Africa: Energy Highlights 2018 from the UN Environment Africa Office

UN Environment Africa Office, Energy Highlights 2018

Africa Rift Geothermal Development Facility (ARGeo)

1. Catalysed investment in geothermal energy development in ARGeo member countries
2. Agreed with CTCN a Technical Assistance for Geothermal Direct Use Projects in ARGeo member countries
3. ARGeo C7 Stimulated geothermal interest in the region and mainstreamed Direct Use application for geothermal power development (October-November 2018)

African Geothermal Center Of Excellence (AGCE)

Transformed the African continent through Capacity and skill development in Geothermal science and Technology

1. Four parallel Pre-ARGeo C7 short courses
2. First Level-1 geothermal training on ‘Introduction to geothermal science and technology’

Catalyzed Clean Energy Access & Energy Efficiency In Africa

1. Enhanced Private sector engagement and developed technical skills through the Africa Women Energy Entrepreneurs Framework (AWEEF)
2. Adopted a desk study report on Biomass Energy production and utilization in Africa

Regional Responsive Renewable Energy Information Systems

Partnership & Resource Mobilization

Geothermal Event - Call for Sessions for GRC Annual Meeting & Expo

GRC Annual Meeting & Expo - Call for Sessions

This is a “Call for Sessions” for the GRC Annual Meeting to be held in Palm Springs, California on September 15-18, 2019. We are inviting proposals for specific sessions at this year’s meeting. Sessions can be organized and led by up to three people, a session chair and two co-chairs. Successful session chairs will be expected to assist the technical chair to recruit authors and organize reviews. A session will include at least four papers.

The Session Proposal process is simple. Please email a Session Title and Description to Anh Lay at alay@geothermal.org by January 4, 2019.

Details on the requirements of the proposal:
Session Title: Session proposals must include an informative title (20-300 characters, not including spaces) and entered in title case.

Description: The session description is limited to 250 words. The description will be used during the review process. Session descriptions will be reviewed by the GRC Annual Meeting committee for possible inclusion in the meeting. Successful session proposals will be listed on the GRC website during the draft paper submission phase to assist authors in identifying an appropriate session to submit their draft paper.

Descriptions must adhere to the following criteria:

• Concise definition of the scientific topic. Proposals must focus on scientific results and/or their applications.
• Explain why the session is topical and relevant.
• Session proposals focused on a specific development program, experiment, technology, or region of expansion are encouraged.
• Sessions in tribute of a specific person will be considered, but appropriate justification must be provided.
• Session proposals that are deemed to be primarily advertisements of commercial products and services will not be considered.

Optional: Please include the names of any specific people that you would recruit to author a paper for this session.

A separate “Call for Papers” will be released once sessions are reviewed and selected.

Show Your Support for The Geothermal Industry

Support The Geothermal Industry By Joining The Geothermal Resources Council Policy Committee

The Geothermal Resources Council Policy Committee (GRC PC) encompasses the policy-related activities of the former Geothermal Energy Association (GEA), which merged with GRC earlier in 2018 to enable the geothermal industry to speak with one voice.

• Are you a former GEA member who wants to continue to benefit from up-to-date information and analyses about policies and issues that impact the geothermal industry? 
• Are you a GRC member who wants to understand and help influence State and Federal geothermal-related policy issues? 

If your answer to either question above is YES, now is the time to take the opportunity to position yourself among the most proactive geothermal companies, developers, scientists and engineers in the industry.

Joining the GRC PC is a cost-effective way for you and your company to stay on top of policies and other issues that are critically important to the geothermal industry.

With conference calls, in-person meetings and the implementation of activities to promote geothermal development, the GRC PC provides a unique opportunity to keep your finger on the pulse of policy issues that affect geothermal development and growth and ensure that your priorities are considered. By joining the GRC PC, you will benefit from work by lobbying firms that are already engaged by several major US geothermal developers, who have generously agreed to share the results and analyses with GRC PC members.

Specific priorities and initiatives for 2019 include:

• A Policy Priorities Roadmap will be assembled; 
• An Annual Geothermal Power Production Report will be commissioned; 
• An Annual Policy Forum will be held in Washington DC in May 2019;
• Professional Advocate/Lobbyist Networks will be set up at Federal and State levels, and; 
• A Roster of PC Members and Advocates will be distributed. 

Are you ready to help promote geothermal energy while saving time and money by supporting the GRC Policy Committee? Here are the three options for GRC members to participate in this important geothermal industry group:

Not already a GRC Member? Join the Geothermal Resources Council today online at: https://geothermal.org/membership.html

Make A Difference – Join The GRC PC Today!

Subscribe to Daily Geothermal Energy News Updates

Get Your Daily Global Geothermal News Delivered to Your In-box

Global Geothermal News is the award-winning news website from the Geothermal Resources Council - the GRC - a trusted source for news and information since 1972.

Enter your email address:




Delivered by FeedBurner

Get a summary of the very latest geothermal energy news from around the world delivered by email every day. Subscribe now!

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.

Support Your Geothermal Energy Association - Support the Geothermal Energy Community

'Tis The Season For Giving

The Geothermal Resources Council (GRC) has created a new Donate Page on the my.geothermal.org website.

The GRC is a non-profit professional association that relies on support from generous people like you. By donating to the GRC, you are helping support our geothermal community through education, outreach, and dissemination of research across local, national and global society.

Any amount is welcome and any support is appreciated. There are six different funds that you can donate to. All donations are tax deductible.

On behalf of our community, we would like to thank you for helping advance the geothermal industry!

