Silenos Energy nun erste Ergebnisse dieser Bohrung präsentieren. „Der Fördertest hat ergeben, dass wir mit unseren Prognosen richtiglagen. Wir sind auf rund 125 Grad Celsius heißes Thermalwasser gestoßen. Was die Fördermenge aus der durchgeführten Bohrung betrifft, konnten wir unser Ziel mit 105 Litern pro Sekunde erreichen“, so Oliver Friedlaender, Geschäftsführer von Silenos Energy.

(From Google Translate) - Silenos Energy has completed the first geothermal deep well in Garching ad Alz. At a depth of 3,832 meters, the company has encountered hot thermal water in the Malm formation of the Bavarian south-east Molasse. After a two-week test phase, Silenos Energy was able to present the first results of this drilling. "The funding test showed that we were right with our forecasts. We encountered about 125 degrees Celsius hot thermal water. As far as the output from the drilling is concerned, we were able to reach our target at 105 liters per second, "says Oliver Friedlaender, Managing Director of Silenos Energy.

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Germany: Drilling Operations for the Neuried Geothermal Power Plant "Will Begin in the Near Future"

Daldrup & Söhne AG awarded new concession for Neuried claim (News Release)

Geysir Europe GmbH, a subsidiary of Daldrup & Söhne AG, has been granted the concession for the exploratory field in the Neuried claim by the responsible regulatory authority in Freiburg, Germany. The concession, which was awarded by the state office for geology, raw materials and mining (LGRB), gives Geysir exclusive rights to access the claim for the planned geothermal drillings.

"We are very happy to have been granted the concession by the Baden-Württemberg state authorities," says Josef Daldrup, CEO of Daldrup & Söhne. "We will quickly start working on the next procedural steps. Daldrup already owns the premises for the operations. That means the drilling operations for the geothermal power plant in Neuried will be able to begin in the near future, in line with existing plans."

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USA, California: Geothermal Energy Startup Gets Backing of Breakthrough Energy Ventures

Bill Gates-led $1 billion energy fund is expanding its portfolio of startups fighting climate change (Quartz)

It’s not often that the world’s richest people get together, agree on a goal that’s for the public good, and then set about finding ways to achieve it. But that’s what Bill Gates has achieved with Breakthrough Energy Ventures (BEV), which aims to invest $1 billion into radical energy startups capable of drastically cutting global emissions. The fund draws on the resources of billionaires like India’s Mukesh Ambani, Amazon’s Jeff Bezos, former New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg, Virgin’s Richard Branson, Alibaba’s Jack Ma, and SoftBank’s Masayoshi Son.

We can now report, for the first time, a full list of the other companies that BEV is funding and will publicly acknowledge. Among them is a geothermal energy company:

Fervo Energy: - founded by Tim Latimer & Jack Norbeck. A startup rethinking geothermal power with the help of modern computational models and horizontal-drilling technology. Fervo hopes that the technology it is developing will cut the cost of geothermal power by some 50%.

Read More.........

From the Global Geothermal News archives:

• Wednesday, May 9, 2018 - USA, California: Geothermal Scientists Get Berkeley Lab Support for EGS Startup

USA, New Mexico: Position Open for Geothermal Research Department Manager at Sandia National Lab

Vacancy - Geothermal Research Department Manager (Sandia National Laboratories)

Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA

The Geoscience Research and Applications Group has an opening for a Department Manager for the Geothermal Research Department. You would be responsible for providing leadership and advocacy for a team of highly talented and experienced engineers, scientists, technologists, post-docs, contractors, and student interns with a broad range of backgrounds including mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, chemical engineering, and geoscience. Core to this department is leadership of Sandia’s engagement and research for the Department of Energy’s Geothermal Technologies Office and building the labs capabilities in drilling and subsurface access and sensing.

