Australia:

Habanero 4 Drilling Progress (Press Release - 4-traders)

Geodynamics Limited, operator of the Innamincka Deeps Joint Venture, is pleased to report that drilling continues in the 311mm (12 ¼") section and is currently at a depth of 3,570 m.

Drilling progress remains in line with pre-drill plans. Average daily rates have slowed as the drill has entered the Patchawarra and Tirrawarra Formations which consist of hard, recrystallised sandstones, siltstones and interbedded coal seams of Early Permian age.

Read More......

Kenya:

Japanese Company Promises Support for Kenyan Geothermal Power Projects (allAfrica)

Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) will support the geothermal energy production in Kenya. Visiting JICA president Akihiko Tanaka praised the country for leading the way in the development and utilisation of clean energy, adding that the agency will back the country's efforts to harness the potential. He was speaking yesterday during a tour of the Olkaria geothermal power plant in Naivasha.

Already JICA has signed a 29.5 billion Yen(Sh32.6 billion) loan agreement with Kengen for the Olkaria I and IV power plants. The money will be for the expansion of the Olkaria I to enable it supply 140 MWe to the national grid as the demand for power in the country continues to soar. Tanaka said this is the first such project to be supported by a Climate Change Japanese loan in sub-Saharan Africa.

Read More......

Technology:

Tapping Geothermal Energy to Create Fresh Water for Western Australia (Phys.org)

Researchers at The University of Western Australia will investigate the use of geothermal energy to desalinate groundwater in WA.

Winthrop Professor Klaus Regenauer-Lieb, director of the Western Australian Geothermal Centre of Excellence at UWA, said it was the first phase of a feasibility program to investigate and encourage use of geothermal and waste-heat resources for heat-driven pre-treatment and desalination of brackish and saline water.

Professor Regenauer-Lieb said the project would provide WA government and industry with an economic, technical and market analysis of geothermal energy coupled with water production, and identify areas in the state where the technology may be best applied.

Read More......

USA, Arizona:

Imperial Valley Geothermal Power Helps Southern Arizona 24/7 (East Valley Tribune.com)

How does geothermal energy captured near southern California’s Salton Sea help Arizona natives in the Valley of the Sun? You’d be surprised.

Salt River Project is now receiving a significant amount of renewable energy from the recently completed Hudson Ranch I geothermal plant located in California’s Imperial Valley. The utility-scale plant, developed by El Centro-based EnergySource, is now providing enough energy to power about 26,000 average-size Valley homes.

Read More.....

Technology:

When Energy Begins to Flow Long Distance (IPS News)

With rising energy prices and stringent requirements for producing a higher proportion of energy from renewable sources in the near future, long-distance electricity cables are increasingly thought of as a viable option for providing electricity.

Read More.......

Philippines:

Leyte Geothermal Facilities To Be Split in Two When Sold (Philippine Daily Inquirer)

State-run Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp. (PSALM) is set to bid out the management of the contracted capacities of the 640 MWe Unified Leyte geothermal facilities as the government moves to complete the privatization of its power assets within the next several years.

According to president Emmanuel R. Ledesma Jr., PSALM is planning to split into two the contracted capacity of the Unified Leyte complex to prevent market dominance by a single firm and to make the facility financially viable.

So as not to violate the market cap provisions under the Epira, the current bidding rules have indicated that capacities will be divided 60-40, which means that PSALM will bid out one IPPA contract for 384 MWe and another IPPA contract covering the remaining 255 MWe.

Read More......

Saint Kitts and Nevis:

Ram to Take the Reigns of Nevis Geothermal Project (Recharge)

Geothermal developer Hezy Ram has partnered with embattled developer West Indies Power (WIP) in an effort to move ahead with the long-awaited geothermal power project in Nevis.

Earlier this year, Ram, through his company Ram Energy, agreed to partner with WIP to handle the technical aspects and project financing for the scheme. Ram tells Recharge he has already spoken with the premier, the NIA and the Nevlec, the local utility company.