Donate Online.........                     Donation Form.........

Global: Free Article from the GRC Bulletin - The Voice of the Geothermal Energy Community

The Latest Geothermal News from the Geothermal Resources Council (GRC)

Free article from the GRC Bulletin -
Volume 47, No. 6 - November/December 2018

The Geothermal Resources Council (GRC) has released the latest GRC Bulletin, the voice of the global geothermal energy industry, published continuously since 1972.

The Bulletin is free with GRC Membership or subscribe (PDF) to six issues a year for $90 in the USA or $140 worldwide.

The GRC has generously provided 5 pages from the latest issue for free! However, the full issue is 68 pages and available to download for GRC Members only.

The free article is an overview of the 43rd Annual Meeting of the Geothermal Resources Council (GRC) with a photo essay of the Opening Session, Annual Charity Golf Tournament, Photo Contest and the Poster Session. In the full issue there is also a Technical Paper on an important advance in EGS research and 16 pages of geothermal news from around the world.

The GRC Bulletin is only available online to GRC members. To make sure of your copy join the GRC today!

Finland: Geothermal District Heating Network to be Built at Nekala, Tampere

Robit To Develop With Tegs Finland Oy Technology For Sustainable Energy Production (News Release)

8 kilometre deep well to be drilled and a geothermal energy production plant built at Tampere

Robit Finland Oy has agreed to cooperate with TEGS Finland Oy on technology developed for the drilling of deep geothermal wells. Cooperation will focus on improving the performance of drill bits intended for deep well drilling. The goal is significant cost savings.

The Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment has awarded TEGS Finland a grant of over EUR 2 million for the construction of a geothermal energy production plant at Nekala, Tampere Finland. Geothermal heat can be used in electricity generation and heating. The 7–8 kilometres deep energy well to be drilled at Tampere will heat circulating water for use in the district heating network. Construction of the production plant, which will generate 29,050 MWh of heat per year, will start at the beginning of next year.

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

USA, Colorado: Employment Opportunities at NREL Geothermal Program

National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) Job Postings

Golden, Colorado, USA

• Geothermal Program Administrator III
• Geothermal Drilling Engineering Scientist IV
• Geothermal - Engineer/Analyst III
• Researcher IV - Geothermal Analyst Engineer (Intermediate)

More Information and apply.........

USA, Idaho: The Boise Geothermal District Heating System

How geothermal energy heats the city of Boise (Idaho News.com)

The City of Boise posts plaques on the buildings
around town that use geothermal energy.

There are only a handful of places around the country that are able to use geothermal energy — Boise is home to the nation's largest system.

There's a fault line in the Boise Foothills, where historically there have been dozens of hot springs, which has been being tapped into now for 35 years as a way to provide heat for the city.

There are 92 buildings downtown that are heated using geothermal energy — among them are several hotels, the YMCA, Boise High School, City Hall, the Ada County Courthouse, and parts of Boise State University.

In 1999, the city installed an injection well at Julia Davis Park which allows every gallon that is taken out of the ground to be put back into the exact same aquifer— making the City of Boise a sustainable closed loop system.

Read More.........

USA, California: Research Opportunity on Addressing Impact of Real or Idealized Industrial Geothermal Activities

Determining deformation mechanisms at active geothermal fields in the western United States and their implications for seismic hazard (USGS)

Located in Menlo Park, California, USA

We seek a Mendenhall postdoctoral fellow to advance our capability to reconcile observed patterns in seismicity and ground deformation with physics-based models of geothermal field fluid and heat circulation, associated reservoir deformation and active stimulation. Ideally, this work would address the impact of real or idealized industrial geothermal activities.

We invite proposals to improve our understanding of aseismic moment release, fault friction dynamics, permeability alteration, migration of fluids, and/or changes in the state of stress, pressure, and temperature.

Additionally, we invite research to help determine the relative importance of these phenomena in geothermal environments using observations like seismicity patterns, surface deformation, pressure and temperature, borehole (or inferred) stress information, and injection and production volumes.

More Information and apply........

United Kingdom: PhD Position on Understanding Fluid Flow and Induced Seismicity in Enhanced Geothermal Systems

The Effects of Fluid Flow on the Transport Properties of Faults in Enhanced Geothermal Systems (Find a PhD)

Heriot-Watt University, School of Energy, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
Deadline: Friday, February 01, 2019

Successful operation of Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGSs) requires easy flow of geothermal fluids. Pre-existing faults often provide low permeability pathways for fluid flow. However, such faults may be reactivated during geothermal operations, potentially leading to induced seismicity.

Whether or not fault movement leads to induced seismicity depends on the fault frictional properties, which is affected by a range of factors, including the fault rock composition. Both permeability and frictional properties can be affected by the flow-through of the undersaturated solutions involved in geothermal operations, which can lead to mineral dissolution and precipitation, as such changing the (connected) porosity and the fault rock composition.

This project aims to quantify how flow-through of undersaturated solutions affects the composition and transport properties of fault materials typical for EGSs, and what the implications are for the frictional properties and thus induced seismicity. The approach adopted involves experimental work, microstructural investigations and microphysical modelling. In addition, the student may be able to work with an industry reactive transport modelling code.

Read More.........

Science & Technology: Underground Farms to Grow Crops With Geothermal Heat

Abandoned Coal Mines Are About To Be Transformed Into Geothermal Greenhouses (Return to Now)

Academics at the University of Nottingham would like to see the 150,000 abandoned coal mines in the United Kingdom converted into subterranean farms.

