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.
Friday, May 31, 2019
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.
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.
Global: Calendar of Geothermal Energy Events
Geothermal Energy Calendar from the Geothermal Resources Council
EAGE Annual Conference & Exhibition 2019
EAGE Annual Conference & Exhibition 2019
11-14 June, The Hague, Netherlands
http://europeangeothermalcongress.eu/
Geothermal Energy: Meeting Financial and Technical Challenges
Session at the EU Sustainable Energy Week Conference
http://europeangeothermalcongress.eu/
Geothermal Energy: Meeting Financial and Technical Challenges
Session at the EU Sustainable Energy Week Conference
19 June 14:00 - 15:30, Brussels, Belgium
https://eusew.eu/policy-conference-2019
GeoEnergy Days (Pole Avenia)
https://eusew.eu/policy-conference-2019
GeoEnergy Days (Pole Avenia)
25-27 June, Pau, France
http://www.geoenergydays.com/
NZGA Seminar: The Future of Geothermal in a Low-Carbon Economy
http://www.geoenergydays.com/
NZGA Seminar: The Future of Geothermal in a Low-Carbon Economy
11 July, New Zealand
https://nzgeothermal.org.nz/nzga-seminar/
6th Geothermal Congress for Latin America and the Caribbean (GEOLAC)
https://nzgeothermal.org.nz/nzga-seminar/
6th Geothermal Congress for Latin America and the Caribbean (GEOLAC)
17-18 July, Santiago, Chile
http://newenergyevents.com/geolac/
2019 ARMA-CUPB International Geothermal Conference
http://newenergyevents.com/geolac/
2019 ARMA-CUPB International Geothermal Conference
5-8 August, Beijing, China
http://www.arma-cupb.com/homePage/cupb/index.html
7th Indonesia International Geothermal Convention and Exhibition (IIGCE)
http://www.arma-cupb.com/homePage/cupb/index.html
7th Indonesia International Geothermal Convention and Exhibition (IIGCE)
13-15 August, Jakarta Convention Center, Indonesia
http://www.iigce.com/
6th China International Geothermal Energy Technology & Equipment Exhibition & 11th Chinese GSHP Conference & Exhibition 2019
http://www.iigce.com/
6th China International Geothermal Energy Technology & Equipment Exhibition & 11th Chinese GSHP Conference & Exhibition 2019
18-20 August, Beijing, China
http://www.dyrbw.com/news/show.php?itemid=75860
3rd International Geothermal Conference GEOHEAT
http://www.dyrbw.com/news/show.php?itemid=75860
3rd International Geothermal Conference GEOHEAT
3-6 September, Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, Russian Federation
http://www.igc-geoheat.com/
1st Conference on Geophysics for Geothermal and Renewable Energy Storage
http://www.igc-geoheat.com/
1st Conference on Geophysics for Geothermal and Renewable Energy Storage
8-12 September, The Hague, Netherlands
https://events.eage.org/en/2019/near-surface-2019/conferences/1st-conference-on-geophysics-for-geothermal-and-renewable-energy-storage
43rd GRC Annual Meeting & Expo
https://events.eage.org/en/2019/near-surface-2019/conferences/1st-conference-on-geophysics-for-geothermal-and-renewable-energy-storage
43rd GRC Annual Meeting & Expo
15-18 September, Palm Springs, California, USA
www.geothermal.org/meet-new.html
1st Philippine Geothermal Conference (National Geothermal Association of the Philippines)
Beyond Conventional: Low-Medium-Enthalpy Geothermal Resources and Applications
www.geothermal.org/meet-new.html
1st Philippine Geothermal Conference (National Geothermal Association of the Philippines)
Beyond Conventional: Low-Medium-Enthalpy Geothermal Resources and Applications
7-9 October, Munich, Germany
www.praxisforum-geothermie.bayern/en
European Geothermal Workshop 2019 -
Characterization of Deep Geothermal Systems
www.praxisforum-geothermie.bayern/en
European Geothermal Workshop 2019 -
Characterization of Deep Geothermal Systems
9-10 October, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Germany
http://www.agw.kit.edu/EGW2019.php
Geothermal Resources in Sedimentary Basins Conference
http://www.agw.kit.edu/EGW2019.php
Geothermal Resources in Sedimentary Basins Conference
21-22 November 2019, Québec City, Québec, Canada
https://canadiangeothermal.wixsite.com/cgsd
IGC Turkey Geothermal Congress & Expo
https://canadiangeothermal.wixsite.com/cgsd
IGC Turkey Geothermal Congress & Expo
19-22. November, Munich, Germany
https://www.der-geothermiekongress.de/kongress-2019/der-geothermiekongress.html
41st New Zealand Geothermal Workshop (NZGW)
https://www.der-geothermiekongress.de/kongress-2019/der-geothermiekongress.html
41st New Zealand Geothermal Workshop (NZGW)
25- 27 November, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
https://nzgeothermal.org.nz/
World Geothermal Congress 2020
https://nzgeothermal.org.nz/
World Geothermal Congress 2020
18-21 October 2020, Reno, Nevada, USA
www.geothermal.org/meet-new.html
www.geothermal.org/meet-new.html
Kenya: Chinese Companies to Cooperate on Geothermal Power Plant Projects in Rift Valley
CNNC joins China National Petroleum Corporation for geothermal exploitation (Nes Release)
China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) signed a cooperation agreement with China Petroleum Corporation in Beijing on May 30.
Both parties agreed to jointly undertake a geothermal resources utilization project. The project is expected to help guarantee an electric power supply for local areas and contribute to local economic growth in Kenya.
According to the agreement, geothermal power stations will be built near geothermal fields discovered in the Great Rift Valley.
The project is a key China-Africa capacity cooperation project designed by the National Development and Reform Commission.
Geothermal Event Will Showcase the Best Geothermal Energy Photos of the Year
The Geothermal Resources Council 2019 Amateur Photo Contest - Submit Your Best Shots Now!
The winners will be announced at the GRC Annual Meeting in Palm Springs, California, USA.
The Geothermal Resources Council (GRC) is pleased to announce this year’s Amateur Photo Contest. The purpose of the contest is to showcase quality photography featuring geothermal energy around the world.
The winners will be announced at the GRC Annual Meeting & Expo being held in Palm Springs, California, USA from September 15-18.
The first place winner will receive $150, second place - $100, and third place - $75. Honorable Mention photos will receive certificates.
Photographs on any subject related to geothermal energy including geothermal energy production, EGS, direct use and geothermal heat pumps can be submitted. This includes photos in the areas of exploration, drilling, well testing, research and development, power plant construction, operation, and maintenance, geological features or geothermal manifestations.
For the 2019 photo contest, GRC is helping to raise awareness of the community benefits of geothermal energy through providing honorable mention awards for photos that help demonstrate two specific categories: Diversity - Celebrating inclusivity in the geothermal industry and Community - Providing positive interaction and impact on communities.
More information on the GRC Amateur Photo Contest, including a Submission Form, can be found on the GRC website [www.geothermal.org]. The deadline for submissions is August 2, 2019.
The Geothermal Resources Council (GRC) is pleased to announce this year’s Amateur Photo Contest. The purpose of the contest is to showcase quality photography featuring geothermal energy around the world.
The winners will be announced at the GRC Annual Meeting & Expo being held in Palm Springs, California, USA from September 15-18.
The first place winner will receive $150, second place - $100, and third place - $75. Honorable Mention photos will receive certificates.
Photographs on any subject related to geothermal energy including geothermal energy production, EGS, direct use and geothermal heat pumps can be submitted. This includes photos in the areas of exploration, drilling, well testing, research and development, power plant construction, operation, and maintenance, geological features or geothermal manifestations.