“Everyone is really eager to see this project happening,” says Ram; in fact, they are “desperate to see it happen after so many false starts.”

Ram hopes to start construction by year’s end on up to 10 MWe and start operating by early 2015. A second phase would bring total capacity up to 45 MWe, with the excess being provided to St Kitts, some two miles away.

Read More.....

USA, Nevada:

World's First Geothermal-Solar Power Plant Benefits from Section 1603 Cash Grant Program (The Novogradac Journal of Tax Credits)

The world's first geothermal-solar power plant, in Fallon, Nevada, received $40 million under the Section 1603 cash grant program. The 59 MWe Stillwater facility, with the capacity to generate electricity for 50,000 homes, combines 26 MWe of photovoltaic (PV) generating capacity with 33 MWe of baseload geothermal power. 

To provide the solar energy, Enel Green Power North America installed more than 89,000 polycrystalline PV panels on a 240-acre parcel of land adjacent to the plant, which opened in 2009. 

The Section 1603 program is responsible for the creation of as many as 75,000 jobs in design, construction and manufacturing and $44 billion in total economic output, according to a National Renewable Energy Laboratory study of the program's economic benefit.

Global:

ThinkGeoEnergy Launches Spanish Geothermal News Service (Cross-Posted from ThinkGeoEnergy)

ThinkGeoEnergy has launched a Spanish language website, Piensa En Geotermia (www.piensageotermia.com), which will feature global geothermal energy news in Spanish.

Read More.....

USA, California:

Friends of Cobb Mountain, County Settle Suit Over Bottle Rock Power EIR (Lake County News)

Bottle Rock Power Plant
(Courtesy Bottle Rock Power)   

A lawsuit that alleged the county of Lake violated state environmental law in its approval of environmental documents for a geothermal project has been resolved.

The Friends of Cobb Mountain filed the suit against the county of Lake in the spring of 2011. The suit followed the Board of Supervisors' denial of the group's appeal of the Lake County Planning Commission's December 2010 certification of the environmental impact report for the Bottle Rock Steam Power Project.

Read More.....

Malaysia:

Sabah: Going Geothermal (The Borneo Post)

The construction of a geothermal power plant in Sabah has massive potential to boost the Malaysian state’s economy, while paving the way for other major developments in renewable energy.

Located at Apas Kiri, Tawau, the plant – to be developed by Tawau Green Energy (TGE) – will be the first geothermal facility in Malaysia. Phase one of the project was launched in May and scheduled for completion by 2014.

At the end of this first stage, the plant will have a generation capacity of 30 MWe, though it is expected to generate more than 10 MWe when fully completed.

Read More........

Japan:

Geothermal Project Stalled by Opposition in Fukushima (The Yomiuri Shimbun)

A proposed large-scale geothermal project in Fukushima Prefecture has been stalled by opposition from local hot spring resort operators, despite the prefectural government's support for the development.

The prefecture, badly affected by the crisis at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant, which began in March 2011, is promoting renewable energy use as a key to recovery. The prefectural government welcomes the geothermal project, as it is "in line with our reconstruction plan," officials said.

The project, prompted by the central government's deregulation on excavation work in March, was initiated by Idemitsu Kosan Co. and eight other companies. The government relaxed regulations on some drilling work in national parks under certain conditions, to promote renewable energy projects.

Read More.....

USA, California:

Calpine’s and the U.S. Department of Energy’s Geysers Enhanced Geothermal System (EGS) Project

Public Meeting Notice

Calpine Corporation will hold the next public informational meeting to report progress on construction of the EGS Demonstration Project currently underway at The Geysers on Saturday, June 16, at 9 a.m. A tour to the EGS site will follow.

