Philippines:

Energy Development Corporation Reports Turnaround in Revenue (Inquirer.net)

Energy Development Corporation (EDC) has said that it posted a net income of P8.6 billion in the first nine months of 2012, a turnaround from the P488-million net loss it incurred a year ago.

According to EDC, the company’s improved financial performance in the first three quarters of the year could be attributed mainly to higher electricity revenues of its subsidiaries and the absence of the P5-billion impairment loss on the property, plant and equipment of the 49 MWe Northern Negros Geothermal power facility, which was recognized in June 2011.

NNGP was shut down last year due mainly to a mismatch in the geothermal resources in the area and the capacity that can be generated by the facility. The equipment will be moved to another area within the island that can support a higher generation capacity, while a smaller facility may be put in place of the NNGP.

Revenues from the sale of electricity alone rose by 21 percent to P21.4 billion in the first three quarters of 2012 from P17.7 billion during the same period a year ago due to the better performance by Green Core Geothermal Inc., the project company managing the 305 MWe Palinpinon-Tongonan power plants, and FG Hydro.

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Canada:

Alterra Power Announces Results for the Quarter Ended September 30, 2012 (Sacramento Bee)

Alterra Power Corp. today provided an update on its operations and reported its financial and operating results for the three months ended September 30, 2012.

Highlights for the current quarter and subsequently include:

• Power production from Alterra's six power plants of 762,570 MWh was ahead of plan for the quarter, including strong performances at the Svartsengi and Reykjanes geothermal plants offsetting lower than budget production from the Soda Lake geothermal plant.
• Alterra entered into an agreement with Energy Development Corporation, a Philippines-based global leader in the geothermal power industry, which may be advanced into partnerships for the development of the Mariposa geothermal project in Chile and for the development of five geothermal concessions in Peru. The terms allow EDC to earn 70% interests in the partnerships in return for funding the next $58.3 million of expenditures at Mariposa and the next $8.0 million in Peru.

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USA, Nevada:

U.S. Geothermal Receives $10.7 Million Cash Grant for San Emidio Project (News Release - PDF)

U.S. Geothermal Inc., announced today that its wholly owned subsidiary USG Nevada LLC received its $10.7 million cash grant from the U.S. Department of Treasury. The cash grant is for Specified Energy Property in Lieu of Tax/Credits relating to the San Emidio geothermal power plant under Section 1603, Division B of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. An existing $7.5 million bridge loan and its associated administrative costs have been paid in full with the balance of $2.9 million retained by the company.

Electrical energy from the new power plant is being sold for $89.75 per megawatt hour, subject to a 1% annual escalator, under the terms of a 25-year Power Purchase Agreement with Sierra Pacific Power Company. Using the existing production and injection wells, the new San Emidio plant is projected to generate an average of approximately 75,000 MWHs of electrical power each year and replaces an existing facility that, prior to being removed from service, generated approximately 23,000 MWHs annually for some 20 years.

USA:

GEA Releases Report on Emissions from Geothermal Plants (ThinkGeoEnergy)

As California is poised to implement Assembly Bill 32 and launch the state’s landmark cap-and-trade program, the Geothermal Energy Association (GEA) has released a report (PDF) detailing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions as they relate to geothermal.

The report highlights the nature of geothermal GHG emissions in general, as well as those in California, where the nation’s most extensive cap-and-trade program is set to take effect this week. It also notes that geothermal power plants offer an environmentally friendly option to conventional fossil fuel power plants.

Geothermal Energy and Greenhouse Gas Emissions (PDF)

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United Kingdom:

Deep Geothermal Energy Discussed at Dorset Conference (mags4dorset)

The Wessex Basin (Courtesy IHS)

A Renewable Energy Conference held in Dorset, England, has concluded that deep geothermal energy would achieve the government’s renewal energy target without the need for wind power.