According to their research, the so-called “deep farms” could grow 10 times as much food per acre at a fraction of the cost. Like geothermal greenhouses, the farms would use free heat from the Earth’s core to allow year-round crop production.

The researchers say the mines, that once contributed to climate change, are the perfect environment for sheltering crops from its effects. Underground farms are unaffected by irregular seasons, cold winters and erratic weather patterns. The temperature and humidity levels are generally consistently temperate underground.

Ground water would provide a ready water supply, and carbon capture technology could sequester CO2 from the atmosphere and bring it down to the plants where it’s needed.

Read More.........

USA, Hawaii: Access to Puna Geothermal Venture Regained

Mayor Thanks Ormat, PGV Regains Access After Eruption

Work on cutting a “pioneer road” over the large lava channel was completed on December 14, the Hawaiʻi Tribune-Herald reported.

Lava covers part of the Puna Geothermal Venture site (U.S Air National Guard Photo by Tech. Sgt. Andrew Jackson)

The lower East Rift Zone eruption of Kīlauea began on May 3, 2018 and forced Puna Geothermal to shut down. For several dramatic weeks, lava threatened to inundate the power plant, and officials scrambled to prevent a potential catastrophic interaction between the volcanic activity and the resource wells at the industrial facility. PGV has been offline ever since.

Read More.........

Kenya: Drilling Begins at Baringo Geothermal Power Project

GDC starts drilling wells in Baringo to tap geothermal power (NTV)

Geothermal Development Company, GDC, have started drilling wells in Baringo in a move to tap geothermal power where prospects of its deposits have been found.

According to its website GDC has completed a seventy kilometer access road to open up the Baringo-Silali area for drilling. GDC has also contracted Hong Kong Off-Shore Oil Services Limited (HOOSL) to drill 15-20 geothermal wells.

(Video 1:12 Minutes)

Japan: Swedish Geothermal Power Company to Deliver More Heat Power Modules

Climeon wins order worth SEK 40 million within geothermal heat power in Japan (News Release)

Climeon has received an order from Iwana Power GK of Heat Power modules worth SEK 40 million. The Heat Power modules will be deployed as a geothermal power plant in the Gifu Prefecture in central Japan and are to be delivered in 2019.

The order is placed by the Heat Power Operator Iwana Power GK, part owned by Baseload Power Japan and local entrepreneurs. 

Read More.........

Commonwealth of Dominica: Construction of Geothermal Power Plant to Begin by Third Quarter of 2019

Dominica to begin construction of geothermal plant in 2019 (Jamaica Observer)

The Dominica Government says it intends to start construction of a geothermal energy power plant by the third quarter of 2019.

Energy Minister Ian Douglas said that the plant to be constructed in the Roseau Valley, on the outskirts of the capital, will be a major boost for the island that is attempting to become the world's first climate resilient country.

He said that the geothermal programme is proceeding “on track”, and that a local company has already been established to ensure the continued success of the project.

Earlier this year, the World Bank announced that it would be providing more than US$17 million towards the development of a geothermal plant for Dominica.

Read More........

From the Global Geothermal News archives:

• Monday, December 17, 2018 - Commonwealth of Dominica: Video on Geothermal Energy Power Project
• Monday, March 12, 2018 - Commonwealth of Dominica: More Funding for 7 MW Geothermal Power Project
• Tuesday, February 20, 2018 - Commonwealth of Dominica: Progress on Geothermal Power Project
• Thursday, January 4, 2018 - Commonwealth of Dominica: European Union Provides Funds for Geothermal Energy Development

USA, Nevada: Ormat is Adding 18 MW Solar PV to its 24 MW Tungsten Mountain Geothermal Power Plant

Ormat Adopts Hybrid Solar+Geothermal Tech (Clean Technica)

Ormat Technologies, is once again going hybrid, adding solar energy to a geothermal plants to raise efficiency and to boost income from the energy off-taker, Southern California Public Power Authority (SCPPA). The 18 megawatt photovoltaic solar installation will cover the geothermal plant’s parasitic, or operational energy consumption, freeing up power that SCPPA agreed last year to purchase at a hefty rate of $75.50/MW-hour.

Ormat is adding the solar PV to its 24 MW baseload Tungsten Mountain geothermal power plant located in Churchill County, Nevada, that began commercial operation in December 2017. The plant is expected to generate approximately $15 million in average annual revenue.

Since the geothermal plant does not operate as efficiently at high mid-day temperatures, the PV, which peaks at mid-day, will boost the energy output to maximize the energy sold to SCPPA. In other hybrid solar-geothermal cases, thermal solar cooling lines are used to lower the temperature of the solar PV, which helps the PV maintain maximum efficiency. PV solar cells lose efficiency rapidly when the cell temperature goes above 149 degrees Fahrenheit under direct sun.

Read More.........

From the Global Geothermal News archives:

• Thursday, December 6, 2018 - USA, Nevada: Ormat Plans 18 MW of Solar PV to Power Tungsten Geothermal Power Plant Parasitic Electric Load

USA, Massachusetts: Employment Opportunity as Geothermal Engineer

Vacancy - Geothermal Engineer (Eden GeoPower)

Start date: Feb 15, 2019, Somerville, Massachusetts, USA

Eden Geopower Inc. is looking for an engineer to join an engineering team to work in GreenTown labs, Boston, MA. This is a highly technical role that includes: laboratory and office work on the various projects solving geothermal and petroleum industry problems.

Activities range from initial concept development with computer software to running an experimental laboratory work, testing prototypes, optimization, and reports writing. The Project Engineer's role requires a deep understanding of the engineering design and laboratory setup to test samples.