June 16, 2012 - 9:00 AM
Calpine Geothermal Visitors Center
15500 Central Park Road
Middletown, CA 95461

For more information about the public meetings: 707-987-4270 or CGVC@calpine.com

For more information on the EGS program: www.geothermal.energy.gov

Global:

GRC Launches Fantastic Online Geothermal Library

(Cross-posted from ThinkGeoEnergy)

The Geothermal Library “contains approximately 33,000 records on all aspects of geothermal energy, including exploration, reservoir engineering, power plant design and operation, direct use, geothermal heat pumps, regulatory issues, energy policy, energy markets, news briefs, and more. The library provides article-level citations to: all GRC Transactions (1977 to present), all GRC Special Reports, numerous feature articles and news briefs from the GRC Bulletin (1973 to present), corporate and academic technical reports, journals, and books.

"Given the vast resources collected over the years, also as part of papers from the Annual Meetings of GRC, this is a fantastic source of information for anyone in the industry, be it academic or business."

....... Alexander Richter, Director at the Canadian Geothermal Energy Association (CanGEA) and owner of  ThinkGeoEnergy.

While the site is still in “Alpha Testing mode”, it promises to be come a key source for me and lots of other in the industry.

USA, California:

Lithium Extraction in Geothermal Technologies Bill Advances (Imperial Valley News)

Assemblyman 

V. Manuel Pérez

Assemblyman V. Manuel Pérez (D-Coachella) saw his AB 2205, Lithium Extraction in Geothermal Technologies bill pass the Floor on consent last week. The bill makes a regulatory clarification to facilitate the use of a new lithium extraction process at geothermal plants, a change that will help spur business creation in new industries tied to geothermal energy. Lithium is an important element for the production of electric vehicle batteries and other energy storage technologies, also helping meet the state’s emission reduction and electric vehicle goals. The bill now advances to the State Senate prior to Friday’s constitutional deadline.

Read More.....

Kenya:

Kenyan Geothermal Company Targets 800 MWe in Menengai Phase 2 (The Star - Nairobi)

Discharging well
in Menengai (Courtesy GDC)

The Geothermal Development Company has invited investors to co-finance the development of an 800 MWe power generation project in Menengai scheduled to be operational by 2021. The investors, expected to be four, will put up between 60-to 80 per cent of the capital and will be repaid through the sale of steam to power generators over a period of 20 years, GDC said yesterday in a paid advertisement.

The project is the second phase of the development of the Menengai steam field estimated to have geothermal potential of 1600MW. “GDC intends to engage four equity investors who will each get the opportunity to jointly develop 200 MWe with GDC at its Menengai geothermal field,” the statement in the dailies read. “The investors, under a joint steam development contract, will finance between 60-to 80 per cent of the required capital.”

Read More.......

Technology:

Super-Eruptions May Only Take Hundreds of Years to Form (Earth Times)

This three-dimensional perspective 

view of  Long Valley, California 

Credit: NASA/JPL

Huge volcanic super-eruptions with the power to destroy civilisations take just hundreds of years to form, geologists believe. So-called 'super-eruptions', more than 100-times as large as the Mount Saint Helens incident, can spew gas, ash and rock over whole continents and cause the world to endure volcanic winters that can last decades.

It is thought that one Indonesian super eruption 74,000 years ago was so large it almost destroyed the whole human race. The cause of super eruptions is believed to be a massive magma pool that is created a few miles under the earth's surface.

Previously, it was thought that this process takes 100,000-200,000 years until it is ready to erupt.

But researchers at Nashville's Vanderbilt University suggest a study published in the Public Library of Science ONE journal that in it might only take a few hundred years until it erupts.

Read More......

United Kingdom, Iceland:

UK And Iceland Sign Geothermal Energy Agreement (Department of Energy & Climate Change)

The UK and Iceland today signed an agreement that could pave the way for geothermal power from Iceland’s volcanoes to supply electricity to the UK. This came as UK Energy Minister Charles Hendry visited the Hellisheidi geothermal field, located on an active volcanic ridge in the south west of the country.

The MoU, signed by Charles Hendry and his Icelandic counterpart Oddný G. Harðardóttir, will strengthen the two countries’ relationship on energy issues.