The deep geothermal method was seen to be able to produce the largest amount of renewable energy. The conference report concluded that, using today’s technology alone, deep geothermal resources could provide 20 percent of the UK’s annual average electricity generation capacity requirement and the equivalent of the total annual heat consumption in the UK.

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Technology:

Geothermal Power (AFP)

Geothermal energy is generally considered an economic and sustainable form of power, generated and held in the Earth's crust it is released and harnessed for human consumption by a variety of methods. (VIDEO: 1:34 Minutes)

Technology:

Geothermal Energy Keeps Turkeys Comfortable (News Room America)

(Courtesy Wikipedia Commons)

While Americans prepare to heat up millions of turkeys in their ovens on Thanksgiving, a geothermal energy system developed by Yun-sheng “Shawn” Xu, a research associate professor in the Civil and Environmental Engineering Department at the University of Missouri will be keeping live turkeys toasty during the chilly autumn weather. 

In a prototype facility, environmentally and economically friendly geothermal energy is now keeping turkeys comfortable during both cold and hot weather. The geothermal system reduces utilities costs for the farmer, which could bring down the price of turkey meat and keep America as the world’s top turkey exporter. Using geothermal also improves the bird’s air quality.

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USA, Nevada:

U.S. Geothermal’s San Emidio Project Increases Plant Output Rating (News Release - PDF)

U.S. Geothermal Inc., has announced an update on its 100% owned San Emidio Project near Reno, Nevada. The new power plant output rating has now been increased from 8.6 to 9.0 net annual average megawatts based upon results of final capacity testing.

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Australia:

Steam Flow at Habanero 4

Open flow test achieved the planned maximum production rate of 35kg/s

VIDEO (52 Seconds)

Australia:

Completion of First Open Flow Test at Habanero 4 (News Release)

Geodynamics Limited has announced that the first open flow test for Habanero 4 has now been conducted. The staged open flow test achieved the planned maximum production rate of 35kg/s at a flowing pressure of 29 MPa (4,200 psi) through a variable choke, before the test was completed. The surface pressures indicate the well has additional capacity to flow at higher rates which were not attempted during this test. Temperature at 4,130 m cable depth was recorded at 241°C with a surface temperature of 191°C, and increasing, after 82 minutes of flow.

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USA, California:

Coso Geothermal Power Holdings, LLC Secures Extension of Expiring Letter of Credit Facilities (MarketWatch - Press Release)

Coso Junction

Coso Geothermal Power Holdings, LLC today announced that the company's letter of credit provider, CoBank ACB, has agreed to extend approximately $55 million of letter of credit facilities that were scheduled to expire later this month. The agreement provides a two year extension to the letter of credit facilities, now scheduled to expire in November of 2014.

These facilities consist of a $40 million letter of credit provided to support a debt service reserve as well as an approximately $15 million letter of credit to support security obligations under the project's power purchase agreements with Southern California Edison.

Coso Geothermal Power Holdings, LLC leases and operates three interlinked geothermal power plants located in Inyo County, CA, with installed nameplate capacity of 302 MWe.

Global:

Gift Suggestion!

Geothermal power station at Svartsengi, Iceland Photo Mugs.

USA, Hawaii:

Hawaii County Council Approves Ban on Nighttime Well Drilling at Puna (Big Island Now)

The Hawaii County Council approved a bill on November 9 prohibiting nighttime drilling of geothermal wells on the Big Island.

However, the current council may not have the final say on the matter, at least if the bill is vetoed by Mayor Billy Kenoi.

The bill restricts drilling operations to between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. for geothermal wells within one mile of a residence. The bill was introduced following complaints from neighbors of the Puna Geothermal Ventures plant about noise from drilling operations.