On any given day, you may be called on to do the following:

• Foster a safe, secure, creative and productive team-oriented work environment and a culture that promotes safety, security, and values a diverse and inclusive work environment;
• Implement the Environmental Safety & Health (ES&H), Work Planning and Controls (WP&C) for department activities;
• Promote and support the professional development of a staff along with assessment of performance, balancing work assignments, providing recognition and if necessary dealing with disciplinary actions;
• Coordinate recruitment, selection, training, and hiring of newly hired staff;
• Develop and sustain partnerships with other organizations within Sandia, other laboratories; industry, and academia;
• Ensure that the organization is responsive to both internal and external line and program requirements;
• You will lead Sandia’s Geothermal Technology Subprogram under the Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Program including working with staff and other managers to develop relationships with and new projects with the DOE, the National Renewable Energy Lab (NREL), other DOE laboratories, Federal and State entities, coordinate current department activities and support staff project managers and matrixed staff to deliver on existing projects, build new work with the DOE Geothermal Technology Office and related industry partners;
• Working with the leadership of other programs to apply the department’s capabilities to Nuclear Waste Management, Fossil Energy, Nuclear Non-proliferation, Nuclear Deterrence, National Security Programs and other appropriate mission areas.

More Information and Apply........

Austria: Vienna Company Aids in Well Logging at Bavarian Geothermal Project

NiMBUC Geoscience goes Geothermal (News Release)

NiMBUC Geoscience of  Vienna, Austria extends its activities in the geothermal sector. Recently, we conducted witnessing of LWD logging in a deep geothermal well onsite in the Molasse Basin in Southeast Bavaria. The well is part of a doublet system that will produce hot water driving a power plant.

Once the data from the logging tool were available we performed a rush interpretation of the borehole image data to provide our client with crucial data for borehole stimulation. Within less than 10 hours after logging completion we could share the results of our borehole image log interpretation with our client and therefore helped to meet the project schedule. Having witnessed the logging helped us to better understand the challenges of this well and to address and master them in order to successfully support our client in defining the best intervals for well stimulation.

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Belgium: One Day Symposium on Deep Geothermal Energy

Vito Symposium: Deep Geothermal Energy

Wednesday, 14 November 2018, Conference Hall - VITO Mol, Belgium

Geothermal energy is a local, sustainable, reliable and affordable source of energy deep below our feet, which will play a substantial role in the sustainable energy mix of the future.

During this geothermal symposium the different steps from exploration to operation will be discussed. A new geological model of the deep subsurface of Flanders and the results of novel geophysical exploration techniques will be presented.

The Flemish legislation (guarantee scheme and permits) for the geothermal market is in full development. Both the Flemish and European context will be explained here by specialists.

After lunch, at the end of this symposium, you can visit the Balmatt geothermal power plant at VITO in Mol.

More Information........

Netherlands: 82 Degree Celsius Geothermal Waters from 2,200 Meters Depth Help Grow Tomatoes

Efficient energy the backbone of Prominent tomato grower cooperative (The Weekly Times )

When Jacco Besuijen gives a PowerPoint presentation, you’d be hard-pressed to know he’s a manager at one of the Netherlands largest tomato growers. Instead he could be mistaken for an energy provider.

“Our greenhouses have three key needs: heat, electricity and CO2, in addition to water,” he explained to the Weekly Times, on an exclusive tour last month.

“To power this we need half a megawatt of installed power per hectare, across our 418ha of greenhouses, which is overseen by eight energy managers in one location who monitor all 52 greenhouse sites around the Netherlands.

“In the early days we used oil boilers, then gas, followed by cogeneration but now because the Netherlands imports a lot of gas from Russia and because of the need to stop using fossil fuels we are looking to use geothermal heat.

“Over the past two years, three of our growers have invested 25 million Euros to go to a depth of 2200m to a temperature of 82 degrees Celsius in order to tap into geothermal heat.”

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Indonesia: Video of KS Orka Accomplishments in Indonesia

Milestones in Indonesia (KS Orka)

In less than three years, KS Orka has acquired an extensive project portfolio in Indonesia, engaged three drilling rigs and secured 120 MW of proven steam under well-head.

The first power plant began test operations earlier this year.  The video lists the main milestones for KS Orka in Indonesia:

(Video 3:51 Minutes)

Geothermal Event - Special Two-Day Workshop at GRC Annual Meeting & Expo

GRC Workshop - Evolution of Geothermal Resource Models: From Surface Exploration to Field Development and Reservoir Management 

Friday & Saturday, October 12 & 13
Peppermill Resort Spa & Casino
Cost: $550 (Member), $600 (Non-Member), $175 (Student)

Led by: Bastien Poux, Gene Suemnicht, Jeff Witter and Matthew Minnick

With a focus on the graphical aspects, this workshop will present the methodologies employed in the industry to accurately build resource models at the different stages of the exploration and development of a geothermal field.