For the 2019 photo contest, GRC is helping to raise awareness of the community benefits of geothermal energy through providing honorable mention awards for photos that help demonstrate two specific categories: Diversity - Celebrating inclusivity in the geothermal industry and Community - Providing positive interaction and impact on communities.
More information on the GRC Amateur Photo Contest, including a Submission Form, can be found on the GRC website [www.geothermal.org]. The deadline for submissions is August 2, 2019.
Germany: IGA Releases Annual Report
International Geothermal Association Releases First Annual Report (IGA)
The Geothermal Resources Council is the largest affiliated organization of the IGA.
Download the Report.........
The Geothermal Resources Council is the largest affiliated organization of the IGA.
Download the Report.........
Geothermal Event! Three Workshops Announced for GRC Annual Meeting & Expo
Workshops Announced for Geothermal Resources Council Annual Meeting (News Release)
Three workshops at the GRC Annual Meeting & Expo in Palm Springs, California, USA
The Geothermal Resources Council (GRC) has announced more details of events at the world’s largest annual geothermal energy conference in Palm Springs, California, USA.
In addition to the main event of the GRC Annual Meeting & Expo taking place September 15-18, 2019, there will be two workshops before and a special presentation open to the general public during the conference.
On Friday and Saturday, September 13 and 14 a New Frontiers in EGS Technology workshop will consider how development of cost-effective Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS) technology is critical to the long-term viability of the world-wide geothermal industry.
Another workshop on Supercritical and Superhot Geothermal Resources will present information on how such systems could yield an order of magnitude more power than that currently produced from typical hot geothermal wells.
A special Geothermal 101 presentation will be held on Wednesday, September 18 where the general public will be invited to learn about and view the practical applications of geothermal energy technology in a guided tour of the Expo hall.
More information on the workshops, including more detailed agendas and cost, can be found on the GRC Website at https://geothermal.org/Annual_Meeting/workshops.html.
The GRC Annual Meeting & Expo is the industry’s largest annual gathering of leading geothermal energy scientists, producers, renewable energy industry stakeholders, regulators, utilities, and key associated business leaders. The four-day event will offer technical, policy, and market conference sessions, educational seminars, tours of local geothermal and renewable energy projects, and numerous networking opportunities.
Registration to the GRC Annual Meeting & Expo will open soon. Room reservations can now be made on the GRC website at geothermal.org. A discounted room rate is available until August 21, so early reservations are recommended.
For more information about the GRC Annual Meeting & Expo in Palm Springs, California, USA, visit www.geothermal.org or call (530) 758-2360.
For information on how to sponsor this event, contact Estela Smith, GRC at (530) 758-2360 or grc@geothermal.org.
Three workshops at the GRC Annual Meeting & Expo in Palm Springs, California, USA
The Geothermal Resources Council (GRC) has announced more details of events at the world’s largest annual geothermal energy conference in Palm Springs, California, USA.
In addition to the main event of the GRC Annual Meeting & Expo taking place September 15-18, 2019, there will be two workshops before and a special presentation open to the general public during the conference.
On Friday and Saturday, September 13 and 14 a New Frontiers in EGS Technology workshop will consider how development of cost-effective Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS) technology is critical to the long-term viability of the world-wide geothermal industry.
Another workshop on Supercritical and Superhot Geothermal Resources will present information on how such systems could yield an order of magnitude more power than that currently produced from typical hot geothermal wells.
A special Geothermal 101 presentation will be held on Wednesday, September 18 where the general public will be invited to learn about and view the practical applications of geothermal energy technology in a guided tour of the Expo hall.
More information on the workshops, including more detailed agendas and cost, can be found on the GRC Website at https://geothermal.org/Annual_Meeting/workshops.html.
The GRC Annual Meeting & Expo is the industry’s largest annual gathering of leading geothermal energy scientists, producers, renewable energy industry stakeholders, regulators, utilities, and key associated business leaders. The four-day event will offer technical, policy, and market conference sessions, educational seminars, tours of local geothermal and renewable energy projects, and numerous networking opportunities.
Registration to the GRC Annual Meeting & Expo will open soon. Room reservations can now be made on the GRC website at geothermal.org. A discounted room rate is available until August 21, so early reservations are recommended.
For more information about the GRC Annual Meeting & Expo in Palm Springs, California, USA, visit www.geothermal.org or call (530) 758-2360.
For information on how to sponsor this event, contact Estela Smith, GRC at (530) 758-2360 or grc@geothermal.org.
Canada: Good Progress at Alberta Lithium Extraction Project
E3 Metals marks lithium milestone (Mining Magazine)
Canadian-based E3 Metals has confirmed the successful production of lithium hydroxide from brine originating from its Alberta lithium project.
The lithium concentrate from which it obtained the hydroxide was produced with the company's ion-exchange extraction process; thus, the lab tests it has completed at the Alessi Lab at the University of Alberta have proven the process flow-sheet's validity.
- Friday, September 28, 2018 - Canada: Lithium Extraction Pilot Plant will Source Geothermal Brine from Leduc Reservoir in Alberta
- Wednesday, May 30, 2018 - Canada: Binary Geothermal Energy Plant Could Power Lithium Extraction Facility
Europe: Geothermal News from EGEC
The EGEC Newsletter May 2019 - The Voice of Geothermal in Europe
The May issue of the European Geothermal Energy Council (EGEC) Newsletter is now available.
Click here to download. In this issue:
Policy
Click here to download. In this issue:
Policy
- National plans for EU's 2030 targets
- World Bank & EBRD assessing environmental impact of geothermal power plants
- ETIP-DG Annual Conference 2019
- GEORISK Survey of Geothermal risk assessment
- Presentation – available: Tackling the environmental concerns for deploying geothermal energy
- SMARTSPEND’s first results presented at SET Plan's Steering Group meeting in Brussels
- RHC-ETIP: Geothermal Technology Workshop
Education: Deadline for Geothermal Scholarships is Today
2019 GRC Scholarships Application Deadline is Today (News Release)
The Geothermal Resources Council (GRC) is reminding applicants that the deadline for the 2019 GRC Scholarship Awards is today, May 31, 2019.
To qualify for any of these awards a student must be a GRC member (student memberships are only $20 per year). Selection of recipients will be based upon a variety of factors, including the individual’s academic record, student activities, geothermal industry experience, and career goals.
More Information..........
 |
| John Grill, Estefanía Ramírez Restrepo and Yuran Zhang received their awards at last year's GRC Annual Meeting & Expo. |
To qualify for any of these awards a student must be a GRC member (student memberships are only $20 per year). Selection of recipients will be based upon a variety of factors, including the individual’s academic record, student activities, geothermal industry experience, and career goals.
More Information..........
Thursday, May 30, 2019
Mexico: Repository of Geothermal Aquifer Information to be Created
Firman por ‘repositorio’ sobre geotermia del agua subterránea - Agreement Signed for 'repository' on groundwater geothermal (Periodico Correo)
La Comisión Estatal del Agua y el Instituto de Geofísica de la Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México llevaron a cabo la firma de un acuerdo de colaboración para la conformación y transferencia de información a un ‘Repositorio’ donde se almacenará información geotérmica del agua subterránea en Guanajuato para identificar por zonas la calidad y componentes que inciden en el comportamiento de los acuíferos.
(From Google Translate) The State Water Commission and the Institute of Geophysics at the National Autonomous University of Mexico have carried out the signing of a collaboration agreement for the formation and transfer of information to a 'Repository' where information on geothermal groundwater will be stored in Guanajuato to identify by zones the quality and components that affect the behavior of aquifers.