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USA, California:

New Geothermal Technology Could Edge out Fossil Fuels (High Country News)

At the northern edge of the Geysers, the world's largest geothermal complex, which sprawls over nearly 40 square miles north of Santa Rosa, Calif., Houston-based power company Calpine is conducting an experiment. On the surface, not much sets the project apart from the 18 ridge-top power plants and dozens of other drilling platforms here, most of which Calpine owns. The site, high on a sun-baked hillside, is home to a 110-foot drill rig surrounded by a couple of trailers and a mass of machinery. But two miles underground, something big is happening.

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Iceland, U.K.:

Icelandic Volcanoes Could Heat British Homes (Daily Telegraph)

Geothermal energy could be piped to Britain through the world's longest seabed power cable but would be no more expensive than the next generation of nuclear energy.

The man overseeing the project, Hörður Arnarson, the head of Iceland's state-owned power producer Landsvirkjun, said that it could be completed by 2020.

He told the Times: "This is a technically challenging project, there's no doubt, but there is no doubt in our mind that it is doable."

"Both the length and the depth [of the cable needed] has been tested."

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Indonesia:

Rantau Dedap Geothermal Power Plant Signs PPA with State Utility (Tempo Interaktif)

Indonesian state electricity company PT. PLN (Persero) has signed a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with Supreme Energy Rantau Dedap. The Rantau Dedap geothermal power plant (PLTP), located in Muara Enim, South Sumatra, will have a capacity of 2x 110 MWe. “The purchase price is US$8.86 cents per kilowatt-hour,” Nur Pamudji, PLN CEO, said after the signing at the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry.

PLTP Rantau Dedap will begin operation in 2017: Unit I will start commercial operations in January and then Units I and II will operate fully in March. An estimated 1,734.5 gigawatt-hour of electricity will be generated.

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Kenya:

OrPower 4 Receives $265m For Kenyan Geothermal Plant (Ventures Africa)

OrPower 4, has received 18.5 billion shillings ($220 million) for the development of a 100 MWe geothermal power plant in Kenya over the weekend through parent company, Ormat Technologies. This is the the first installation of a 26.06 billion shillings ($310 million) loan from the U.S. government agency Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC).

According to Kenya’s BusinessDaily, the company said “The remaining amount of up to $45 million (3.78 billion shillings) of tranche II of the OPIC loan is expected to be drawn over time prior to the commercial operation” of the expansion of the Olkaria III geothermal plant in mid next year.

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Honduras:

Ormat to Develop Geothermal Project in Honduras (Electric Light & Power)

Ormat Technologies entered into an agreement with Geotermica Platanares to acquire a late stage development geothermal energy project in Honduras.

The project comprises of the rights to a field where exploration work has been conducted in the past and a power purchase agreement for up to 35 MWe with the national utility of Honduras, ENEE.

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USA, Hawai'i:

Hawaii Electric Light Co. Publishes Draft RFP for Geothermal Energy Production (Star Advertiser)

The electric utility on Hawaii island today published the first draft of a plan to add 50 MWE of geothermal power to the island’s electric grid.

The draft, filed by Hawaii Electric Light Co. (HELCO) with state regulators, will be used by developers as they prepare their bids to supply the renewable power to HELCO. Selection of the winning bidder or bidders is expected to occur in mid-2014.

An existing 38 MWe geothermal plant at Puna on Hawaii island already accounts for about 20 percent of Hawaii island’s peak electrical load. An additional 50 MWe would push the amount of geothermal generation to nearly 50 percent of peak load.

HELCO filed the Draft Geothermal RFP with the State of Hawaii Public Utilities Commission (PUC) on November 9, 2012.

• Interested parties (including prospective bidders) may submit comments on the Draft Geothermal RFP to the HELCO Geothermal RFP email at GeothermalRFP@helcohi.com and to the PUC.
• The proposed tentative date for the technical conference webinar is Wednesday, December 5, 2012.
• A technical conference webinar for the Draft Geothermal RFP will be held in the near future. The current tentative date is December 5, 2012.
• Specific instructions for signing up for the technical conference webinar will be posted here on this website when the date of the technical conference webinar is confirmed. The agenda will also be posted.
• All questions at the technical conference webinar will be submitted in writing.

