Message from the GRC Executive Director: June 2020

The geothermal industry can play a significant, and possibly even healing role, by offering solutions to some of these big-picture geopolitical circumstances.

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Geothermal Power Purchase Agreements on the Rise

Solar and wind power are on the rise, but what do populations do when the sun sets? The beginning of 2020 ushered in a wave of Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) for geothermal energy as a solution.
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Steamboat Hills Geothermal Power Plant Enhancement in Nevada Begins Commercial Operation (GLOBE NEWSWIRE)

Ormat Technologies Inc. announced that the enhancement of its Steamboat Hills geothermal power plant located near Reno, Nevada is complete and achieved commercial operation on June 6, 2020. 

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The Value of Geothermal in California

Alora Bartosz and Paul Thomsen from Ormat Technologies Inc. discuss geothermal's economic value over the life of long-term purchase agreements. The value remains competitive as California and the region move to higher penetrations of renewable energy.

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In Memoriam

G. Martin Booth, III, co-founder and President of Geothermal Development Associates (GDA) for nearly 41 years, has passed away at the age of 85.
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Sprinkled Like Paprika, The Thermal Waters of Hungary

Sue Hodgson gives a colorful, yet detailed account of the geothermal resources of Hungary -- from its history to the culture surrounding it, to how its people are utilizing it today.
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GRC and Earth Science Week

GRC has been asked to provide an additional 10,000 copies of our Geothermal Energy Educational Poster, to be included in this year's school educational packets, as part of the Earth Science Week Toolkit.

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Message from the GRC President: June 2020

We can’t erase COVID, feed all the world’s hungry, or quickly silence the vulgarities that apparently now pass for political speech. But we can stay true to our principles, do our jobs, be good to one another, and lead by example.

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Geothermal Energy Capacity Set for Strong Growth in Europe (Renewables Now)

Geothermal energy capacity, both for electricity and heating/cooling, is set for robust growth in Europe in the coming years if favourable policy framework is in place, according to a market report released earlier this week.

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MIT-Born Quaise Raises $6 Million in Round Led by the Engine to Access Geothermal Energy (Pulse 2.0)

Quaise, a company that is pioneering millimeter-wave drilling technology for accessing deep geothermal energy, announced it raised $6 million in a seed round of funding. This round of funding was led by The Engine — which is a venture firm that had spun out of MIT.

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The 2020 Annual Meeting Technical Program is Going to be Better than Ever!

With the deadline for submissions having closed on May 27, we received more than 150 papers and posters for the GRC Annual Meeting and Expo being held on October 18-21, 2020. These excellent submissions span a wide range of topics of interest to the global geothermal industry and renewable energy policymakers.

With major advances in Europe to use renewable resources for space heating, and the U.S. following closely behind, our hottest topic this year is direct use, district heating and heat pumps. To maintain equilibrium, the Superhot session will explore the other end of the temperature spectrum. We will explore these topics further in a panel discussion of pathways and policies toward the wider application of direct use geothermal heat, and a pre-conference short course on heat pump technology.

A first for this year, more than a dozen papers will discuss the use of machine learning in resource exploration and power plant operation. Exploration in Canada has really taken off in the last few years, and these results will be reported in the special session Geothermal in Canada – Moving Forward! A special session entitled Advanced Materials for Drilling and Completion will primarily explore advances in geothermal cement and cementing technology – does this spell the beginning of the end for the OG Portland cement?

Our special sessions will mix with our essential topics, including exploration and resource assessment, geology, geophysics and reservoir engineering, country updates for the U.S., Uganda, and Turkey, and some interesting finance and policy discussions.

Will Osborn

2020 Technical Program Co-Chair

Indonesia to Get $300M Loan for Two Geothermal Plants in Java (GCR)

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) will lend Indonesia $300m to help expand its geothermal power generation capacity by 110 megawatts in Java, the country’s largest electricity grid.

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Geothermal Industry Wants Piece of Green Deal Recovery Package (Renewables Now)

The European Geothermal Energy Council (EGEC) has asked for the geothermal industry to be included in EU's Green Deal Recovery plan.

In a letter to Frans Timmermans, executive vice-president for the Green Deal, and Kadri Simson, Commissioner for Energy, the Belgium-based non-profit organisation said the package should encourage investment in all renewable energy sectors.

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