Chile: Agenda Available for Geothermal Conference for Latin America and the Caribbean
GEOLAC 2019 - 6th Geothermal Congress for Latin America and the Caribbean(New Energy Events)
The Geothermal Resources Council is pleased to partner with New Energy Events for GEOLAC 2019, the only annual gathering of the region’s leading geothermal stakeholders.
What’s driving the agenda at GEOLAC this year?
The Geothermal Resources Council is pleased to partner with New Energy Events for GEOLAC 2019, the only annual gathering of the region’s leading geothermal stakeholders.
What’s driving the agenda at GEOLAC this year?
- Complimentary geothermal investment workshops hosted by the Government of Chile and Argentina
- Markets to watch. Which are the next breakthrough markets in Latin America and the Caribbean?
- How does geothermal complement (or compete with) natural gas across Latin America?
- What are the economics of direct use geothermal and will it take off across the region?
- What can the region learn from Indonesia and Turkey? Hear from public and private sector leaders from both markets
- How is climate finance re-shaping the way the market is financed and how risk is managed?
- Should geothermal be powering Latin America’s mining industry? What new opportunities are emerging?
USA: GeoVision Report Uses Photos from GRC Geothermal Photo Contest
GeoVision: Harnessing the Heat Beneath Our Feet
The new DOE study highlighting the untapped potential of geothermal energy in the United States uses photos from the Geothermal Resources Council Amateur Photo Contest throughout the publication.
The new DOE study highlighting the untapped potential of geothermal energy in the United States uses photos from the Geothermal Resources Council Amateur Photo Contest throughout the publication.
More information on this year's contest......... Deadline is August 2nd.
USA: “Geothermal electricity generation could increase more than 26-fold from today—reaching 60 gigawatts (GW) of installed capacity by 2050”.
DOE Releases New Study Highlighting the Untapped Potential of Geothermal Energy in the United States (DOE/EERE/GTO)
Today, the U.S. Department of Energy released a groundbreaking analysis detailing how the United States can benefit from the vast potential of geothermal energy.
The analysis culminated in a report, GeoVision: Harnessing the Heat Beneath Our Feet, which summarizes findings showing that geothermal electricity generation could increase more than 26-fold from today—reaching 60 gigawatts (GW) of installed capacity by 2050. In addition to describing electricity-generation opportunities, the GeoVision analysis also shows how geothermal can enhance heating and cooling solutions for American residential and commercial consumers through direct-use and heat-pump technologies.
In the electric sector, under business as usual, geothermal generation capacity will grow to 6 GW by 2050. By accelerating geothermal development timelines, geothermal capacity could more than double from business as usual, to 13 GW. Geothermal capacity could increase even further—to 60 GW—by combining faster development timelines with technology improvements.
In the non-electric sector, technology improvements could enable more than 17,500 geothermal district-heating installations nationwide, and 28 million U.S. households could realize cost-effective heating and cooling solutions through the use of geothermal heat pumps.
- Executive Summary
- Chapter 1: Developing the GeoVision
- Chapter 2: What is Geothermal Energy?
- Chapter 3: GeoVision Analysis: Models and Scenarios
- Chapter 4: GeoVision Analysis: Results, Opportunities, and Impacts
- Chapter 5: The GeoVision Roadmap: A Pathway Forward
- References and Appendices
- Full Report
Read More..........
There will be special panels and presentations of the GeoVision Report at the GRC Annual Meeting & Expo, September 15-18 in Palm Springs, California, USA.
There will be special panels and presentations of the GeoVision Report at the GRC Annual Meeting & Expo, September 15-18 in Palm Springs, California, USA.
USA, Nevada: Play Fairway Analysis Successful in Finding New Geothermal Resources
Machines being trained to enhance geothermal exploration in Nevada (UNR)
College of Science geologists are successful with new exploration methods for renewable energy
After a successful new method of geothermal exploration found two new geothermal systems in Nevada, the Department of Energy has awarded a major new grant to the Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology to research and expand the use of machine-learning to make the exploration process even more effective.
The two successful discoveries in the Great Basin by the Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology used a previously untried method for finding unknown, hidden geothermal resources, called blind systems, where there are no surface indications of hot water.
There had been no exploration previously in one of these areas and only minor previous exploration in the other. University of Nevada, Reno geologists in the Bureau of Mines and Geology used a number of other surface and subsurface clues in their methodology developed as part of their Department of Energy funded Play Fairway project that has been underway since 2014.
Read More.........
The Nevada Division of Minerals and the Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology will be exhibiting at the GRC Annual Meeting & Expo from 15-18 September in Palm Springs, California, USA.
College of Science geologists are successful with new exploration methods for renewable energy
 |
| Jim Faulds, director of the Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology in the College of Science, teaches a class on geothermal exploration in the Great Basin. |
The two successful discoveries in the Great Basin by the Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology used a previously untried method for finding unknown, hidden geothermal resources, called blind systems, where there are no surface indications of hot water.
There had been no exploration previously in one of these areas and only minor previous exploration in the other. University of Nevada, Reno geologists in the Bureau of Mines and Geology used a number of other surface and subsurface clues in their methodology developed as part of their Department of Energy funded Play Fairway project that has been underway since 2014.
Read More.........
The Nevada Division of Minerals and the Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology will be exhibiting at the GRC Annual Meeting & Expo from 15-18 September in Palm Springs, California, USA.
USA, Nevada: Employment Opportunity as Drilling Engineer at Ormat
Drilling Engineer - Ormat
Location: Reno, Nevada, USA
This position is responsible for the planning and coordination of drilling activities. This includes preparation and implementation of drilling engineering programs, regulatory agency approvals, optimization of drilling processes and operations, summarization of results and lessons learned, and preparation and maintenance of the drilling budget.
More Information and Apply.........
This position is responsible for the planning and coordination of drilling activities. This includes preparation and implementation of drilling engineering programs, regulatory agency approvals, optimization of drilling processes and operations, summarization of results and lessons learned, and preparation and maintenance of the drilling budget.
More Information and Apply.........
USA: Enel to Use Innovative Predictive Maintenance Software to Optimize Field Operations at its Geothermal Facilities
Enel Green Power First in North America to Deploy New Predictive Maintenance Technology at Geothermal Plants (Oil and Gas 360)
Enel’s US renewable subsidiary Enel Green Power North America Inc. and Irvine, California-based NarrativeWave, a US company specialized in Software-as-a-Service and Internet of Things, signed an agreement under which Enel Green Power North America will deploy NarrativeWave’s innovative predictive maintenance software to optimize field operations at its geothermal facilities.
(Video1:55 Minutes)
This is the first ever use of this technology in North America at geothermal plants with electrical submersible pumps.
Enel Green Power North America’s 25 MW Cove Fort, 13.4 MW Salt Wells and 33.1 MW Stillwater facilities are the only geothermal plants in North America to use large-scale electrical submersible pumps for the extraction of geothermal fluid, a cleaner and more efficient technology that ensures zero energy losses. These pumps operate 1,700 feet underground in 310-degree water, a challenging setting for monitoring and maintenance activities.
Read More.........
Enel’s US renewable subsidiary Enel Green Power North America Inc. and Irvine, California-based NarrativeWave, a US company specialized in Software-as-a-Service and Internet of Things, signed an agreement under which Enel Green Power North America will deploy NarrativeWave’s innovative predictive maintenance software to optimize field operations at its geothermal facilities.
(Video1:55 Minutes)
This is the first ever use of this technology in North America at geothermal plants with electrical submersible pumps.