This cross-functional position and will assist Engineering team in design and analysis of physical processes happening inside the wellbore and porous reservoir.

More Information and apply..........

Geothermal Event - Call for Sessions for GRC Annual Meeting & Expo

GRC Annual Meeting & Expo - Call for Sessions

This is a “Call for Sessions” for the GRC Annual Meeting to be held in Palm Springs, California on September 15-18, 2019. We are inviting proposals for specific sessions at this year’s meeting. Sessions can be organized and led by up to three people, a session chair and two co-chairs. Successful session chairs will be expected to assist the technical chair to recruit authors and organize reviews. A session will include at least four papers.

The Session Proposal process is simple. Please email a Session Title and Description to Anh Lay at alay@geothermal.org  by January 4, 2019.

Details on the requirements of the proposal:
Session Title: Session proposals must include an informative title (20-300 characters, not including spaces) and entered in title case.

Description: The session description is limited to 250 words. The description will be used during the review process. Session descriptions will be reviewed by the GRC Annual Meeting committee for possible inclusion in the meeting. Successful session proposals will be listed on the GRC website during the draft paper submission phase to assist authors in identifying an appropriate session to submit their draft paper.

Descriptions must adhere to the following criteria:

• Concise definition of the scientific topic. Proposals must focus on scientific results and/or their applications.
• Explain why the session is topical and relevant.
• Session proposals focused on a specific development program, experiment, technology, or region of expansion are encouraged.
• Sessions in tribute of a specific person will be considered, but appropriate justification must be provided.
• Session proposals that are deemed to be primarily advertisements of commercial products and services will not be considered.

Optional: Please include the names of any specific people that you would recruit to author a paper for this session.

A separate “Call for Papers” will be released once sessions are reviewed and selected.

Mexico: First Geothermal Food Dehydrator Created

Prototype of geothermal food dehydrator to installed in Nayarit (Notimex)

Members of the Institute of Engineering Desalination and Alternative Energy (iiDEA, for its acronym in Spanish), of the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), have created the first geothermal food dehydrator.

It is useful for processing fruits such as pineapple, mango or avocado, and any other type of food such as chili, alfalfa, and even meat, and is able to obtain 600 kilograms of product per day.

The prototype will soon be installed in a geothermoelectric field located in the municipality of San Pedro Lagunillas, Nayarit, where it has the capacity to generate 35 MW in a 25 MW condensation system, and two at a back pressure of 5 MW each.

In this agricultural area, the hot water wells that generate electricity still have an energetic remnant that will be used to dehydrate food.

Through the use of geothermal energy (the heat of the planet), water is extracted from food without altering its nutrients and other properties.

Read More.........

USA: Funding Available for Research Into Downhole Tools to Enable Enhanced Geothermal Systems

ARPA-E Funding Seeks to Inspire New Program Areas in Energy Innovation (DOE)

The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) today announced its latest funding opportunity designed to support early stage, transformative energy technologies. The “Solicitation on Topics Informing New Program Areas” funding opportunity enables ARPA-E to investigate potential new program areas while highlighting energy challenges of critical interest to American competitiveness and security.

This Funding Opportunity will remain open for an extended period, and new topics will be released periodically to target emerging technologies and potential new program areas. This first round calls for innovative technologies supporting next generation nuclear energy, high temperature sensors for downhole geothermal exploration, and ultra-durable, lower-energy concrete for infrastructure. ARPA-E will award up to $18 million to project teams spread across standard and small business (SBIR/STTR) solicitations.

C. Downhole Tools to Enable Enhanced Geothermal Systems
Full Application Submission Deadline: 9:30 AM ET, February 18, 2019

ARPA-E seeks novel low-cost sensor technologies capable of mitigating risks and lowering costs in EGS development by better characterizing rock formations and fluid enthalpy at depth. Technologies of interest include but are not limited to fiber-optic sensors and enthalpy measurement devices, as well as companion electronics and communications equipment. Successful projects will facilitate reservoir creation and maintenance, reduce unexpected reservoir behavior, and ultimately lower costs associated with EGS. Successful technologies developed for this purpose may also offer side benefits in applications including O&G, subsurface energy/CO2 storage, aerospace and automotive engineering, nuclear energy, and space exploration. More Information.........

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

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.

Greece: Possible Project to Grow Pharmaceutical Cannabis Using Geothermal Heat

Το Παγγαίο παντρεύει τη φαρμακευτική κάνναβη με τη γεωθερμία
 - Pangea marries pharmaceutical cannabis with geothermal energy (ypaithros.gr)

Σύμφωνα με τον δήμαρχο Παγγαίου, Φίλιππο Αναστασιάδη, «ολοκληρώνονται οι κατασκευαστικές μελέτες, ενημερώθηκε ο περιφερειάρχης, Χρήστος Μέτιος, και η Διαχειριστική Αρχή της περιφέρειας και σε πολύ σύντομο χρονικό διάστημα θα υποβάλουμε τον πλήρη φάκελο των μελετών». Η αξιοποίησή του προβλέπει την κατασκευή των υποδομών που θα επιτρέψουν την άντληση και τη μεταφορά της οικονομικής και ανανεώσιμης γεωθερμικής ενέργειας στην περιοχή της Δημοτικής Ενότητας Ορφανού.

Ο δήμαρχος προβάλλει τη σπουδαιότητα της εκδήλωσης ενδιαφέροντος από μεγάλη εταιρεία για την υλοποίηση σημαντικής επένδυσης στον τομέα της καλλιέργειας και παραγωγής φαρμακευτικής κάνναβης.

