Kenya: Menengai Geothermal Steam Used for Drying Cereals

Geothermal firm instals Africa’s first steam cereals dryer (The Star)

Geothermal Development Company (GDC) has installed the first facility in Africa that uses steam to dry cereals.

The semi-commercial dryer at the Menengai Geothermal project has the capacity to dry 20 tonnes of cereals per day. It was funded by the Icelandic International Development Agency.

GDC managing director Johnson ole Nchoe said the corporation will pilot the viability of the drier and then scale it up for commercialisation. Nchoe invited the private sector to consider venturing into direct uses of geothermal energy, arguing it helps to cut costs of energy and reduces emissions.

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USA, Washington DC: American Energy Innovation Act Would Boost Geothermal Energy Development

Murkowski, Manchin Introduce American Energy Innovation Act (Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee)

After a full year of hearings, business meetings, and bipartisan negotiations, U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, and Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., today released the text of their energy innovation package.

The American Energy Innovation Act (AEIA) will modernize domestic energy laws to ensure the United States remains a global energy leader while also strengthening national security, increasing our international competitiveness, and investing in clean energy technologies.

Section 1203. Advanced Geothermal Innovation Leadership.

Section 1203 directs the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) to

• update its geothermal resource assessment; 
• establishes a program to transfer and adapt key oil and gas technologies for geothermal development; 
• creates a prize competition for the production of critical minerals from geothermal brines; 
• expands research into enhanced geothermal systems; 
• establishes a research program for heat pumps and direct use; 
• defines the thermal component of geothermal energy as renewable;
• reauthorizes DOE’s geothermal R&D program for five years; 
• reauthorizes a program for geothermal development in locations with high utility prices; 
• directs the Secretaries of the Interior, Energy, and Agriculture to establish national goals for geothermal development; 
• allows noncompetitive leasing for geothermal energy on federal lands if it will be coproduced from an existing oil or gas well; 
• provides for expedited geothermal energy exploration on public lands under certain strict, environmentally protective parameters; and 
• directs the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to coordinate with the Forest Service, Department of Defense, and EPA on permit processing. 

For the full bill text, please click here. For a high-level summary, please click here. For a section-by-section, please click here.

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Australia: Geothermal Doublet Provides 2.6 MWth for Aquatic Center

Drilling Completed for Gippsland Aquatic Center Geothermal Heating Project (Rockwater PTY)

Rockwater, of Jolimont, Western Australia, has announced that the drilling and construction phase of a major new geothermal project in Traralgon has been completed. Rockwater designed, supervised and commissioned the geothermal bore duplet for the Latrobe City Council’s (LCC)’s Gippsland Regional Aquatic Centre (GRAC).

The 630 m production bore and 610 m injection bore were drilled by local drilling contractor Drilltec Pty Ltd. Geothermal temperatures (68 degree Celsius) exceeded expectations and will provide low-cost and low-carbon pool-water heating and space heating (about 2.6 MW) for the GRAC facility.

Read More.........

From the Global Geothermal News archives:

• Monday, December 16, 2019 - Australia: 65 Degree Celsius Geothermal Waters from 620 Meter Well to Heat Aquatic Center
• Monday, October 17, 2016 - Australia: Geothermal Energy Touted for Victoria

Spain: One Hundred Degree Celsius Geothermal Waters from 1,200 Meters Deep to Heat Greenhouse Project

Níjar contará con la primera planta de geotermia para cultivos de invernadero - Níjar will have the first geothermal plant for greenhouse crops (La Voz de Almeria)

Según el gerente de la Cardial compañía, Carlos Díaz, esta agua que aflora desde los 1.200 metros de profundidad con una temperatura media de 100 grados centígrados, permitirá atender una demanda inicial de 14 hectáreas de cultivos bajo plástico y en un segundo sondeo prevé duplicar esa capacidad.

(From Google Translate) According to the manager of the Cardial Company, Carlos Díaz, the water that emerges from 1,200 meters deep at an average temperature of 100 degrees Celsius, will allow the company to meet an initial demand for 14 hectares of crops under plastic and after a second survey forecasts to double that capacity .