Enel Green Power North America’s 25 MW Cove Fort, 13.4 MW Salt Wells and 33.1 MW Stillwater facilities are the only geothermal plants in North America to use large-scale electrical submersible pumps for the extraction of geothermal fluid, a cleaner and more efficient technology that ensures zero energy losses. These pumps operate 1,700 feet underground in 310-degree water, a challenging setting for monitoring and maintenance activities.
Read More.........
United Kingdom: Geothermal Heat from Abandoned Coal Mines Could Supply District Heating Network
Disused mine shafts could heat new homes in Oldham (Manchester Evening News)
It's believed the heat available underneath the town is 'the best in the country'
The forgotten mine shafts beneath Oldham could be used to heat new homes in the town centre. The pioneering approach is currently being explored by Oldham council as part of its latest housing strategy, which lays out how it aims to shape the way homes are developed in the borough.
Together with the national Coal Authority, council bosses are investigating using the potential geothermal energy from old mine shafts as a means of heating new builds. It's believed the heat available underneath the town is 'the best in the country'.
A spokesman for Oldham council said: "We're looking to see if the heat can then be extracted using a loop and fed into a new or existing district heating network such as the one already in use in the St Mary's estate."
Geothermal Event! Three Workshops Announced for GRC Annual Meeting & Expo
Workshops Announced for Geothermal Resources Council Annual Meeting (News Release)
Three workshops at the GRC Annual Meeting & Expo in Palm Springs, California, USA
The Geothermal Resources Council (GRC) has announced more details of events at the world’s largest annual geothermal energy conference in Palm Springs, California, USA.
In addition to the main event of the GRC Annual Meeting & Expo taking place September 15-18, 2019, there will be two workshops before and a special presentation open to the general public during the conference.
On Friday and Saturday, September 13 and 14 a New Frontiers in EGS Technology workshop will consider how development of cost-effective Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS) technology is critical to the long-term viability of the world-wide geothermal industry.
Another workshop on Supercritical and Superhot Geothermal Resources will present information on how such systems could yield an order of magnitude more power than that currently produced from typical hot geothermal wells.
A special Geothermal 101 presentation will be held on Wednesday, September 18 where the general public will be invited to learn about and view the practical applications of geothermal energy technology in a guided tour of the Expo hall.
More information on the workshops, including more detailed agendas and cost, can be found on the GRC Website at https://geothermal.org/Annual_Meeting/workshops.html.
The GRC Annual Meeting & Expo is the industry’s largest annual gathering of leading geothermal energy scientists, producers, renewable energy industry stakeholders, regulators, utilities, and key associated business leaders. The four-day event will offer technical, policy, and market conference sessions, educational seminars, tours of local geothermal and renewable energy projects, and numerous networking opportunities.
Registration to the GRC Annual Meeting & Expo will open soon. Room reservations can now be made on the GRC website at geothermal.org. A discounted room rate is available until August 21, so early reservations are recommended.
For more information about the GRC Annual Meeting & Expo in Palm Springs, California, USA, visit www.geothermal.org or call (530) 758-2360.
For information on how to sponsor this event, contact Estela Smith, GRC at (530) 758-2360 or grc@geothermal.org.
Three workshops at the GRC Annual Meeting & Expo in Palm Springs, California, USA
The Geothermal Resources Council (GRC) has announced more details of events at the world’s largest annual geothermal energy conference in Palm Springs, California, USA.
In addition to the main event of the GRC Annual Meeting & Expo taking place September 15-18, 2019, there will be two workshops before and a special presentation open to the general public during the conference.
On Friday and Saturday, September 13 and 14 a New Frontiers in EGS Technology workshop will consider how development of cost-effective Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS) technology is critical to the long-term viability of the world-wide geothermal industry.
Another workshop on Supercritical and Superhot Geothermal Resources will present information on how such systems could yield an order of magnitude more power than that currently produced from typical hot geothermal wells.
A special Geothermal 101 presentation will be held on Wednesday, September 18 where the general public will be invited to learn about and view the practical applications of geothermal energy technology in a guided tour of the Expo hall.
More information on the workshops, including more detailed agendas and cost, can be found on the GRC Website at https://geothermal.org/Annual_Meeting/workshops.html.
The GRC Annual Meeting & Expo is the industry’s largest annual gathering of leading geothermal energy scientists, producers, renewable energy industry stakeholders, regulators, utilities, and key associated business leaders. The four-day event will offer technical, policy, and market conference sessions, educational seminars, tours of local geothermal and renewable energy projects, and numerous networking opportunities.
Registration to the GRC Annual Meeting & Expo will open soon. Room reservations can now be made on the GRC website at geothermal.org. A discounted room rate is available until August 21, so early reservations are recommended.
For more information about the GRC Annual Meeting & Expo in Palm Springs, California, USA, visit www.geothermal.org or call (530) 758-2360.
For information on how to sponsor this event, contact Estela Smith, GRC at (530) 758-2360 or grc@geothermal.org.
Wednesday, May 29, 2019
Geothermal Event! Advertising in the Geothermal Resources Council’s Annual Meeting & Expo Program Guide & App
Advertising Opportunities at the Geothermal Energy Event of the Year!
Advertising in the Geothermal Resources Council’s Annual Meeting & Expo Program Guide & App means your product or service will be seen by attendees at the biggest annual geothermal energy conference in the world being held this year from September 15-18 at the Palm Springs Convention Center, Palm Springs, California, USA.
The Program Guide will be published online and provide all the information for attendees at the GRC Annual Meeting & Expo. The Event App will be available to download before the meeting with more information on speakers, personalized schedules, full abstracts for the Technical Papers and fulfilling networking opportunities.
A two-for one opportunity! When you advertise in the Program Guide the ad is automatically included in the Event App, appearing at least once a day on the main screen. Both versions of your advertisement are interactive - we can link to your company's website, email or to a brochure.
This is a fantastic opportunity for more exposure at the geothermal energy event of the year!
Artwork Due Date: August 16, 2019
Download Advertising Rate Sheet................
The Program Guide will be published online and provide all the information for attendees at the GRC Annual Meeting & Expo. The Event App will be available to download before the meeting with more information on speakers, personalized schedules, full abstracts for the Technical Papers and fulfilling networking opportunities.
A two-for one opportunity! When you advertise in the Program Guide the ad is automatically included in the Event App, appearing at least once a day on the main screen. Both versions of your advertisement are interactive - we can link to your company's website, email or to a brochure.
This is a fantastic opportunity for more exposure at the geothermal energy event of the year!
Artwork Due Date: August 16, 2019
Download Advertising Rate Sheet................
Science & Technology: HARP System Generates Electricity from Low Temperature Heat Including Geothermal
RadMax Technologies Delivers Expander-Generator to the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (Range)
The Board of Directors, Regi U.S., Inc. and its wholly owned subsidiary, RadMax Technologies, Inc., are pleased to announce the delivery of an expander-generator to the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) in Richland, Washington, USA.
The RadMax device was commissioned by PNNL to support the construction and demonstration of their patent pending, Harmonic Adsorption Recuperative Power (HARP) energy generation system. The HARP system utilizes PNNL’s innovative, non-condensing thermodynamic cycle technology to generate electricity from low temperature heat sources such as geothermal, solar and waste process heat previously thought too uneconomical for this purpose. With no need for fluid condensation, less heat is rejected to the environment allowing the HARP system to produce power even under high ambient temperature conditions where competitive systems shutdown.
The self-contained RadMax expander will be used to expand the high-pressure refrigerant created by the HARP system to produce up to 1 kW of electrical power.