Το γεωθερμικό πεδίο Ακροποτάμου εντοπίζεται στην παραλιακή ζώνη του δήμου Παγγαίου μεταξύ της περιοχής των Λουτρών Ελευθερών και της παραλίας της Κάριανης.

(From Google Translate) According to the mayor of Pangaio, Filippos Anastasiadis, "the construction studies are completed, the district chief, Christos Metios, and the managing authority of the region are informed and in a very short time we will submit the complete dossier of studies". Its exploitation envisages the construction of the infrastructures that will allow the extraction and transportation of the economic and renewable geothermal energy in the area of ​​Orfanos Municipal Unity.

The mayor highlights the importance of interest from a large company for the realization of a significant investment in the cultivation and production of pharmaceutical cannabis. 

The Akropotamou geothermal field is located in the coastal zone of the municipality of Pangaiou between the area of ​​Loutra Eleftheres and the beach of Karyne.

Διαβάστε περισσότερα.........                      Read More.........

Europe: Interview With Secretary General of European Geothermal Energy Council

Exergy Interviews Philippe Dumas, Secretary General of EGEC (Exergy)

Philippe Dumas

While in Italy a proposed decree could eliminate subsidies for traditional geothermal, the European Parliament recently passed the Renewable Energy Directive, the Energy Efficiency Directive and the Governance Regulation to accelerate the development – among others - of geothermal energy.

What can be done to create a shared vision and non-conflicting regulations for the development of geothermal energy among European Union and single member states? What role can EGEC, by itself or through its associates, play in achieving this?

Read More.........

Europe: Geothermal News from EGEC

The EGEC Newsletter December 2018 - The Voice of Geothermal in Europe

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

Click here to download. In this issue:

Policy

• The final stroke on the Clean Energy Package

News

• Turboden announces completion of the 17.5 MWe Velika Ciglena Geothermal Plant
• Italian industry association recognizes conventional geothermal power plants as key for Italy’s renewable production

Projects

• ETIP-DG 7th Stakeholders Meeting
• FLEXIRES: The role of flexible renewable generation for a successful decarbonisation of electricity

New Members Elected to the Geothermal Resources Council Board of Directors

Geothermal Resources Council Announces New Board of Directors 

Five new members join the GRC Board of Directors

The Geothermal Resources Council (GRC) is governed by a Board of Directors, elected by the general membership to 2-year terms. To provide continuity, half of the Board is elected every year. All GRC members are eligible for election to the Board of Directors.

The global GRC membership took part in the ballot in November, and the result was that five new members of the Board were elected: Andrea (Andy) Blair, Lara Owens, Robert Podgorney, Jefferson W. Tester and Hildigunnur (Hidda) Thorsteinsson. 

They join eight other members who have been re-elected to the Board of Directors: Louis Capuano, III, Warren T. Dewhurst, James Lovekin, Leland "Roy" Mink, Jon Trujillo, Jeff Witter, Shigeto Yamada and Katherine (Kate) Young.
The diverse membership of the Board of Directors reflects the mission of the GRC to represent the entire global geothermal community.

William Pettitt, Executive Director of the GRC commented "We would like to congratulate all the new members of the Board on their success in the election and express our appreciation for them standing up to be a Director of the GRC. It is a great honor for us to work with them all and we look forward to starting towards our schedule of 2019 goals for increasing awareness of geothermal energy across society, in the USA and abroad."

Photos of the new Board of Directors can be seen on the GRC Website at www.geothermal.org/BOD.html

New Zealand, Canada: Geosoft is Acquired by Seequent

Seequent completes acquisition of Geosoft creating unparalleled geological modelling and geoscience software offering (News Release)

Seequent, a world leader in visual data science software, today announced it has completed the acquisition of Geosoft, a Canadian geoscience software company.

The acquisition accelerates Seequent’s growth in mining, civil engineering, energy, government and environmental sectors by bringing together its Leapfrog 3D geological modelling software suite with Geosoft’s subsurface geoscience and exploration technology. 

Read More.........

The Geothermal Energy Magazine - Now Available Online - 68 Pages!

Now Available - GRC Bulletin - Vol. 47, No. 6, November/December 2018

The November/December issue of the GRC Bulletin is now available. Produced by the Geothermal Resources Council since 1972, the Bulletin is the voice of the international geothermal energy community.

In this issue:

• President's Message by Maria Richards
• Executive Director's Message by William Pettitt
• Inside Geothermal: 15 pages of geothermal energy news from around the world
• The 42nd GRC Annual Meeting & Expo - Opening Session, Annual Charity Golf Tournament, Photo Contest, Poster Session
• Gabbs Valley Fieldtrip by Susan Hodgson
• Best Student Poster - Numerical Simulation of Effects of Multilateral Wells on Thermal Characteristics of a Fractured EGS Based on a Thermal-hydraulic-mechanical Coupling Model, by Yu Shi, et al.
• Geothermal History in the Making - Gators in the Sage (2001)
• Corporate Profile - Capuano Engineering Company
• Publications, Websites, Videos & Maps
• In Memoriam - Robert E. Tucker
• Calendar of Events

The GRC Bulletin is only available online to GRC members. To make sure of your copy join the GRC today! If you are a member of the community download your Bulletin now!

USA, California: Healdsburg to Power City Facilities with Geothermal Energy from The Geysers

City operations and facilities to move to 100 percent renewable energy (Sonoma West)

Healdsburg is going green, well maybe not literally, but starting at the end of the month several city facilities and operations will start using 100 percent renewable energy, a move that will greatly reduce carbon dioxide emissions and put Healdsburg in the forefront of emission reduction as the second city in the county to move towards renewable energy.