Read More..........                            Lee mas..........

Canada: Geothermal District Heating and Direct Use Network Recommended for Abandoned Potash Mine

Geothermal Potential for Sussex Region Powerful (Town of Sussex)

An exhaustive study into the flooded depths of the decommissioned potash mine in Penobsquis has revealed an exciting opportunity to produce geothermal energy for the Sussex area.

It's been three years in the making, a process necessary to uncover the true viability of developing a lower cost, carbon-friendly heating and cooling source that has the potential to grow a region recovering from the loss of its potash mining activity, says Bill Thompson. 

The study concludes the potential is very real, and would take an investment of about $14.4 million. With the savings in heating and cooling costs, it could pay for itself in just under 10 years.

After modelling 20 geothermal scenarios, Vernon Banks, senior hydrogeologist and project manager with Wood Environment & Infrastructure Solutions, determined an open loop system has the most potential. In that process water would be pumped to the surface, run through heat pumps to generate heating and cooling power, and then return below ground after use. The cost savings would be between 40-60 per cent, Thompson pointed out, which in businesses like hatcheries or those that run greenhouses for everything from cannabis to hot house tomatoes, the savings translates into big money.

Read More.........

• Final Report Phase II Study Results
• Read the results of the Phase I Study here

From the Global Geothermal News archives:

• Friday, October 4, 2019 - Canada: Using an Abandoned New Brunswick Mine for Geothermal District Heating
• Thursday, March 22, 2018 - Canada: Abandoned New Brunswick Mine to Provide Geothermal Heating and Cooling for Community

Switzerland: Geothermal Heat to Help Expand District Heating Network in Davos

La géothermie à moyenne profondeur à Davos – un schéma pour l’espace alpin ? - Medium-depth geothermal energy in Davos - a blueprint for the Alps? (Geothermie Suisse)

La commune de Davos mise sur l’énergie indigène et renouvelable ainsi que sur l’efficacité énergétique. Une part importante de la stratégie politique en matière d’énergie est l’utilisation accrue de la géothermie. Dans ce but, Davos, en sa qualité de Cité de l’énergie, a déjà lancé un projet pilote voilà une dizaine d’années. Les enseignements tirés lors de cette décennie sont désormais disponibles sous forme de rapport.

(From Google Translate) The municipality of Davos relies on indigenous and renewable energy as well as energy efficiency. An important part of the political energy strategy is the increased use of geothermal energy. To this end, Davos, as the City of Energy, already launched a pilot project some ten years ago.The lessons learned during this decade are now available in the form of a report.

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Poland: 12 MWth Geothermal District Heating Network Provides 30% of Heat for Stargard Municipality

Geotermia może dać plus. Stargard pokazuje, jak to się robi - Geothermal energy can give a plus. Stargard shows how to do it (Portal Samorzadowy)

Rozmawiamy z Arkadiuszem Biedulskim, prezesem zarządu G-Term Geotermia Stargard, wiceprezesem Polskiego Stowarzyszenia Geotermicznego. Geotermia Stargard jest drugą największą ciepłownią geotermalną w Polsce, jedną z dwóch sprzedających wyłącznie ciepło geotermalne. Roczna produkcja ciepła wynosi ok. 200 tys. GJ i pokrywa ponad 30 proc. zapotrzebowania sieci miejskiej. W przyszłości będzie to 70 proc.

(From Google Translate) We talk to Arkadiusz Biedulski, president of the board of G-Term Geotermia Stargard, vice president of the Polish Geothermal Association. Geothermal Stargard is the second largest geothermal heating plant in Poland, one of two selling only geothermal heat. The annual heat production is about 200 thousand GJ and covers over 30 percent urban network demand. In the future it will be 70 percent.

Czytaj więcej...........                            Read More...........