The HARP research project is funded by the Department of Energy’s Geothermal Technologies Office and is one of several projects RadMax is collaborating on and jointly pursuing with PNNL.
From the Global Geothermal News archives:
- Monday, September 17, 2018 - Science & Technology: New Turbine Design Projected to be 40% More Efficient than Current ORC Systems
- Tuesday, November 28, 2017 - Science & Technology: Making ORC Geothermal Power Systems More Efficient
New Zealand: Lithium Resources from Geothermal Brine in Taupo Volcanic Zone May Not be Economic
Taupo lithium resource potentially economic - GNS (Scoop)
Rob Smillie, earth resources and materials manager at GNS Science said investigations of lithium in geothermal brine remains an important area of research for New Zealand.
But GNS suspects the elevated levels of lithium it has discovered around the Wairakei, Tauhara, Ngatamariki and Ohaaki geothermal fields may have been laid down in a similar process to that in Nevada (in the USA).
A lot more work will be needed to understand the area’s mineralogy and where potential deposits may be hosted, Smillie said.
And he noted that at the relatively lower grades seen locally, large, open cast mining could be required to extract it.
Read More.........
Lithium resources in the Taupo volcanic zone are potentially economic but may require conventional open-cast mining techniques if they are to be developed, delegates at the New Zealand Minerals Forum heard.
But GNS suspects the elevated levels of lithium it has discovered around the Wairakei, Tauhara, Ngatamariki and Ohaaki geothermal fields may have been laid down in a similar process to that in Nevada (in the USA).
A lot more work will be needed to understand the area’s mineralogy and where potential deposits may be hosted, Smillie said.
And he noted that at the relatively lower grades seen locally, large, open cast mining could be required to extract it.
Read More.........
New Zealand: Drilling for New Contact Energy Geothermal Power Plant to Begin August
Contact Energy to spend $30M on geothermal appraisal wells (Scoop)
Contact Energy will spend $30 million on a series of appraisal wells on Taupo's Tauhara geothermal steamfield as it builds towards a final investment decision for a new power station in 2020.
The drilling programme - involving four appraisal wells - will commence in August and be completed in early 2020, it said. The bulk of the $30 million will be spent in New Zealand.
“A potential new geothermal power station at the foot of Tauhara Maunga is New Zealand’s cheapest and most attractive option for renewable baseload electricity generation,” said chief executive Dennis Barnes.
Finance: Geothermal Can be a Very Economical Source of Round-the Clock Power - IRENA Report
Renewable Power Generation Costs in 2018 (IRENA)
Renewable energy has become an increasingly competitive way to meet new power generation needs. This comprehensive cost study from the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) highlights the latest trends for each of the main renewable power technologies. Released ahead of high-profile United Nations energy and climate discussions, Renewable Power Generation Costs in 2018 draws on the latest cost and auction price data from projects around the world.
In 2018, just over 500 MW of new geothermal power generation capacity was added. Where good high-temperature resources exist, geothermal can be a very economical source of round-the clock power. In 2018, the global weighted-average Levelized Cost of Electricity (LCOE) of new geothermal plants commissioned was USD 0.072/ kWh, 1% lower than in 2017.
The market for geothermal remains modest, with between a minimum of 90 MW (in 2011) and a maximum of 650 MW (in 2015) of annual new capacity commissioned between 2010 and 2018. Given the small number of projects commissioned each year, the global weighted-average LCOE in any given year is heavily influenced by the site-specific characteristics of the project, as well as the country. The global weighted average LCOE of newly commissioned geothermal plants was USD 0.05/kWh in 2010, with this rising to USD 0.08/kWh in 2012, while between 2013 and 2018, the average was between USD 0.06/kWh and USD 0.07/kWh (See Figure above).
Read More........
Renewable energy has become an increasingly competitive way to meet new power generation needs. This comprehensive cost study from the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) highlights the latest trends for each of the main renewable power technologies. Released ahead of high-profile United Nations energy and climate discussions, Renewable Power Generation Costs in 2018 draws on the latest cost and auction price data from projects around the world.
In 2018, just over 500 MW of new geothermal power generation capacity was added. Where good high-temperature resources exist, geothermal can be a very economical source of round-the clock power. In 2018, the global weighted-average Levelized Cost of Electricity (LCOE) of new geothermal plants commissioned was USD 0.072/ kWh, 1% lower than in 2017.
The market for geothermal remains modest, with between a minimum of 90 MW (in 2011) and a maximum of 650 MW (in 2015) of annual new capacity commissioned between 2010 and 2018. Given the small number of projects commissioned each year, the global weighted-average LCOE in any given year is heavily influenced by the site-specific characteristics of the project, as well as the country. The global weighted average LCOE of newly commissioned geothermal plants was USD 0.05/kWh in 2010, with this rising to USD 0.08/kWh in 2012, while between 2013 and 2018, the average was between USD 0.06/kWh and USD 0.07/kWh (See Figure above).
Read More........
Tuesday, May 28, 2019
Climate Change: Geothermal Energy Failing to Keep Pace with Long-Term Goals for Clean Energy Transitions - IEA
Progress on energy technologies fails to keep pace with long-term goals for clean energy transitions (IEA)
The International Energy Agency’s latest and most comprehensive assessment of clean energy transitions finds that the vast majority of technologies and sectors are failing to keep pace with long-term goals.
Of the 45 energy technologies and sectors assessed in the IEA’s latest Tracking Clean Energy Progress (TCEP), only 7 are on track with the IEA’s Sustainable Development Scenario (SDS). The SDS represents a pathway to reach the goals of the Paris Agreement on climate change, deliver universal energy access and significantly reduce air pollution.
Geothermal electricity generation increased by an estimated 6% in 2018, much more than the average growth of the five previous years. Nevertheless, the technology is still not on track to reach the SDS level, which would require a 10% annual increase in generation over 2018‑30. Policies tackling challenges associated with pre-development risks are needed to increase the deployment of geothermal for power.
Read More.........
Of the 45 energy technologies and sectors assessed in the IEA’s latest Tracking Clean Energy Progress (TCEP), only 7 are on track with the IEA’s Sustainable Development Scenario (SDS). The SDS represents a pathway to reach the goals of the Paris Agreement on climate change, deliver universal energy access and significantly reduce air pollution.
Geothermal electricity generation increased by an estimated 6% in 2018, much more than the average growth of the five previous years. Nevertheless, the technology is still not on track to reach the SDS level, which would require a 10% annual increase in generation over 2018‑30. Policies tackling challenges associated with pre-development risks are needed to increase the deployment of geothermal for power.
Read More.........
Indonesia: Three Day Geothermal Energy Conference - Discount Registration Ends 8 June
7th Indonesia International Geothermal Convention and Exhibition (IIGCE)
13-15 August, 2019, Jakarta Convention Center, Indonesia
13-15 August, 2019, Jakarta Convention Center, Indonesia
Global Geothermal News is proud to be a Media Partner and the Geothermal Resources Council an endorsing partner of this event.
Europe: Successful Combined Heat, Power and Metal Extraction Conference Held
CHPM2030 final conference, Delft (La Palma Research Center)
The CHPM2030 partners are going to meet again in Miskolc, Hungary, at the end of June, to conclude the project and wrap up the results.
The Combined Heat, Power and Metal extraction (CHPM) CHPM2030 final conference took place last week, in Delft, the Netherlands, within the framework of the EuroWorkshop “Geology and the energy transition”. The workshop was organised by the European Federation of Geologists, with the aim to provide insights on the energy transition and how it affects geosciences.