Charles Hendry said: “Today’s agreement will help pave the way for a closer relationship with Iceland, which I hope can yield significant benefits for the UK, including the development of geothermal power, greater use of interconnectors to transport energy under the sea, and developing oil and gas resources.

"This sort of approach can both enhance our energy security and deliver low carbon electricity in an affordable way."

Read More......

Italy:

Start-Up of Rancia 2, Geothermal Power Plant In Tuscany Completely Refurbished (News Release - Enel Green Power)

The completely refurbished Rancia 2 geothermal plant in Tuscany, in the municipality of Radicondoli in the province of Siena, has entered service.

The plant, which has an installed capacity of 17 MWe, will be able to generate about 150 million kilowatt hours of power, thus avoiding the emission of 100 thousand tonnes of CO2 and saving 33 thousand TOE (tonnes of oil equivalent) of fossil fuels per year.

Read More........

USA, Arizona, New Mexico:

Feds Open Comment on 500-Mile New Mexico-Arizona Power Line (AZ Capitol Times.com)

(Map courtesy Bureau of Land Management)

Federal officials have unveiled draft plans for a proposed $1.5 billion power line linking central New Mexico with southeast Arizona across at least 460 miles of federal, state, local and privately owned lands.

The Bureau of Land Management said Tuesday that it is seeking public comment on the SunZia Southwest Transmission Line Project that calls for two new 500 kilovolt transmission lines and up to five new substations, depending on the final route selected.

The transmission lines are expected to spur development of renewable energy resources – including geothermal energy – throughout the desert Southwest by linking the region to an interstate power grid.

Read More......

United Kingdom:

Geothermal Energy Could Meet a Fifth of UK's Power Needs – Report (The Guardian)

Construction site of new Newcastle University buildings which will be carbon neutral. Among other energy efficient measures, they will have
space heating using geothermal heat from a borehole that is being drilled
6000 feet beneath the site. Photograph: Hugh Macknight/PA

The study found that subsidising geothermal technology initially would help to bring down costs rapidly as UK sites were developed.

The UK could meet a fifth of its power needs – the equivalent of nine nuclear power stations – by exploiting geothermal power, a new report into the technology has found.

But the report found that the current subsidy regime does not provide sufficient incentive to develop the technology in the UK - even as Charles Hendry, minister of state at the Department of Energy and Climate Change, flew to Iceland on Wednesday afternoon to discuss a possible new interconnector that could be used to import geothermal electricity from there.

Read More.......

Europe:

Higher EU Greenhouse Gas Emissions in 2010 Due to Economic Recovery and Cold Winter  (News Release - European Environment Agency)

Greenhouse gas emissions increased in 2010, as a result of both economic recovery in many countries after the 2009 recession and a colder winter. Nonetheless, emissions growth was somewhat contained by continued strong growth in renewable energy sources. These figures from the greenhouse gas inventory published by the European Environment Agency (EEA) today confirm earlier EEA estimates.

Read More.....

Global:

More Space Available at GRC Geochemistry Workshop

Due to popular demand the workshop capacity has been increased. Register now!

Short course follows the CGEC Forum 2012 and a tour of The Geysers Geothermal Field

The Geothermal Resources Council (GRC) and the California Geothermal Energy Collaborative (CGEC) will hold a two-day geothermal workshop to be held at the University of California, Davis, on July 19-20, 2012.

Titled “Recent Advances in Geothermal Geochemistry”, the workshop will interest professionals in the geothermal industry and graduate students interested in geothermal systems.

United Kingdom:

Hot Rocks Could Heat Hampshire Homes (Daily Echo - Southampton)

(Photo courtesy Daily Echo)

Hot rocks under Hampshire could hold enough energy to heat thousands of homes.

A new geological study has found that Britain has enough accessible underground heat to generate up to 20 per cent of its electricity and provide warmth for millions of central heating systems.