This workshop will follow the typical development order of any geothermal project; starting from the initial conceptual models resulting from the surface exploration phase, to the integration of sub-surface data in three-dimensional models during the development phase and the use of advanced numerical models to manage the reservoir during the production phase.

During this workshop, numerous case studies from around the world will be studied in detail with the participants, including some of the world’s largest geothermal fields located in the United States, Indonesia and Iceland. Bring your computer as participants will have a hands-on experience!

More Information and register.........

Philippines: EDC Receives Renewable Energy Service Contract for Geothermal Exploration in Sumatra

EDC steps up Indon expansion (Manila Bulletin)

Philippines company Energy Development Corporation (EDC) has been targeting to scale up on its geothermal investments in Indonesia – one of its long-time targeted offshore investment expansion terrain.

EDC President and Chief Operating Officer Richard B. Tantoco disclosed that the company already secured its preliminary survey assignments plus exploration (PSPE) for the geothermal prospects it has been eyeing in Sumatra.

Tantoco nevertheless qualified that it’s still very early days to give assessment on the resource potential – like the targeted capacity that the steam field may eventually yield.

He noted that the company is still “doing road constructability surveys, so probably if all goes well, we will have drilling in 18-24 months.”

Read More.........

Tanzania: Government Needs $821 Million to Fund 200 MW Ngozi Geothermal Power Plant Project

Tanzania Needs Sh32 Trillion to Attain Semi-Industrialised Economy (AllAfrica.com)

The government needs some $14.1 billion (about Sh31.8 trillion) to finance 30 projects in an effort to attain an industry-driven economy, according to The Citizen calculations from figures compiled by the Tanzania Investment Centre (TIC).

Going by the project booklet titled '2018 Project Briefs Selected Investment Opportunities' , the projects cover the sectors of oil and gas, and energy, which account for $8.96 billion (Sh20.2 trillion) and $3.61 billion (Sh8.158 trillion) respectively.

In the energy sector, there is an $821 million worth Mbeya-based Ngozi 200 megawatts Geothermal Plant, which involves development of 600 MW geothermal plant in two phases with 200 MW for Phase I and 400 MW for Phase II.

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New Zealand: Testing Begins at 28 MW Ngāwhā Geothermal Power Plant Extension Project

Huge column of steam over Ngāwhā as geothermal testing starts (NZ Herald)

A huge column of steam could be seen rising near Kaikohe yesterday as testing began of the first production well for a new power station.

Far North power company Top Energy is building a geothermal power station at Ngāwhā which could eventually make the Far North self-sufficient in electricity and even an energy exporter.

The company already operates a geothermal power plant at Ngāwhā — New Zealand's second largest geothermal field after the Central Plateau — producing 25 MW of power. The new plant will more than double that to 53 MW.

Read More........

From the Global Geothermal News archives:

• Thursday, May 10, 2018 - New Zealand: Drilling for 25 MW Extension of Ngāwhā Geothermal Power Station to Resume
• Monday, December 11, 2017 - New Zealand: 28 MW Expansion of Ngawha Geothermal Power Station to be Completed by 2021
• Thursday, May 16, 2013 - New Zealand: Ngawha's Geothermal Power Plant Expansion Promises Economic Boost

Science & Technology: Changing the Technology behind Geothermal Power Plants will Reduce the Risks and Timelines of Projects - Opinion

Opinion - Why geothermal power plants need to be modular, scalable and standardized (LinkedIn)

Ruben Havsed, Head of
Geothermal Sales at Climeon

by Ruben Havsed, Head of Geothermal Sales at Climeon

At Climeon, we believe that by changing the technology behind the geothermal power plant, it is possible to reduce the risks and timelines of projects, thereby creating revenues earlier. With lower risks the geothermal market will become more acceptable and bankable – and that will increase its market penetration.

We have already seen positive results in Iceland with this model. In a saturated market, the potential offered by our technology has re-awakened the opportunity for new geothermal developments within the country.