The CHPM2030 partners are going to meet again in Miskolc, Hungary, at the end of June, to conclude the project and wrap up the results.
Canada: GRC Member Talks About Potential for Geothermal Energy in Alberta
Highlighting Alberta’s first geothermal energy project (OMNY FM)
Terrapin Geothermics president Sean Collins - a GRC Member - discussed on 630 CHED (Edmonton, Alberta) the potential of geothermal in Alberta.
Listen to the audio......
From the Global Geothermal News archives:
Terrapin Geothermics president Sean Collins - a GRC Member - discussed on 630 CHED (Edmonton, Alberta) the potential of geothermal in Alberta.
Listen to the audio......
From the Global Geothermal News archives:
- Monday, March 18, 2019 - Canada: Potential for Geothermal Energy in Alberta - New Report
- Tuesday, November 27, 2018 - Canada: Interview with President of Geothermal and Waste Heat Company
- Monday, July 9, 2018 - Canada: Geothermal Energy Innovator Views a Positive Future for Geothermal Energy in Alberta
- Friday, November 4, 2016 - Canada: Method to Extract Geothermal Energy from Oil & Gas Wells
- Thursday, November 3, 2016 - Canada: Alberta Company Develops a Low Temperature Geothermal Engine to Exploit Hot Water from Abandoned Oil & Gas Wells
Science & Technology: Choosing the Optimal Working Fluid for ORC Geothermal Power Plants
Thermodynamic Selection of the Optimal Working Fluid for Organic Rankine Cycles (MDPI)
By Attila R. Imre, at al. Department of Energy Engineering, Budapest University of Technology and Economics
A novel method proposed to choose the optimal working fluid—solely from the point of view of expansion route—for a given heat source and heat sink (characterized by a maximum and minimum temperature). The basis of this method is the novel classification of working fluids using the sequences of their characteristic points on temperature-entropy space. The most suitable existing working fluid can be selected, where an ideal adiabatic (isentropic) expansion step between a given upper and lower temperature is possible in a way, that the initial and final states are both saturated vapour states and the ideal (isentropic) expansion line runs in the superheated (dry) vapour region all along the expansion.
Problems related to the presence of droplets or superheated dry steam in the final expansion state can be avoided or minimized by using the working fluid chosen with this method.
Results obtained with real materials are compared with those gained with model (van der Waals) fluids; based on the results obtained with model fluids, erroneous experimental data-sets can be pinpointed. Since most of the known working fluids have optimal expansion routes at low temperatures, presently the method is most suitable to choose working fluids for cryogenic cycles, applied for example for heat recovery during LNG-regasification.
Some of the materials, however, can be applied in ranges located at relatively higher temperatures, therefore the method can also be applied in some limited manner for the utilization of other low temperature heat sources (like geothermal or waste heat) as well.
Read More........
Thermodynamic Selection of the Optimal Working Fluid for Organic Rankine Cycles. By Attila R. Imre, Réka Kustán and Axel Groniewsky. Energies 2019, 12(10), 2028; https://doi.org/10.3390/en12102028
By Attila R. Imre, at al. Department of Energy Engineering, Budapest University of Technology and Economics
Problems related to the presence of droplets or superheated dry steam in the final expansion state can be avoided or minimized by using the working fluid chosen with this method.
Results obtained with real materials are compared with those gained with model (van der Waals) fluids; based on the results obtained with model fluids, erroneous experimental data-sets can be pinpointed. Since most of the known working fluids have optimal expansion routes at low temperatures, presently the method is most suitable to choose working fluids for cryogenic cycles, applied for example for heat recovery during LNG-regasification.
Some of the materials, however, can be applied in ranges located at relatively higher temperatures, therefore the method can also be applied in some limited manner for the utilization of other low temperature heat sources (like geothermal or waste heat) as well.
Read More........
Thermodynamic Selection of the Optimal Working Fluid for Organic Rankine Cycles. By Attila R. Imre, Réka Kustán and Axel Groniewsky. Energies 2019, 12(10), 2028; https://doi.org/10.3390/en12102028
USA, Hawaiʻi: Debate on the Re-Starting of Puna Geothermal Venture
Insights On PBS Hawaiʻi: Puna Geothermal Restart? (PBSHawaiiorg)
Kīlauea Volcano’s lava flow last year not only destroyed hundreds of homes and farms, it damaged and caused the shutdown of a geothermal plant that supplied 25 percent of the Big Island’s power needs. Puna Geothermal Venture intends to be back in the power business again by year-end. Critics question whether the cost of reopening is justified, versus the benefits of investing in other forms of renewable energy. Should Puna Geothermal Restart?
Kīlauea Volcano’s lava flow last year not only destroyed hundreds of homes and farms, it damaged and caused the shutdown of a geothermal plant that supplied 25 percent of the Big Island’s power needs. Puna Geothermal Venture intends to be back in the power business again by year-end. Critics question whether the cost of reopening is justified, versus the benefits of investing in other forms of renewable energy. Should Puna Geothermal Restart?
Austria: Third Well at Geothermal District Heating Project Successful
Groß-Geothermie: Weitere Bohrung erfolgreich, neue Anschlüsse möglich - Large geothermal energy: Further drilling successful, new connections possible (Nachrichten)
From the Global Geothermal News archives:
Die dritte Bohrung zur größten Geothermie Österreichs, in die bereits 59 Millionen Euro investiert wurden und die weite Teile Rieds und Mehrnbachs mit umweltfreundlicher Heizenergie versorgt, ist erfolgreich verlaufen – bei einem Pumpversuch zeigte sich, dass das Wasser aus mehr als 2000 Metern Tiefe mit mehr als 100 Grad gefördert werden kann.
(From Google Translate) The third well at Austria's largest geothermal energy project, which has already has 59 million euros invested and supplies large parts of Ried and Mehrnbach with environmentally friendly heat energy, has been successful. During a pumping test, the water from more than 2000 meters deep at more than 100 degrees was produced.
From the Global Geothermal News archives:
- Thursday, February 21, 2019 - Austria: Third Well to Supply Geothermal District Heating Project
- Tuesday, October 9, 2018 - Austria: Third Well at Reid Geothermal District Heating Project to be Drilled
- Tuesday, July 10, 2018 - Austria: Directional Controlled Vertical Geothermal Well to be Drilled up to 2750 Meters
Germany: Plans to Develop Geothermal District Heating Network in Hamburg Suburb
Hamburg setzt auf Wärme aus der Tiefe - Hamburg relies on heat from the deep (Welt)
An dem Geothermieprojekt arbeitet Hamburg Energie bereits seit zehn Jahren. „Die Geothermie mit Energiequellen in großen Tiefen hat nicht nur in Süddeutschland, sondern gerade auch in Norddeutschland ein großes Potenzial“, sagt Thomas-Tim Sävecke, Bereichsleiter Produktion bei Hamburg Energie. „Mit unserer Bohrung in 3500 Meter Tiefe wollen wir geothermische Hitze von 130 Grad ohne Wärmepumpe direkt nutzen. Im Zuge des Reallabors wollen wir hier auch einen Aquiferspeicher errichten, der über 20 Gigawatt Stunden Speicherkapazität hat, mit einer Einspeicherleistung von acht Megawatt und einer Entnahmeleistung von fünf bis sechs Megawatt.“
(From Google Translate) Hamburg Energie has been working on the geothermal project for ten years. "Geothermal energy with energy sources at great depths has great potential, not only in southern Germany, but especially in Northern Germany," says Thomas-Tim Sävecke, Head of Production at Hamburg Energie. "With our drilling at 3500 meters depth, we want to use geothermal heat of 130 degrees directly without a heat pump. In the course of the real laboratory, we also want to build an aquifer storage facility with over 20 gigawatt storage capacity, with an injection capacity of eight megawatts and an extraction capacity of five to six megawatts."