Mexico: Food Company Launched Using Geothermal Heat to Dehydrate Product

GeoFood - Using Geothermal Energy to Dehydrate Food

(From Google translate) Geo Food is the only brand in Mexico that uses geothermal energy to dehydrate food. Five Mexican energy engineer specialists built a food dehydrator that uses geothermal energy to dehydrate fruits and vegetables, giving producers a new opportunity to market their product before it is lost.

The Geothermal Food Dehydrator system, DGA 200, which Geo Food operates, is located in the community of San Pedro Lagunillas, in the state of Nayarit, Mexico; it takes advantage of heat from the nearby the Dragon Group geothermal power plant.

Hot water is diverted from one of the vapor-ducts to the DGA 200 system. The heat of the water is used to heat air which gradually removes moisture from the food.

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From the Global Geothermal News archives;

• Friday, December 21, 2018 - Mexico: First Geothermal Food Dehydrator Created
• Friday, October 23, 2015 - Mexico: Exciting Geothermal Research Projects from UNAM

China: New Geothermal District Heating Network Launched in Shaanxi Province

Geothermal heating system activated in China (Energy Global)

A non-interference geothermal heating system has been activated at the Western China Science & Technology Innovation Harbour in Fengxi New City, Xixian New Area, Shaanxi Province, according to the Party Committee of Fengxi New City, China.

Six of these integrated energy supply stations will be providing heating, cooling and hot water for buildings totalling 1.59 million square m to meet the energy needs of Xi'an Jiaotong University's 25,000 researchers and 10,000 faculty members in the Innovation Harbour.

The project utilises non-interference geothermal heating technology and medium-deep geothermal energy to provide a clean heat source. Using metal conduit and a heat exchange medium, heat (but not water) is taken from deep underground (two to three km in depth) where there are stores of geothermal energy at a temperature of 70°C – 120°C.

Compared with conventional coal-fired boilers this geothermal technology can reduce CO² emissions by 68,000 tpy and other emissions such as sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxide by 850 tpy.

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United Kingdom: Webinar on Geothermal Heat from Abandoned Coal Mines in Scotland

Minewater Geothermal in Scotland: An international opportunity (Scottish Enterprise)

Wednesday, January 29, 2020. 6:00 AM - 7:30 AM PST

The decarbonisation of heat in Scotland is a major opportunity for international trade and inward investment. Heat currently accounts for 52% of Scotland’s energy demand and 41% (indicative) of carbon emissions. As a result, meeting the target to reach zero by 2045 will be largely dependent in progress on decarbonising heat. By 2032, the Scottish Government target is for 35% of heat for domestic buildings and 70% of heat and cooling for non-domestic buildings to be supplied using low carbon heat technologies, where technically feasible.The combination of high heat consumption (as a proportion of total nation energy consumption) and highly ambitious greenhouse gas targets means that Scotland has an earlier and greater need for low carbon heating solutions than other countries.

Minewater geothermal is potentially a crucial technology for the decarbonisation of Scotland's heat supply. 600km3 of flooded mineworkings sit under Scotland's populated Central Belt region, potentially providing between 8-40% of national heat demand.

This webinar will provide an overview of Scotland's net zero ambitions, introduce a world leading geothermal testing facility in Glasgow, and provide an overview of Scotland's unique minewater geothermal investment opportunity.

The following speakers are confirmed:

• Andy McDonald, Head of Low Carbon at Scottish Enterprise
• Professor Zoe Shipton, Professor of Geological Engineering at the University of Strathclyde
• Dr Alison Monaghan, Geologist at the British Geological Survey

Register...........

Netherlands: Geofood Project Researches Use of Geothermal Heat for Greenhouse and Fish Farming

Research into the combination of geothermal heat, lettuce cultivation and fish farming started (WUR)

Under great interest the project Geofood has been started. The aim of Geofood is to investigate whether geothermal heating can not only be used to heat greenhouses, but also to breed fish.

Geofood is a collaboration between the Business Unit Greenhouse Horticulture of Wageningen University & Research (WUR) and partners from Iceland, Slovenia and the Netherlands.

To validate this model, an advanced fish farming system was installed at WUR in Bleiswijk in early 2019. It is a so-called recirculating aquaculture system (RAS). The largest tanks in this system contain around 10,000 liters of water containing thousands of fish.