By utilizing standardized 150 kW units that works efficiently in the approx. 80 – 130°C temperature range, Climeon is able to cover a large portion of the addressable geothermal market with a standard product. The units can be delivered as and when they are needed. This means that a well can be tested, and then, based on the results, the relevant number of units can be deployed within a couple of months.

Read More........

Ruben Havsed will be attending the GRC Annual Meeting & Expo from 14-17 October in Reno, nevada, USA.

Bolivia: IDB Loan Could Boost Geothermal Energy Development

IDB approves $51.6 million loan to boost electricity sector in Bolivia (News Release)

(Courtesy CIA.gov)

The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) has awarded a $51.6m loan to Bolivia last week to promote the country's sustainable energy development. The multilateral said resources will promote geothermal, solar and wind power in the nation, which currently produces 80% of its electricity demand through fossil fuels.

IDB’s loan consists of a $48.86m 2033 portion awarded from the bank’s ordinary capital to be paid back at a Libor-linked price and a $7.74m tranche at 0.25% interest for an 80-year term and 40-year grace period.

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China: Special Economic Zone Looks to Geothermal to Provide Clean Power

Xiongan to run on 100% clean power (China Daily)

(Courtesy Caixin)

Xiongan New Area in Hebei province - a State-level economic zone set up last year to reduce Beijing's non-capital functions - is aiming to run on 100 percent clean power.

The region, located around 100 kilometers southwest of the nation's capital, will see its energy mix optimized, and act as a guide and demonstration hub for clean heating in the north, said Guo Zhi, chief economist with the National Energy Administration, during the international clean heating exhibition 2018 held in Xiongan on Saturday.

The administration has attached significant importance to clean heating in the country's northern regions, and will continuously urge local authorities to step up clean heating implementation plans with policy and market guidance, Guo said.

Natural gas, together with biomass, geothermal and solar energy, will be encouraged in Xiongan, said Xie Qiuye, head of the China Electric Power Planning and Engineering Institute.

China Petroleum and Chemical Corp said it would increase investment into geothermal energy in the region. China National Petroleum Corp and China National Offshore Oil Corp have promised plentiful supplies of clean energy.

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From the Global Geothermal News archives:

• Monday, November 27, 2017 - China: Sinopec to Boost Geothermal District Heating to Mitigate Pollution
• Thursday, August 24, 2017 - China: "Rich Geothermal Energy Resources" Discovered in Xiongan New Area
• Monday, April 10, 2017 - China: Geothermal Energy Powers Xiongan Special Economic Zone

Philippines: EDC Hopes for New Geothermal Energy Contracts in Chile and Peru

EDC eyes new geothermal areas in Peru, Chile (manilastandard.net)

Philippines company Energy Development Corp. (EDC) plans to participate in the auctions for new geothermal contracts in Chile and Peru as part of its expansion program, a top executive said.

EDC president Richard Tantoco said the new concession area in Chile that the company was looking at could produce about 150 megawatts of geothermal capacity.

EDC already has a stake in the Mariposa project, located in the Andes Mountains 300 km south of the capital city of Santiago. The project covers two geothermal exploitation concessions, Pellado and Laguna del Maule. The rights to these concessions are owned by Compañía de Energía Limitada where affiliates of EDC and Canada-based Alterra Power Corp. hold 70-percent and 30-percent stakes, respectively.

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Put Your Geothermal Knowledge On Display For A Chance of Prizes

GRC Mixer - Trivia Night! - Put Your Geothermal Knowledge on Display for a Chance of Prizes

Presented by the GRC Student Committee

Monday, October 15: 6:00pm - 9:00pm
Peppermill Resort Spa & Casino, Reno, Nevada, USA.

Register Online......

Registration Form........

Geothermal Energy News from Around the World

Global Geothermal News - Weekly Update (Geothermal Resources Council)

A Round-up of this week's international geothermal energy news.......

Click on the links below to view the whole story and other news on Global Geothermal News.

Geothermal Event - More than 200 Technical Presentations

GRC Annual Meeting & Expo - The Technical Sessions

Over 60 hours of high-quality presentations on the latest developments in geothermal energy on October 15, 16 and 17.

Register Now! Earlybird Discount Ends September 30.