The city’s utility conservation analyst Felicia Smith says 70 city facilities and operations accounts will move to 100 percent renewable energy fully powered by geothermal energy from the geysers. “This includes city hall, the wastewater treatment plant and operational accounts like traffic signals, pathway lighting and EV (electric vehicle) chargers,” Smith said.

Read More.........

USA, California: New Field-Scale Thermoelectric Generator to be Tested at Bottle Rock Geothermal Power Plant

Thermoelectric Generators in a Geothermal Field - Case Study (AltaRock Energy, Inc.)

This is an R&D project which will build and test a new field-scale thermoelectric generator (TEG) at our Bottle Rock Power geothermal facility near Cobb, California.

TEGs produce electrical energy when a strong enough temperature difference exists across the generator (a phenomenon known as the Seebeck effect). This will be the first TEG developed specifically to generate electricity from a geothermal resource with the goal of making renewable geothermal electricity more competitive in the marketplace.

This project will not only prove the feasibility of using TEG materials with a geothermal resource but also develop how this technology can be installed in an operating field. This project is supported by a generous grant from the California Energy Commission’s Electric Program Investment Charge (EPIC) program.

Read More........

Caribbean: United Nations Framework Classification for Geothermal Energy Resources Tested at Regional Scale

Caribbean Embraces New Geothermal Resource Classification (IRENA)

60 delegates from 15 countries attended the workshop

A workshop co-organised International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), the World Bank, and the International Geothermal Association (IGA), represented a starting point. Held in Castries, Saint Lucia, the workshop brought together 60 key experts and geothermal energy decision makers from across the Caribbean to discuss challenges and co-develop solutions to advance geothermal development.

The workshop is the continuation of an international series to pilot the ‘United Nations Framework Classification (UNFC) to Geothermal Energy Resources and Reserves’ — a harmonised framework for qualifying estimates of extractable geothermal energy by projects. Taking into account economic viability, technical feasibility and geological confidence, the UNFC specifications are designed to help stimulate geothermal investments by making geothermal resource bases easier to understand. While a previous workshop tested the specifications at national-level in 14 different cases on the Indonesian island of Flores, the workshop in Castries for the first time tested the system at a regional-level, with five trials from five different countries.

Read More.........

Indonesia: Companies Agree to Develop Financing for Geothermal Projects in the Exploration Phase

Medco Gandeng SMI Garap Proyek Eksplorasi Panas Bumi
 - Medco Collaborates with SMI to Work on Geothermal Exploration Project (Dunia-Energi)

PT Medco Energi Internasional Tbk (MEDC) melalui anak usahanya PT Medco Power Indonesia  yang bergerak di bidang kelistrikan, telah menandatangani nota kesepahaman dengan PT Sarana Multi Infrastruktur (SMI)  untuk pengembangan pembiayaan proyek panas bumi di tahap eksplorasi.

Medco Power dan SMI sepakat melakukan pertukaran informasi dalam bisnis dan program-program yang dapat mendukung pengembangan pembiayaan proyek panas bumi yang dilakukan Medco Power melalui anak usahanya, Medco Cahaya Geothermal yang saat ini sedang melakukan eksplorasi di Blawan, Ijen.

(From Google Translate) PT Medco Energi Internasional Tbk (MEDC) through its subsidiary, PT Medco Power Indonesia, which is engaged in electricity, has signed a memorandum of understanding with PT Sarana Multi Infrastruktur (SMI) to develop financing for geothermal projects in the exploration phase.

Medco Power and SMI have agreed to exchange information in business and programs that can support the development of geothermal project financing conducted by Medco Power through its subsidiary, Medco Cahaya Geothermal, which is currently exploring Blawan, Ijen.

Baca lebih lajut..........               Read More.........

Germany: Holzkirchen Geothermal Power Plant to Begin Trial Operations in Spring Next Year

Trial Operation in Holzkirchen commenced (Erdwerk)

(Courtesy Erdwerk)

On 17 December 2018, shortly before Christmas, the trial operation was commenced in Holzkirchen. As a first step, the submersible centrifugal pump has been in operation since the 19th December and the heat produced fed into the Holzkirchen district heating network. From spring 2019, the power plant will also commence a trial operation. The trial operation and various test works are expected to continue throughout the coming year.

Holzkirchen is currently the southernmost and deepest hydrothermal geothermal project in Germany. The two wells drilled in 2016 and 2017 reached final depths of approx. 5,100 m (vertical) with a drilling distance of up to 6,084 m. The drilling component of the project was completed in 2017. The geothermal plant in Holzkirchen is to be operated with a temperature of approx. 155°C and a production rate of approx. 55 l/s.

Erdwerk supervised the subsurface component of the project in Holzkirchen from the planning, the overall construction management for the two deep wells to the now completed commissioning of the submersible centrifugal pump and the long-term pump test.

Read More.........