In some areas of the country, rock temperatures can reach as high as 200C (392F), which is enough to generate electricity.

However, in Hampshire the underground heat source does not reach such high temperatures – but could still be used to warm homes and businesses.

Read More.....

Philippines:

Philippines Company Plans Investment in Unified Leyte Geothermal 

Filinvest Development Corp. plans to invest roughly P25 billion this year to jumpstart the construction of new power plants in the Philippine, with a combined generation capacity of 200 megawatts.

Apart from these “green field” projects that will start from scratch, FDC is keen on some of the “brown field” or already existing power assets slated for privatization, particularly Unified Leyte Geothermal (640 MW), top officials said.

Read More......

Indonesia:

BP to Invest in Geothermal Energy in Indonesia (Live Trading News)

British Petroleum has agreed to take part in the development of multi-billion-USD geothermal energy projects in Indonesia, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has said Saturday.“BP in talks just now agreed to participate in the development of geothermal energy in Indonesia thus to increase our power capacity,” the President was quoted by Antara news wire as saying Saturday.

Read More.....

United Kingdom:

UK Energy Needs Could be Solved Underground (Mix 96)

Millions of homes could be heated by geothermal energy in the future, according to experts.

This week the U.K. Government is due to reveal how much money it is prepared to pay to help private companies develop the form of renewable energy.

A new geological survey suggests up to 20% of the country's power could be generated by tapping into hot spots underground.

Read More......

Vanuatu:

Kuth Energy Seeks Finance for Vanuatu Geothermal Plant (Re New Economy)

Tasmanian-based geothermal aspirant Kuth Energy plans to push ahead with a $100 million project to build an 8MWe geothermal plant in Vanuatu after the World Bank endorsed the project.

A World Bank report presented to the Vanuatu government said that geothermal represented the least-cost replacement for its current source of energy, diesel, and was cheaper than wind or solar PV. It recommended that priority be given to Kuth’s Takara project above other generation technologies.

Read More......

Turkey:

Residents of Turkish Town Trapped by Gushing Hot Water (Hurriyet Daily News)

(Courtesy DHA Photo)

Some residents of the province of Manisa in western Turkey cannot leave their homes due to gushing hot water that erupted after a private company began work on a geothermal project, private broadcaster CNNTürk has reported.

The hot water has burst from the ground four times now, reaching a heigh of 50 meters in the most recent burst. 

Villagers nearby fear the gushing water may break through the ground, with cracks already approaching inhabited areas. Working in the fields has also become very difficult due to the potential danger.

Read More.......

Australia:

West Australian Company Gives Up Geothermal Exploration (MENA FN.com)

Central Petroleum Limited of Perth, has announced that it has received formal notification confirming the relinquishment of its geothermal exploration permits. The Board's decision to relinquish these non-core assets was a result of the Company's ongoing asset portfolio review.

The three geothermal exploration permits were considered to be non-core relative to Central's other conventional and unconventional acreage holdings, particularly in light of the recent conventional oil discovery at Surprise in the Amadeus Basin and the near-term financial commitments which will be required to appraise that field.

Read More.....

Japan:

New Feed-in Tariff System a Rush to Get Renewables in Play (The Japan Times)

On July 1, a new law takes effect in Japan, requiring utilities to purchase electricity generated from five renewable energy sources at a fixed price for a set length of time, under what is known as a feed-in tariff system.

Geothermal plants producing more than 15 megawatts get ¥27.30 for 15 years, while those producing under that amount get ¥42/kwh, also for 15 years. 

Read More.....

Malaysia:

Continental Geothermal Energy Project Receives US$ 11.5 Million Grant (News Release - MarketWatch)

Continental Energy Corporation, today announced that the Government Of Malaysia, acting through its Public Private Partnership Unit of the Prime Minister's Department, has awarded a grant of 35 Million Malaysian Ringgit (approximately US$ 11.5 Million) to Tawau Green Energy Sdn. Bhd. ("TGE").  Continental Energy Corporation owns a 10% stake in TGE.