Nigeria: Conference on the Untapped Potential of Geothermal Energy

FG Needs To Utilise Untapped Geothermal Energy For Socio-Economic Development – Minister (The Eagle Online)

The Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Alhaji Abubakar Bwari, says for the Federal Government to provide the enabling environment for business to thrive, it must look at the untapped potential of geothermal energy.

Bwari said this in Abuja on Thursday at the Nigerian Mining and Geoscience Society and the Nigerian Geological Survey Agency discourse series on ‘Geothermal Energy; an Untapped Potential’.

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USA: Tapping Geothermal Energy to Advance New Energy Storage Applications

Geothermal Technologies Could Push Energy Storage Beyond Batteries (NREL)

Compressed-air storage in gas wells, geothermal energy in cold-climate communities, and geothermal-solar hybrid technology could offer new options for energy storage.

Three new projects at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) will tap geothermal energy to advance new energy storage applications as part of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Grid Modernization Initiative. The newly funded projects will explore unconventional uses of geothermal technologies to improve grid reliability, resilience, and security.

The Department of Energy's Geothermal Technologies Office announced eight new projects via the Beyond Batteries Lab Call. NREL will be leading two of these projects and will be supporting a third.

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GRC Annual Meeting & Expo - Four Geothermal Fieldtrips Available

Fieldtrips from Geothermal Resources Council Annual Meeting Announced (News Release)

Popular excursions from the GRC Annual Meeting & Expo in Reno, Nevada, USA.

A GRC Fieldtrip in Nevada, 2015.

The Geothermal Resources Council (GRC) has announced more details of events at the world’s largest annual geothermal energy conference in Reno, Nevada, USA.

In addition to the main event of the GRC Annual Meeting & Expo taking place October 14-17, 2018, there will be a grand total of four fieldtrips before, during and after the conference.

From October 12-14, there will an opportunity to visit one of the best-studied Quaternary calderas in the world. The fieldtrip will highlight the volcanic history of the Long Valley Caldera in eastern California and the evolution of the geothermal system, including spectacular overviews of the caldera and the eastern Sierra Nevada crest.

On Sunday, October 14, a short three-hour fieldtrip will visit Ormat’s Steamboat Geothermal Power Plant Complex, located just south of the city of Reno, which currently produces enough renewable energy to meet the residential electrical needs of the city of Reno.

During the GRC Annual Meeting & Expo, attendees will get a number of opportunities to tour the geothermal direct use heating system of the host hotel, the Peppermill Resort Spa Casino, the only resort in the United States whose heating source is totally provided from geothermal energy produced on the immediate property.

On the day after the GRC Annual Meeting & Expo there will be a day-long fieldtrip travelling south from Reno to visit the southern Gabbs Valley in western Nevada, where state geologist Jim Faulds will demonstrate how a blind geothermal system was recently discovered through application of play fairway analysis.

More information on the fieldtrips, including more detailed itinerary and cost, can be found on the GRC Website at https://geothermal.org/Annual_Meeting/fieldtrips.html.

USA, California: Vacancy as Field Chemist at Geothermal Energy Company

Field Chemist - Thermochem

Thermochem is the world leader in testing, engineering, consulting services, specialty instrumentation and equipment supply, focused primarily on the renewable geothermal power sector.

Under general supervision assists with field projects, performs sampling functions and maintains field equipment.

United Kingdom: Lecture on the Potential for Geothermal Heat from Abandoned Coal Mines

NEIMME Lecture: Can Abandoned Mines Heat our Future? (The Mining Institute)

25 September 2018, 6-7pm - Free
The North of England Institute of Mining and Mechanical Engineers (NEIMME)
Speaker: Charlotte Adams, Durham University

Our declining coal industry means that as deep mines were abandoned, water pumps were turned off and the worked areas flooded with water which now lies at temperatures of around 12 to 20°C.

Spread the previously mined coal over the entire UK land surface and there would be a layer of coal around 5 cm deep. The extracted coal has left void space underground, and allowing for subsidence, we estimate that there are around 2 billion cubic metres of water within flooded, abandoned coal mines. Using heat pumps, we can upgrade the temperature of this water to provide useful temperatures for space heating. The beauty of this concept is that because many villages, towns and cities were developed due to the coal deposits beneath them, there is good correlation between areas of heat demand and abandoned coalfields. It is estimated that the resource potential of the UK could provide heat for around 700,000 homes.