From the Global Geothermal News archives:

• Tuesday, September 12, 2017 - Germany: 3.4 MW ORC Turbogenerator Supplied for Holzkirchen Geothermal Power Project
• Friday, April 21, 2017 - Germany: Holzkirchen Geothermal Plant to Begin Construction in Fall
• Friday, March 24, 2017 - Germany: Another Video of Holzkirchen Geothermal Plant 
• Friday, March 24, 2017 - Germany: Holzkirchen Geothermal Project Delivers 150 Degrees Celsius Resource
• Thursday, March 9, 2017 - Germany: Testing Begins at Holzkirchen Geothermal Project

Iceland: Another Data Center to be Powered by Geothermal Energy

Landsvirkjun to Provide Power for New Data Center in Iceland Owned by a Subsidiary of Etix Everywhere Borealis (News Release)

Landsvirkjun, Iceland’s national power company, and Etix Everywhere Iceland, a subsidiary of Etix Everywhere Borealis, have signed a power contract for the supply of 25 MW to the company’s new data center in the Blönduós municipality in the North of Iceland. Operations have already begun in Blönduós and construction work to expand the data center is currently underway. The center will be the first energy-intensive industrial operation to connect to Landsnet’s transmission network in the area.

A combination of renewable energy resources, competitive terms and the Icelandic climate contribute to creating favorable conditions for data centers in Iceland.

The energy covered by the agreement will be delivered from Landsvirkjun's current power station network. Landsvirkjun has recently opened a new geothermal station in Þeistareykir in the Northeast of Iceland. The company now operates three geothermal stations. The ratification of the contract is subject to certain conditions.

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

USA, Nevada: McGinness Hills Geothermal Power Plant Capacity Increased to 138 MW

48 MW McGinness Hills Phase 3 Geothermal Power Plant in Nevada Begins Commercial Operation, Increasing Complex Capacity to 138 MW (News Release)

Ormat Technologies Inc. today announced that the third phase of its McGinness Hills geothermal complex located in Lander County, Nevada has begun commercial operation. The 48-megawatt (net capacity) power plant started selling electricity to Southern California Public Power Authority (SCPPA) under the Ormat Northern Nevada Geothermal Portfolio Power Purchase Agreement. SCPPA resells the entire output of the plant to the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP). The third phase is expected to generate approximately $30 million in average annual revenue.

The third phase is utilizing the new generation of Ormat turbines that allow the power plant to generate an average net output of 48 MW from two Ormat Energy Converters (OECs) instead of three OECs, as would have been the case in the past. The improved design will increase the efficiency, capacity, and availability of the power plant. Additionally, Ormat expects the economies of scale at the McGinness Hills complex will further contribute to the complex performance.

Read More........

Seasons Greetings to the Global Geothermal Energy Community!

To Our Geothermal Family, Happy Holidays! From the GRC

Eastern Caribbean: Interview With IDB President on the Potential for Geothermal Energy in the Region

Exploring the Caribbean's Geothermal wealth (Inter-American Development Bank)


(Video 8:10 Minutes)

Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) President Luis Alberto Moreno and Energy Specialist Christiaan Gischler discuss the potential of geothermal energy in Latin American and the Caribbean as well as a new Sustainable Energy Facility to help Caribbean countries tap into this clean and sustainable resource. 

Geothermal: Finding a Comprehensive Voice, Built by Consensus, that Can be Communicated Everywhere by Everybody

Speaking with One Global Voice for Geothermal Energy

(from the November/December GRC Bulletin)

by Will Pettitt, PhD, Executive Director - GRC 

Will Pettitt, PhD

During our 2018 Annual Meeting and Expo in Reno last month the term “Speaking with One Global Voice” suddenly took off. It appeared in conversations everywhere and clearly struck a deep-seated chord in the imagination of the community. I first used that term in an interview published online and then in my opening address to the meeting. The language has probably been used many times before and I discovered its significance during earlier discussions with Dr. Kate Young about the GRC’s Ambassador Program that she has led. It seems that our community is saying the time is right for us to speak with one global voice.

Speaking with one global voice does not mean there is only one speaker. Nor does it mean that we are focusing on the international arena. The use of the term “one global voice” instead means that we are finding a comprehensive voice, built by consensus, that can be communicated everywhere by everybody (Definition of global according to online Oxford Dictionaries: Relating to or encompassing the whole of something, or of a group of things). What we aim to achieve is as many speakers as possible, millions if we can get them, all communicating consistent messages for geothermal energy. How do we achieve that?

Iceland: Training Courses on Using Leapfrog Geothermal

Training Courses for Leapfrog Geothermal (Seequent)

28 January-1 February, Reykjavik University Iceland

Leapfrog Geothermal Fundamentals
28th - 30th January 2019

This three-day course is for entry-level users of Leapfrog Geothermal and covers the basics of modelling from well data, geologic maps and cross-sections plus geophysics and reservoir simulation integration.

Leapfrog Geothermal Intermediate
31st January - 1st February 2019

Aimed at professionals who have already taken the fundamentals course, this two-day intermedia training will delve into more advanced technical examples of the most common tools in Leapfrog Geothermal. We will focus on geological models and editing, numerical models, and the interoperability function with flow simulation.

More Information.........

USA: Nominate a Geothermalist for the United States Energy Award

United States Energy Award - Call for Nominations (USEA)

The United States Energy Award was established in 1989 to recognize preeminent energy leadership and contributions to international understanding of energy issues.  

The United States Energy Association solicits nominations of individuals in the energy sector to receive this distinguished award. The Award Selection Committee, composed of national energy leaders, examines each individual nominated for a track record in leadership, and history of proven accomplishments including international contributions, which promote a greater understanding of energy issues. Support for the United States Energy Association is a major consideration. The Award is presented annually during the USEA Spring membership meeting. Recipients must be present at the ceremony. Nomination Form (PDF).........

A letter of nomination is all that is required.  Nominations may be submitted via mail, fax or email to:

United States Energy Award

United States Energy Association

1300 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Suite 550

Washington, DC  20004

Tel:  202-312-1230/ Fax:  202-682-1682

Nominations are accepted on an ongoing basis and closes January 30th.