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Global:

Winners of 1st Student Essay Competition On Geothermal Energy Announced

The 1st Geothermal Student Essay Competition held by the Pacific Center for Geothermal Education & Research at the University of British Columbia, is now closed. Only two essays satisfied all seven criteria and were deemed of merit to win full awards. Two honorary awards were granted for essays worthy of consideration. Two additional awards were granted in appreciation for the students’ participation. The results from the judging committee are as follows:

Full Award Recipients:

• 1st Prize Winner (CAN $2,500): Nathaniel Lindsey, University of Edinburgh
• 2nd Prize Winner (CAN $1,500): Michael Fang, University of British Columbia

Honorary Prize Winners ($150 Gift Certificate)

• Juan Garcia, University of British Columbia
• Sarah Thomson, University of British Columbia

Participation Prize ($50 Gift Certificate) Recipients:

• Mauricio Vaccaro, University of Pisa
• Nasim Arianpoo, University of British Columbia

Philippines:

Plan for New Geothermal Plant on Mt. Apo Shelved (Sun Star )

The project to construct another geothermal power plant on Mount Apo has been shelved, temporarily making it more difficult for residents of North Cotabato to cope with the energy crisis they had been experiencing since 2010, a local government official said.

Vice Mayor Joseph Evangelista, presiding officer of the City Council, said Energy Development Corporation (EDC) will conduct more test drills, to determine if steam could generate the needed 50 MWe.

EDC owns two geothermal power plants operating on Mount Apo at Barangay Ilomavis, with a total capacity of 104 MWe. It plans to construct another plant by 2015.

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Technology:

Using Old Oil Wells for Geothermal Power (Tomorrow is Greener)

(Courtesy Tomorrow is Greener)

Renewable green energy is often criticized for its unreliability. This makes it difficult to use it for base-load power generation. Next to that, renewable energy systems usually have a huge up-front cost, which makes their implementation difficult. Many critics therefore sight against the use of renewable energy. While many renewable energy systems, such as solar and wind power, don’t have a constant energy output, geothermal power is far more reliable.

Now, geothermal power may be able to jump start renewable green energy by overcoming one of its biggest expenses: the cost of boring holes into the earth.

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Kenya:

Over 2,000 Runners for Geothermal Race (AllAfrica.com)

Over 2,000 athletes are expected to take part in the Menengai Geothermal Half Marathon this Sunday in Nakuru town. Athletes will cover a route course designed around Menengai Geothermal Project, one of the world's greatest and biggest single geothermal fields.

The one loop course with scenic mountainous background promises to be exciting to both participants and spectators. The half marathon sponsored by the Geothermal Development Company (GDC) among other sponsors, has attracted athletes from the Turkana, Pokot, Naivasha, Nakuru and its environs.

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Australia:

Panax Geothermal Secures A$5M Funding Facility (Proactive Investors Australia)

Panax Geothermal has secured A$5 million to provide working capital for its corporate requirements and expenditures for its Indonesian geothermal projects over the next three years.

The funds are provided under a Share Placement Facility provided by New York-based Deer Valley Management.

“We have been very pleased with the manner in which the negotiations of the transaction have been undertaken, and the ability of both Panax and Deer Valley to have finalized this transaction to a successful completion in recent days,” Panax managing director Kerry Parker said.

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Chile:

Chileans to Get a Taste of NZ Geothermal Expertise (Scoop.co.nz - News Release)

(Courtesy Leapfrog)

GNS Science is taking its geothermal energy expertise to Chile next week where it will run workshops in computer modelling of geothermal fields for the geothermal industry in Chile.

The Chileans have asked for the two three-day workshops to learn to use a New Zealand-developed three-dimensional modelling software that improves the efficiency of developing and running geothermal energy fields.