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Iceland: Fish Farming Plant Powered by Geothermal Heat Opens

Iceland’s largest aquaculture centre opens (Fish Farmer Magazine)

(Courtesy Arctic Fish)

A huge new aquaculture breeding and hatchery centre has opened for business in the west of Iceland, on a remote fjord more than 250 miles from the capital Reykjavik.

The £25 million (ISK 4 billion) Arctic Fish owned facility covers 10,000 square metres near the small fishing harbour of Tálknafjörður, where the company is currently engaged in a major expansion of its salmon farming operations.

Managing director of the centre, Sigurður Pétursson, told an audience at the opening ceremony that the plant uses geothermal heat and was the only water recovery operation of its type in the world.

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United Kingdom: Eden Geothermal Project Has New Website

New Website for The Eden Geothermal Project -

https://www.edengeothermal.com/

New Zealand: Ngāwhā Geothermal Power Station to Jump Start Innovation and Enterprise Park

Ngāwhā business park could create more than 500 jobs, Far North Holdings says (New Zealand Herald)

Glasshouse horticulture, graphite production, timber drying, house construction, honey, native leaf teas and manuka oil extraction are among the industries which have so far shown interest in a proposed industrial park near Kaikohe.

Council-owned company Far North Holdings (FNH) is developing plans for Ngāwhā Innovation and Enterprise Park on what is currently a dairy farm near Ngāwhā Springs, and says it could create more than 500 jobs.

The park's location is across State Highway 12 from a geothermal power station being built by Top Energy and due to start producing electricity in mid-2020. Low-cost power direct from the new plant is one of the attractions touted for the industrial park.

Read More.........

From the Global Geothermal News archives:

• Thursday, March 21, 2019 - New Zealand: 28 MW Expansion of Ngāwhā Geothermal Power Station to be Completed by October 2020
• Friday, March 15, 2019 - New Zealand: Proposed Innovation and Enterprise Park Would Expand Use of Geothermal Resource
• Monday, September 24, 2018 - New Zealand: Testing Begins at 28 MW Ngāwhā Geothermal Power Plant Extension Project
• Thursday, May 10, 2018 - New Zealand: Drilling for 28 MW Extension of Ngāwhā Geothermal Power Station to Resume
• Thursday, May 16, 2013 - New Zealand: Ngāwhā's Geothermal Power Plant Expansion Promises Economic Boost

United Kingdom: Employment Opportunity Exploring Innovative Uses of Geothermal Energy in Abandoned Coal Mines

Vacancy: Hydrogeologist - Mine Energy (The Coal Authority)

Salary: £30,283 - £42,160
Deadline: 1 November, 2019

Do you want to be part of a team exploring cutting edge technology and the innovative uses of geothermal energy in abandoned coal mines?

Our Innovation team are moving forward with a mine energy programme which has the potential to heat 180 million homes across the UK. Mine water could be a real contribution helping the UK achieve its ambitious target of net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

Working as a hydrogeologist in this team, you'll be developing knowledge of underground mine water levels, mine gasses and thermal behaviours throughout the coalfields of UK. We'll use this data to advance commercial opportunities related` to water, geothermal energy, energy storage and cooling.

More Information and Apply.......

Kenya: Opportunity to Advise on Geothermal Industrial Park at Naivasha

RFP-Geothermal Industrial Park Technical Assessment (USEA)

• Closing date of RFP: Friday, November 1, 2019
• Implementing Organization: United States Energy Association
• Funding Agency: United States Agency for International Development

The Oserian site at Naivasha. (Courtesy Osarian)

The United States Energy Association (USEA) is inviting prospective organizations or individuals through this Request for Proposal (RFP) to submit proposals for a technical and economic assessment of a planned industrial park. This is an activity implemented by USEA, funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) as part of the Power Africa Initiative.

This RFP seeks proposals for a technical and economic assessment of Oserian’s planned industrial park. Oserian’s goal for their industrial park is to meet their clients’ energy demands fully with 100% renewables including geothermal, solar and pumped hydro storage.