Indonesia: 55 MW Lumut Balai Geothermal Power Plant to be Completed Next year

Pembangkit Listrik Panas Bumi 55 MW di Sumsel Kelar 2019
 - 55 MW Geothermal Power Plant in South Sumatra to be Ready in 2019 (Detik Finance)

(Courtesy PT Pertamina Geothermal Energy)

PT Pertamina Geothermal Energy (PGE) saat ini sedang membangun pembangkit listrik tenaga panas bumi (PLTP) di Sumatera Selatan (Sulsel). Pembangunan pembangkit yang berlokasi di Lumut Balai, Muara Enim tersebut menelan biaya hingga US$ 120 juta atau setara Rp 1,74 triliun (kurs Rp 14.500).

Menurut Direktur Eksplorasi dan Pengembangan Khairul Rozaq PLTP saat ini PLTP tersebut sedang tahap pembangunan dan akan selesai di tahun 2019.

(From Google Translate) PT Pertamina Geothermal Energy (PGE) is currently building a geothermal power plant (PLTP) in South Sumatra (South Sulawesi). The construction of the plant, located in Lumut Balai, Muara Enim, costs up to US $ 120 million or equivalent to Rp 1.74 trillion (exchange rate of Rp 14,500). 

According to the Director of Exploration and Development of Khairul Rozaq PLTP, the PLTP is currently under construction and will be completed in 2019. 

Baca lebih lajut..........              Read More.........

Finance: Sustainable Energy Program for the Eastern Caribbean Helps to Mitigate Geothermal Risks

Developing Geothermal Power in Small Islands Developing States (IADB)

In order to develop geothermal power, abundant underground heat and steam is required, which is not that easy to find. At the same time, large investments are needed in assessing the resource, conducting exploratory drilling, constructing geothermal plants, and building transmission lines. Small Islands Developing States (SIDS), like those in the Eastern Caribbean, have the additional challenge that undertaking a large investment like a geothermal plant with their own funds could jeopardize their national macroeconomic performance.

The Sustainable Energy Program (SEF) for the Eastern Caribbean was designed to tackle both problems. The SEF uses the climate funds such as the Clean Technology Fund (CTF) and the Green Climate Fund (GCF) to mitigate the geothermal risks. These climate funds are used as contingent recovery grants (CRGs). That means that the developer receives the CRGs and if they drill and fail, the financing is treated as grant. However, if the geothermal exploration is proven successful, the CRG is transformed into a concessional loan and the developer repays the cost of the well by selling the electricity.

Read More........

USA: FORGE Stats to be Used in Student Geothermal Competition

Geothermal Student Competition Will Take Data Analytics to New Depths (EERE/GTO)

Are you a student? Are you looking for opportunities to gain experience and build your resume? Do you want to win some money? Then the Geothermal Student Competition is for you!

In January 2019, the Geothermal Technologies Office (GTO) will announce a competition focused on data-driven analytics, data visualization, and subsurface science. Graduate, undergraduate, and high school students will be tasked with creating portfolios of graphics, visual representations, and visual analyses of data from the Frontier Observatory for Research in Geothermal Energy (FORGE) – GTO’s flagship initiative that serves as a field laboratory site where scientists and researchers can learn how to engineer enhanced geothermal systems (EGS).

Belgium: Workshop on Flexible Renewable Generation - Including Geothermal - for Decarbonisation of Electricity

FLEXIRES: The role of flexible renewable generation for a successful decarbonisation of electricity (EGEC)

10 January, 2019, 14:00 to 17:30, Thon Hotel EU, Brussels, Belgium

The event aims at discussing the role of flexible renewable generation, including geothermal, for a successful decarbonisation of electricity.

The geothermal, solar thermal electricity, bioenergy and ocean energy sectors come together for an afternoon of discussions to highlight how flexible renewable technologies fit in Europe’s path towards a carbon neutral economy. The workshop, organised in the framework of the DG ETIP project, will include a first panel to present the potential of these energy sources for the effective decarbonisation of the electricity system. A second panel will look at the financing aspect of this transition, and how to value adequately the specific services of these renewable energy technologies: flexibility and dispatchability. Agenda

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

Science & Technology: LIDAR Provides Insights Into Possible Geothermal Resources

Revealing our dynamic landscape through new high-resolution topographic data (University of Nevada, Reno)

Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology’s regional-scale lidar mapping provides novel insights into earthquake, flood and glacial history

Galena fault scarp located near Steamboat Springs south of Reno

Under the direction of Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology Director Jim Faulds - a GRC Member - and spearheaded by faculty member and Geologic Mapping Specialist Seth Dee, the project received initial funding through the USGS and Research & Innovation at the University of Nevada, Reno.

The project utilized airborne lidar technology to produce high-resolution topographic maps of the Reno-Sparks-Carson City area. The data will benefit a number of in-progress Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology studies to understand earthquake and flood hazards, as well as natural resources.

Using Light Detection and Ranging technology, or lidar, the project collected data by bouncing light pulses off the surface of the earth. The result is a high-resolution, three-dimensional topographic map that allows improved identification of geologic features such as flood plains, glacial deposits and earthquake faults. This can also support the assessment of ecological systems, infrastructure planning and the identification of geothermal reserves to support clean-energy production.

The Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology created an online story map, titled Reno’s Bare Earth: Below the Neon, to document the project and share examples of lidar images. Visit the story map at unr.edu/nbmg/bare-earth.

Read More.........