More Information and Register.......

New Zealand: Using direct use geothermal “just completes the picture for customers”

Geothermal energy key to business sustainability (SunLive)

(Courtesy Sequal Lumber)

A Kawerau-based company believes it’s found a niche in the sawn lumber export market.

Sequal Lumber, says it’s found a way to tap into geothermal energy while providing a unique customer experience in a sustainable fashion.

The sources its wood from sustainable forests, and head of sales and marketing, Rhys Arrowsmith says knowing the wood is dried in an environmentally friendly manner using direct use geothermal “just completes the picture for customers”.

Without the geothermal, and the company’s strong relationship with geothermal supplier Ngati Tuwharetoa Geothermal Assets, Rhys says the options would be as a green mill not drying product, or having to use waste residue or fossil fuels for the energy supply for kiln drying.

“While the geothermal came later for our business it was always on the horizon and has natural synergy with our ethos. It has proven to be a great enabler. We are very lucky to have the geothermal asset on our doorstep here at Kawerau.”

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Greece: Two Geothermal Energy Projects in Advanced Planning

Lesvos, Methana the launch pads for geothermal projects (energypress)

The brown circles denote the locations of the geothermal
projects that PPC Renewables are planning.

PPC Renewables plans to start developing two of four geothermal fields to which the company holds exclusive exploration and utilization rights with ventures on the island of Lesvos and on Methana, a peninsula in northeast Peloponnese.

These starting choices, where geothermal exploration work is believed to be imminent, have a purpose. Locals on Milos and Nisyros, two other spots also being eyed, both object to geothermal development. Back in the 1980s, islanders on Milos strongly reacted against a geothermal development plan, fearing its environmental impact. However, PPC Renewables officials are now hoping this resistance of the past will ease once islanders are fully informed of technological advancements in the sector.

Besides Lesvos and Methana, PPC Renewables also intends to develop geothermal fields on Nisyros, as well as the island complex of Milos, Kimolos and Polyaegos, the Aegean Sea’s largest uninhabited island.

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Iceland: United Nations University Geothermal Training Programme Fellows to Present Projects

UNU Fellows of the Six Month Training Programme introduce their final projects (UNU-GTP)

Monday, 26 September 2018, Reykjavík, Iceland

On Monday, 26 September 2018, the United Nations University (UNU) Fellows of the Six Month UNU Geothermal Training Programme (UNU-GTP) will introduce their final projects.

The lectures will begin at 9:00 in Víðgelmir at Orkustofnun, Grensásvegi 9, IS-108 Reykjavík, Iceland. This is a good opportunity for those interested in geothermal science and engineering in developing countries to find out the latest research in the respective fields.

The lectures are open to everyone and the schedule will be published soon.

Japan: New Toyota Fund Will Target Geothermal and Other Renewable Energies

Toyota to chip in for $270m renewables fund (Nikkei Asia Review)

Automaker eyes clean energy to power zero-emissions factories

Toyota Motor will be a key investor in a Sparx Group renewable-energy fund announced Wednesday, aiming to reduce carbon emissions from its auto factories and dealerships.

The Mirai Renewable Energy Fund will aim to raise 30 billion yen ($267 million) in capital, with Toyota supplying 10 billion yen. Sparx will manage the fund from November and solicit other investors.

The fund will target a variety of facilities, such as solar, wind, biomass and geothermal power plants. Rather than investing in existing facilities, it will target new ones to be involved in from the initial stages. Power generated may be sent to Toyota factories or dealerships.

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United Kingdom: Video on Geothermal Energy Research Field Sites

UK Geoenergy Observatories (UKGEOS)

(Video 6:51 Minutes)

The UK Geoenergy Observatories project will establish new centres for world-leading research into the subsurface environment. The knowledge they generate will contribute to the responsible development of new energy technologies both in the UK and internationally.

The British Geological Survey has worked with the wider geoscience community to identify two preferred geological locations. The first research field site will be in the Thornton area (Cheshire) and the second research field site will be in Glasgow, Scotland.

The research field sites will allow independent, rigorous and replicable observations of subsurface processes. The UK Geoenergy Observatories will stimulate research on underground energy technologies that will answer vital questions about how they affect the environment.