United Kingdom: Renewable Energy Auction to Kick-Off Tomorrow
Start gun primed for CfD3 (reNews)
Renewables developers prepare for the UK’s third Contracts for Difference auction which kicks off tomorrow
UK Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS) will launch the third Contracts for Difference allocation round for new renewable energy projects on 29 May.
Developers of so-called Pot 2 technologies, including geothermal, offshore wind, remote islands wind and wave and tidal, will have until 18 June to submit a project application.
Applications will be assessed until 9 July, after which any non-qualifying applicants can appeal. The earliest the week-long CfD3 sealed bid window can open is 19 July and the latest is 9 October, depending on the length of any appeals process.
The first possible publication date of the auction results is 18 August with the latest being 4 November.
Read More.........
Renewables developers prepare for the UK’s third Contracts for Difference auction which kicks off tomorrow
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| (Courtesy CIA.gov) |
Developers of so-called Pot 2 technologies, including geothermal, offshore wind, remote islands wind and wave and tidal, will have until 18 June to submit a project application.
Applications will be assessed until 9 July, after which any non-qualifying applicants can appeal. The earliest the week-long CfD3 sealed bid window can open is 19 July and the latest is 9 October, depending on the length of any appeals process.
The first possible publication date of the auction results is 18 August with the latest being 4 November.
Read More.........
Ethiopia: Exploration Drilling for Corbetti and Tulu Moye Geothermal Power Projects to Start in in September
The $4.4 Billion Energy Plan for Ethiopia (Bloomberg)
Reykjavik Geothermal (RG), a power developer backed by hedge fund billionaire Paul Tudor Jones II, is about to kick off a $4.4 billion project to bring volcanic energy to Ethiopia.
Tapping long-built Icelandic expertise in channeling volcanic power, the developer is preparing to start exploration drilling in September for two 500-megawatt plants in Corbetti and Tulu Moye, south of the capital Addis Ababa. At full-scale, each project would become the largest independent power producer in Africa, according to RG.
The Reykjavik-based company’s exploration teams have picked spots to drill where they can see steam rising from the ground. “All the results from the surface exploration work indicate that we are developing projects in a huge caldera, huge active volcanoes which can sustain at least 1,000 megawatts or more,” Gunnar Orn Gunnarsson, RG’s chief operating officer, said in an interview in Reykjavik.
From the Global Geothermal News archives:
- Monday, October 29, 2018 - Ethiopia: Contract Signed to Develop 50 MW Tulu Moye Geothermal Power Plant
- Tuesday, September 4, 2018 - Ethiopia: 520 MW Tulu Moye Geothermal Project Moves Ahead
- Friday, August 24, 2018 - Ethiopia: USTDA to Support Development of First 50 MW at Tulu Moye Geothermal Project
- Wednesday, December 2, 2015 - Ethiopia: Reykjavík Geothermal Awarded $1 Million for Exploration at Tulu-Moye Geothermal Prospect
Friday, May 24, 2019
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.
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.
New Zealand: Well Known Geologist from the Geothermal Field Passes
George Grindley: The most outstanding exploration geologist of his generation (stuff)
George Grindley also played a major role in the exploration and development of geothermal energy in New Zealand, including the first hot water geothermal field to be developed for electricity production in the world, at Wairakei.
He recognised the importance of active faults in siting new drill holes. He also worked on geothermal development projects overseas, including in Mexico and the Philippines. Once, during field work near hot springs, he stepped into a boiling mud pool severely burning his leg. But such incidents did not deter him from further work in geothermal areas.
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George William Grindley BSc, MSc, FRSNZ, DSc; b October 22, 1925, in Dunedin; d February 12, 2019, Lower Hutt
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| George Grindley |
He recognised the importance of active faults in siting new drill holes. He also worked on geothermal development projects overseas, including in Mexico and the Philippines. Once, during field work near hot springs, he stepped into a boiling mud pool severely burning his leg. But such incidents did not deter him from further work in geothermal areas.
Read More.........
Netherlands: TU Delft to Work More With GFZ on Geothermal Energy Research
Cooperation with German GFZ further strengthens geothermal research TU Delft (TU Delft)
During a working visit of King Willem Alexander and Queen Maxima to the German state of Brandenburg, TU Delft and the German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ) signed a memorandum of understanding concerning research into geothermal energy.
The agreement between GFZ and the TU Delft concerns a long-term strategic cooperation, among other things in the fields of geothermal energy, heat storage and further underground storage possibilities. This also includes access to the GFZ's Groß Schönebeck geothermal research platform and to the research facilities of the faculty of Civil Engineering and Geosciences of TU Delft. The GFZ and TU Delft have been working together for more than six years. This new agreement consolidates the cooperation and will further integrate and strengthen European research on the energy transition.
Thursday, May 23, 2019
Science & Technology: The Case for Considering Evolving Risk in Enhanced Geothermal System Drilling
Lessons from Pohang: A Stanford geophysicist discusses geothermal energy’s earthquake problem – and possible solutions (Stanford News)
Stanford geophysicist William Ellsworth is among a group of scientists, including Kang-Kun Lee of Seoul National University, who published a perspective piece May 24 in Science outlining lessons from Pohang’s failure.
What would a better approach look like? The potential for a runaway or triggered earthquake always has to be considered. And it’s important to consider it through the lens of evolving risk rather than hazard. Hazard is a potential source of harm or danger. Risk is the possibility of loss caused by harm or danger. Think of it this way: An earthquake as large as Pohang poses the same hazard whether it strikes in a densely populated city or an uninhabited desert. But the risk is very much higher in the city.
The probability of a serious event may be small, but it needs to be acknowledged and factored into decisions. Maybe you would decide that this is not such a good idea at all.
For example, if there’s a possibility of a magnitude 5.0 earthquake before the project starts, then you can estimate the damages and injuries that might be expected. If we can assign a probability to earthquakes of different magnitudes, then civil authorities can decide whether or not they want to accept the risk and under what terms.
As the project proceeds, those conversations need to continue. If a fault ends up being activated and the chance of a damaging earthquake increases, civil authorities and project managers might say, “we’re done.”
Education: Deadline Extended for Geothermal Scholarships
2019 GRC Scholarships Application Deadline Extended! (News Release)
The Geothermal Resources Council (GRC) has extended the application window for the 2019 GRC Scholarship Awards until May 31, 2019.
To qualify for any of these awards a student must be a GRC member (student memberships are only $20 per year). Selection of recipients will be based upon a variety of factors, including the individual’s academic record, student activities, geothermal industry experience, and career goals.
More Information..........
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| John Grill, Estefanía Ramírez Restrepo and Yuran Zhang received their awards at last year's GRC Annual Meeting & Expo. |
To qualify for any of these awards a student must be a GRC member (student memberships are only $20 per year). Selection of recipients will be based upon a variety of factors, including the individual’s academic record, student activities, geothermal industry experience, and career goals.
More Information..........
Indonesia: Five Geothermal Working Areas to be Auctioned in July
PGE Dapat Penugasan Kelola WKP Kotamobagu - PGE Obtains Kotamobagu WKP Assignment (Dunia-Energi)
Direktorat Jenderal Energi Baru Terbarukan dan Konservasi Energi (EBTKE) Kementerian Energi dan Sumber Daya Mineral (ESDM) berencana melakukan lelang lima Wilayah Kerja Panas bumi (WKP) pada Juli 2019.