TGE is developing a geothermal energy resource at a site named Apas Kiri, located in the southern portion of the Malaysian State of Sabah near the city of Tawau. Apas Kiri will be Malaysia's first geothermal energy development. It is expected to come online by early 2015 with a rated net capacity of 30 Megawatts.

Read More......

USA, Idaho:

US Geothermal Inc : Mechanical Completion of 1st Power Module at Neal Hot Springs (News Release - 4-Traders)

Webcam photo of Neal Hot Springs 85% complete
(Courtesy U.S. geothermal)

U.S. Geothermal Inc., today announced that its construction contractor has provided a notice of mechanical completion for the first of three 7.3 net megawatt, air cooled power plant modules at the Company's Neal Hot Springs project, located in Malheur County, Oregon. The total project is about 90 percent complete with some 65% of the U.S. Dept of Energy project loan already drawn down to fund construction.

Read More......

Canada:

Nevada Geothermal Power Reports Results for Last Quarter (News Release - MarketWatch)

Nevada Geothermal Power (NGP) of Vancouver says its Faulkner 1 geothermal power plant at Blue Mountain near Winnemucca produced 65,784 megawatts during the quarter ended Dec. 31, a 2 % increase from the same period a year earlier. 

NGP says it's still working with Canaccord Genuity to restructure its $91.3 million debt to EIG Global Energy Partners. Nevada Geothermal Power defaulted on its loan from EIG in December.

Read More.....

USA, Colorado:

Colorado Geothermal Working Group Meeting (Geoexchange)

Thursday, June 28, 2012, Denver Museum of Nature & Science

The Colorado Geothermal Working Group brings together top experts in the fields of geothermal heat pumps, geothermal power production and direct use to explore how to accelerate the use of geo energy in Colorado. 

This full day meeting will look at the current status of various projects and initiatives as well as the hurdles that must be overcome to foster market growth and economic development for the state's most underutilized renewable energy resource. 

Discussions will explore federal leases, financing, time to production, thermal energy standards, net zero energy applications and 1041 regulations. 

The meeting is free to attend and open to the public, but registration is required. Lunch tickets are available for a nominal fee. Sponsorship and exhibitor inquiries are welcome.

~ Preliminary Program (PDF)        ~ More information at: info@goGeoNow.org

Uganda:

UK Company Plans Geothermal Energy Exploration, Generation In Uganda (Bloomberg)

Cluff Geothermal Ltd., a U.K.-based company, plans to invest in geothermal exploration and generation in Uganda, President Yoweri Museveni’s office said.

The company, with projects in northeast England and in the East African Rift Valley, was attracted to Uganda because of its “big thermal energy potential,” which may generate “cheap and affordable” electricity, the presidency said in a statement today from Kampala, the capital. Museveni met Cluff Geothermal Managing Director George Percy yesterday at Kisozi, in Uganda’s central region.

Uganda, East Africa’s third-biggest economy, has regular nationwide outages amid a power deficit, with production at 395 megawatts and consumption at as much as 450 megawatts, Julius Wandera, the spokesman of the state-run Electricity Regulation Authority, said today in a phone interview from Kampala, the capital.

Read More........

Vanuatu:

Vanuatu Government Adopts World Bank Report (4-traders)

World Bank report endorses geothermal development

According to a news release from KUTh Energy Limited, the World Bank report states,  "the Takara geothermal power plant is the ... least-cost base load power supply addition for Efate ... compared to diesel, wind and solar photovoltaics. Development of the Takara geothermal resource should be prioritised above development of other generation technologies."

Read More........

Technology:

Small Tech Firm Wins Government Grant for Geothermal Turbine (Boulder County Business Report)

The SolarHeart® Engine, that converts low temperature 

heat energy (100°C to 300°C) into electricity. 

(Courtesy Cool Energy Inc.)