Proposals are due by 17:00 hours EST of the closing date. Please forward your proposal in soft copy (PDF form) to Ms. Ashley Ndir, Senior Program Coordinator, at andir@usea.org

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United Kingdom: Southampton Geothermal Heating Company Connects to Local Sports Center

ENGIE secures Solent University Sports Complex deal (News Release)

Solent University’s new sports complex has been successfully connected to Southampton Geothermal Heating Company’s (SGHC) pioneering district energy scheme after signing a £2.8 million deal with energy and services specialist, ENGIE, over the next 20 years.

The SGHC is a working partnership between ENGIE and Southampton City Council, launching more than 30 years ago.  The scheme supplies heat, chilled water and electricity to commercial and residential energy users across Southampton – currently serving a 2km radius of the energy centre.

Users already included TV studios, a hospital, shopping centre, student accommodation, residential buildings and hotels; with Solent University tasking ENGIE with the implementation of a new heating connection which would link up existing assets, as well as a new state-of-the-art sports centre. 

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Netherlands: New Data Made Available for Ultra Deep Geothermal Energy Resources

Five new SCAN studies for ultra deep geothermal heat (Scan Aardwarmte)

In September, several research studies were completed and five research reports published. These studies are primarily focused on Ultra Deep Geothermal Energy (UDG). This concerns geothermal heat with a temperature of 120 degrees Celsius or more found in the Dutch subsurface at depths of 4 kilometers or more.

Geothermal heat with these high temperatures can be used in various industrial processes and, as residual heat, for heating the built environment.

Limestone layers from the Dinantien, from the so-called Lower Carboniferous period, may possibly serve as a source for UDG. Because these layers are quite deep in the Dutch subsurface, few drillings have been done and there is limited seismic data available. As a result, there is great uncertainty up to now for this form of geothermal energy extraction. That is why SCAN carries out 12 research studies focused on these deep layers and on the suitability for UDG.

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United Kingdom: Penzance Lido Makes a Comeback! Thanks to Geothermal

Seeking New Energy, an English Town Digs Deep (The New York Times)

The county of Cornwall hopes that tapping an underground rock formation will bring electricity, economic stimulus and year-round swimming.

Five years ago.... the Art Deco pool was run down after decades of neglect and a major winter storm that struck the southwestern English coast in 2014.

Now it’s tapping an energy source that its creators hope will give new life to the county of Cornwall. By next year, despite some snags, the pool is expected to be available year-round, and a new geothermal plant nearby could provide a fresh source of electricity for a region that has suffered economic decline.

Now, on a small patch of land adjacent to the pool, a bore hole has been drilled into the rock on which the lido is built. Starting next year, it is expected to provide geothermal energy to help heat the lido’s new wintertime section, allowing locals to swim in any weather.

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Canada: Using an Abandoned New Brunswick Mine for Geothermal District Heating

Geothermal Energy Could Spark Economic Development In Sussex Region (Huddle Today)

Officials in Sussex,  a town in Kings County, New Brunswick, Canada, say an abandoned potash mine near the town could become an exciting opportunity for the region’s economy.

A town-commissioned report has found “very real potential” to produce geothermal energy using water from the Penobsquis mine.

It comes more than three years after PotashCorp, now known as Nutrien, announced the closure of the mine.

The town says businesses like hatcheries or those that run greenhouses for everything from cannabis to hot house tomatoes would be among those to enjoy the biggest savings from a geothermal system. The energy savings could be in the neighbourhood of 40 – 60 per cent.

After modelling 20 geothermal scenarios, Wood Environment & Infrastructure Solutions of Fredericton determined an open-loop system has the most potential. In that process, water would be pumped to the surface, run through heat pumps to generate heating and cooling power, and then return below ground after use.

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

From the Global Geothermal News archives:

• Thursday, March 22, 2018 - Canada: Abandoned New Brunswick Mine to Provide Geothermal Heating and Cooling for Community