Ida Nuryatin Finahari, Direktur Panas Bumi Ditjen EBTKE Kementerian ESDM, mengatakan lima WKP yang akan dilelang antara lain Laniea di Sulawesi dengan kapasitas 66 Megawatt (MW), Sembulan di Nusa Tenggara Timur (NTT) berkapasitas 100 MW, Telaga Ranu di Maluku Utara dengan kapasitas 85 MW. Kemudian, Kotamobagu di Sulawesi Utara kapasitasnya 410 MW serta Bora di Palu, Sulawesi Tengah dengan kapasitas 123 MW.
(From Google Translate) The Directorate General of Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation (EBTKE) of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) plans to conduct an auction of five Geothermal Working Areas (WKP) in July 2019.
Ida Nuryatin Finahari, Director of Geothermal Directorate General of EBTKE of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, said five WKPs to be auctioned include Laniea in Sulawesi with a capacity of 66 Megawatts (MW), Sembulan in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) with a capacity of 100 MW, Telaga Ranu in North Maluku with capacity 85 MW. Then, Kotamobagu in North Sulawesi has a capacity of 410 MW and Bora in Palu, Central Sulawesi with a capacity of 123 MW.
Baca lebih lajut......... Read More.........
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| (Courtesy CIA.gov) |
Ida Nuryatin Finahari, Direktur Panas Bumi Ditjen EBTKE Kementerian ESDM, mengatakan lima WKP yang akan dilelang antara lain Laniea di Sulawesi dengan kapasitas 66 Megawatt (MW), Sembulan di Nusa Tenggara Timur (NTT) berkapasitas 100 MW, Telaga Ranu di Maluku Utara dengan kapasitas 85 MW. Kemudian, Kotamobagu di Sulawesi Utara kapasitasnya 410 MW serta Bora di Palu, Sulawesi Tengah dengan kapasitas 123 MW.
Ida Nuryatin Finahari, Director of Geothermal Directorate General of EBTKE of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, said five WKPs to be auctioned include Laniea in Sulawesi with a capacity of 66 Megawatts (MW), Sembulan in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) with a capacity of 100 MW, Telaga Ranu in North Maluku with capacity 85 MW. Then, Kotamobagu in North Sulawesi has a capacity of 410 MW and Bora in Palu, Central Sulawesi with a capacity of 123 MW.
Baca lebih lajut......... Read More.........
Europe: EU Wants to Set Renewable Energy Target of at Least 32% by 2030
Joint Position: Renewable energy associations’ joint messages on the draft National Energy and Climate Plans (EGEC)
The Clean Energy Package sets a renewable energy target of at least 32% by 2030. For investors, this target is the minimum to keep momentum going in the fast-growing sector that is the renewable energy industry. Meeting this target is necessary for Europe to reap the economic benefits resulting from a clean and efficient energy system by 2050. This will strengthen European competitiveness at the global level boosting domestic jobs and growth.
Science & Technology: Video on Geothermal Energy from Enel Green Power
Natural power from beneath your feet (Enel)
It’s one of the oldest sources of renewable energy in the world. Enel Green Power’s geothermal power plant Larderello, in Tuscany, powers its local community and even supports a brewery to make eco-friendly beer. It’s also a hotbed of innovation as Enel Green Power develops new initiatives to produce more clean electricity.
Enel - Full from Programme Partnerships on Vimeo.
(Video 3:39 Minutes)
It’s one of the oldest sources of renewable energy in the world. Enel Green Power’s geothermal power plant Larderello, in Tuscany, powers its local community and even supports a brewery to make eco-friendly beer. It’s also a hotbed of innovation as Enel Green Power develops new initiatives to produce more clean electricity.
Enel - Full from Programme Partnerships on Vimeo.
(Video 3:39 Minutes)
Climate Change: “To guarantee 100 percent emissions reductions from renewable energy, power consumption needs to be matched with renewable generation on an hourly basis”
100% renewables doesn’t equal zero-carbon energy, and the difference is growing (Stanford Energy)
While 160 companies around the world have committed to use “100 percent renewable energy,” that does not mean “100 percent carbon-free energy.” The difference will grow as power grids become less reliant on fossil power, according to a new Stanford study published today in Joule. Entities committed to fighting climate change can and should measure the environmental benefits of their renewable strategies accurately, the authors write.
Current methods of estimating greenhouse gas emissions use yearly averages, even though the carbon content of electricity on the grid can vary a lot over the course of a day in some locations. By 2025, the use of yearly averages in California could overstate the greenhouse gas reductions associated with solar power by more than 50 percent when compared to hourly averages, the paper shows. One finding of this analysis is that wind power – not solar – needs to be the next wave of investments for California. Similar analyses could suggest different options like nuclear power, geothermal energy, and long-range transmission in other locations.
“To guarantee 100 percent emissions reductions from renewable energy, power consumption needs to be matched with renewable generation on an hourly basis,” said Sally Benson, co-author of the paper and co-director of the Precourt Institute for Energy.
Read More.........
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| The carbon intensity of the grid varies throughout the day, a phenomenon that will increase in many locations over time as renewable generation increases. (Credit: Jacques de Chalendar) |
Current methods of estimating greenhouse gas emissions use yearly averages, even though the carbon content of electricity on the grid can vary a lot over the course of a day in some locations. By 2025, the use of yearly averages in California could overstate the greenhouse gas reductions associated with solar power by more than 50 percent when compared to hourly averages, the paper shows. One finding of this analysis is that wind power – not solar – needs to be the next wave of investments for California. Similar analyses could suggest different options like nuclear power, geothermal energy, and long-range transmission in other locations.
“To guarantee 100 percent emissions reductions from renewable energy, power consumption needs to be matched with renewable generation on an hourly basis,” said Sally Benson, co-author of the paper and co-director of the Precourt Institute for Energy.
Read More.........
Germany: Munich Geothermal District Heating Network Expands
München zapft das Umland an - Munich taps the surrounding area (Süddeutsche Zeitung)
Die Stadtwerke München (SWM) machen sich daran, die drei Geothermie-Kraftwerke in Sauerlach, Dürrnhaar und Kirchstockach so auszubauen, dass von dort Tausende Haushalte innerhalb und außerhalb der Stadt mit Fernwärme versorgt werden können. Mit diesem Ziel vor Augen haben sich die Stadtwerke beim bayerischen Wirtschaftsministerium im Claim mit dem Namen "München Südost" die Erlaubnis gesichert, in einem bis weit in die Landkreise Miesbach, Rosenheim und Bad Tölz-Wolfratshausen hineinreichenden Gebiet den Untergrund genauer durchsuchen zu dürfen. Dies soll mit Hilfe seismischer Messungen geschehen. Die Stadtwerke knüpfen an einem Fernwärmenetz im Raum Ottobrunn und Hohenbrunn. Es soll erst der Anfang sein.
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| Ducks at the Schäftlarnstraße Drill Site in Munich, Germany. By David Lentsch. GRC Photo Contest 2018. |
(From Google Translate) Stadtwerke München (SWM) is working on expanding the three geothermal power plants in Sauerlach, Dürrnhaar and Kirchstockach so that thousands of households inside and outside the city can be provided with district heating. With this goal in mind, the municipal utilities have secured the Bavarian Ministry of Economic Affairs's "Munich Südost" permit to allow them to search the area more closely in an area extending far into the districts of Miesbach, Rosenheim and Bad Tölz-Wolfratshausen. This should be done with the help of seismic measurements. Stadtwerke is building a district heating network in the Ottobrunn and Hohenbrunn areas. It should be just the beginning.
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