A company in the Boulder Valley, Colorado, USA, will receive a grant from the federal Department of Energy for a project on power generation from geothermal heat.

Cool Energy Inc. is working on a low-temperature Stirling engine for geothermal electricity generation. The system will be designed for geothermal wells and oil and gas wells. If widely deployed, this approach could replace up to 100 fossil-fuel power plants. 

The Small Business Innovation Research grants are part of $11 million in innovation grants announced Wednesday for small businesses across the nation to work on research projects ranging from designing better wind turbines to fuel-cell technology and coal-energy research. The small businesses selected will be eligible to compete for a second phase of the program for awards up to $1 million over two years.

Read More....

Global:

What Ails Geothermal? Let's Count the Ways (Forbes)

Geothermal is in many ways the best option when it comes to generating clean, carbon-free energy.

The problem comes in the details.

Geothermal developers are essentially prospecting for pockets of heat. They aren’t that much different than oil wildcatters or explorers for natural gas. Geothermal developers, in fact, employ similar drilling techniques and software. Pockets of heat, however, are far harder to find than reservoirs of liquids with today’s technology.

Read More.......

Italy:

Enel Green Power Buys First Radial Outflow Turbine for Italian Project (Cross-Posted from Think Geoenergy)

Italian Exergy, a company of Maccaferri Industrial Group, has been awarded a contract by Enel Green Power for the supply of an ORC radial outflow turbine as core component of an innovative geothermal plant.

This plant, producing electricity of up to 1 MW, extracts heat from a geothermal resource in Bagnore (Mount Amiata), Italy.

Read More.....

Costa Rica:

Costa Rica's Private Geothermal Generation Capacity up 13% in 2011 (Power Engineering)

Costa Rica's installed private generation capacity last year rose 14% to 374MW from 2010, according to statistics from public services regulator Aresep.

The 374MW (205MW hydro, 100MW wind, 40MW thermo, 29.6MW geothermal) represent 14.1% of the country's installed capacity of 2.65GW at end-2011 that rose 1.39% from the year before.

The bulk of total installed capacity comes from hydro (62.2%, 1.65GW), followed by thermo (23.1%, 652MW), geothermal (8.21%, 218MW) and wind (5%, 133MW).

Total generation last year grew 2.77% to 9.75TWh, of which 74.1% was hydro, 13.1% geothermal, 9.57% thermo and 3.26% wind; private generation slid 5.69% to 1.51TWh. Peak demand in 2011 hit 1.55GW, up 0.65% from the year before.

Increasing private participation in the country's power sector dominated by state power company ICE has been under debate for some time. In 2010, the executive submitted a power sector framework bill to the national assembly aimed at opening up the sector.

Read More.....

Global:

What to Make of Geothermal’s Numbers (Greentechmedia)

Is the potential of geothermal energy starting to turn into growth?

The GEA’s newest report on global growth is an admirable effort on putting on a happy face -- but its numbers tell another story.

The association reports, for instance, that in 2010 geothermal energy generated “twice the amount of electricity as solar energy did worldwide.” The world’s installed grid-connected PV capacity went from 7.4 gigawatts at the end of 2009, to 16.8 gigawatts at the end of 2010, to 29.7 gigawatts of grid-connected PV at the end of 2011.

Read More......

Philippines:

Local Council OK’s EDC's Mt. Apo III Geothermal Plant (Business World Online)

The city council of Kidapawan in North Cotabato has given Energy Development Corp. (EDC) the go signal to build its third geothermal plant in the Mt. Apo area.

Vice-mayor Joseph A. Evangelista said over the radio last Wednesday that a resolution was passed by the city council endorsing construction of the new plant located in the upland Barangay Ilomavis.

The Lopez-led EDC currently operates two geothermal power plants, namely: Mt. Apo I and II, with a combined capacity of 100 MWe.

The company’s Web site showed the proposed third geothermal plant would also have a capacity of 50 MWe.

Read More.......

Philippines:

Protesters Demand Power Supply from Local Geothermal Plants (Sun Star - Davao)

Close to 700 protesters urged the Energy department on Thursday to distribute to North Cotabato province the needed 25 percent power supply generated from the geothermal power plants in Mount Apo.

Members of Makabayan, an alliance of progressive groups of farmers, consumers, workers and urban poor in North Cotabato, made the demand through a three-hour rally on Thursday.

The group said the two geothermal power plants owned by the Energy Development Corporation (EDC) generate at least 104 megawatts (MW) of power.

"It's so ironical we host these plants, yet, we experienced last month eight hours of blackouts," a certain Sison of Makabayan said.

Read More......

USA, California:

Stanford Opens Renewable Energy Certificate Program (Press Release - Cleantechnica.com)

As the race to meet the world’s escalating energy needs heats up, Stanford University is responding by offering a new professional certificate program in renewable energy. The online program, Energy Innovation and Emerging Technologies, explores emerging technologies that can transform how we obtain, distribute and store energy.

The web page does not at this time mention geothermal as a topic of study, despite the presence on campus of the Stanford Geothermal laboratory.

Read More......

Canada:

Alterra Power Announces Resignation of David O'Brien as a Director of the Company (Press Release - Market Watch)

Alterra Power Corp. of Vancouver, has announced the resignation of David O'Brien as a Director of the Company due to his taking a new role with KPMG, the Company's auditors.

Alterra's Chairman, Ross Beaty, said, "David was a great Board member and we will miss his experience and insight. We wish him all the best in his new undertaking."

Read More......

Global:

GRC Annual Meeting - Update

In this issue:

• The GRC Room Block Is Now Available! Reserve Your Room Online Now!
• 2012 GRC Awards Nominations -  Deadline: June 29.
• GRC Annual Charity Golf Tournament Registration
• 2012 GRC Amateur Photo Contest - Invitation for Entries - Deadline: August 31.
• Become A Sponsor Of The World's Largest Annual Geothermal Gathering!

Israel:

Ormat Technologies, Inc. Provides Information on Closing of Transaction Involving Shares of its Parent Entity (Press Release - MarketWatch)

Ormat Technologies, Inc. announced today that it has been informed by Ormat Industries, Ltd., its parent entity, that the transaction by and among Bronicki Investments Ltd., the controlling shareholder of Ormat Industries, and FIMI ENRG Limited Partnership, a newly formed Israeli partnership and FIMI ENRG, a newly formed Delaware partnership, both controlled by FIMI Opportunity IV, to sell part of BIL's interest in Ormat Industries, previously announced on March 16, 2012, was successfully consummated on May 22, 2012. 

Read More......

Argentina:

Copper Company Seeks Argentine Geothermal Power To Fuel $7B Ramp-Up (Law 360)

An Xstrata Copper subsidiary is seeking to purchase 50 megawatts of geothermal electricity for its Argentine mining operation, an energy supplier said Tuesday as the company renews its commitment to a $7 billion initiative to increase copper production by more than 60 percent over three years.

Xstrata Pachón SA has submitted a letter of interest in negotiating an offtake contract with Earth Heat Resources Ltd. in relation to its Copahue Geothermal Development Project, the first of its kind in Argentina, according to an announcement EHR issued Tuesday

United Kingdom:

Geothermal Power to The People: Forget Iceland, Hot Rocks Are Everywhere (ecomagination)

Two old mine engine houses in Cornwall, England. 

(Courtesy Flicker/sonofparker)

When British geologist Ryan Law lined up to meet the Queen in Exeter, England earlier this month, he did something not everyone would do: He showed her a drill bit.

It was no ordinary household piece of spiralled metal.

Rather, it was a chunk of industrial equipment that will help Law bore three miles down to hot granite. The 190 degree C rock will provide a natural furnace to Law’s planned utility scale, grid-connected geothermal electricity and public heat station outside the town of Redruth in Cornwall, England’s southwest county.

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