Called Leapfrog Geothermal, the software was developed by Christchurch-based company ARANZ Geo with the support of GNS Science. It is fast becoming the worldwide industry standard software for geologists involved in geothermal development.

The courses are being run back-to-back in Santiago. The first is a general course open to industry and university personnel from throughout Chile, and the second is an in-house course being run for a Chilean geothermal energy company that has recently bought the Leapfrog software and wants its staff to become competent users.

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Indonesia:

Sumitomo Corp Completes Construction of Ulubelu Geothermal Power Station (SteelGuru)

Ulubelu geothermal power station 

(Courtesy Ulubelu geothermal power station)

Sumitomo Corporation has completed construction of the Ulubelu geothermal power station comprising units 1 and 2, each with a capacity of 55 MWe, for delivery to PT PLN (Persero), a state owned power company in Indonesia.

Located in the Ulubelu district, Tanggamus county in Lampumg Province at the southern tip of Indonesia's Sumatra Island, the Ulubelu power station was built as the first large scale geothermal power generating facility on the island. The construction project was financed with a yen credit loan from the Japanese government.

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Iceland:

Iceland Key Partner in Extensive Development Project on Geothermal Energy (IceNews)

(Courtesy IceNews)

Össur Skarphéðinsson, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Iceland, presented today the most extensive development project Iceland has participated in. It includes the development of a Global Geothermal Development Plan under the auspices of the World Bank, which could amount to 500 million USD. The facility will provide finance for geothermal feasibility assessments and test drilling. The collaboration between Iceland and the World Bank is the largest initiative so far for promoting the utilization of geothermal energy in developing countries, and Iceland will effectively become the Bank’s key partner in this field.

On this occasion, an agreement was signed between the Nordic Development Fund (NDF) and Iceland on the co-financing of the first phase of the project. The Icelandic government and the Fund will contribute 5 million EUR each to the project during a five year period.

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Iceland:

Iceland: a Geothermal Superpower (france24.com)

Global:

Ormat Technologies Management Discusses Q3 2012 Results - Earnings Call Transcript (Seekingalpha.com)

"We are pleased with the steady improvement in revenues and operating costs. While federal support in the renewables sector in the U.S. is unclear, we are confident that the strong fundamentals and successful track record in both segments will enable us to continue with our plans in the global geothermal arena." Yehudit Bronicki - Chief Executive Officer.

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USA:

Geothermal Designs Arise as a Stormproof Resource (New York Times)

(Courtesy New York Times)

Advocates for geothermal energy say that the path of destruction cut by Hurricane Sandy, which unearthed fuel tanks, ravaged cooling towers and battered air-conditioners, has already persuaded some building owners to switch to geothermal systems that use underground pipes to harness the earth’s energy for heating and cooling buildings.

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Iceland:

Iceland: A 100% Renewables Example in the Modern Era (RenewEconomy)

Iceland’s famous for its breathtaking scenery, its geysers, its Blue Lagoon–and for sitting astride the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Among energy wonks, Iceland is also well known for using its abundant renewable energy, and especially for tapping the volcanic roots of the island in developing its geothermal resources.

Iceland today generates 100% of its electricity with renewables: 75% of that from large hydro, and 25% from geothermal. Equally significant, Iceland provides 87% of its demand for hot water and heat with geothermal energy, primarily through an extensive district heating system.

Altogether, hydro and geothermal sources meet 81% of Iceland’s primary energy requirements for electricity, heat, and transportation. This must be a record in the modern era. Certainly Icelandic politicians think so, because they frequently make reference to it.

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South Africa:

South Africa's Geothermal Potential being Ignored (Bizcommunity.com)

(Courtesy CIA.gov)

The geothermal potential in South Africa has been overlooked says Graham Gavine‚ a geologist at HRP Geopower.

"The current view of renewable energy in South Africa is skewed towards solar and wind energy.

The potential for power generation using geothermal energy has been overlooked‚ despite the fact that South Africa has a need for a clean base-load power‚ which geothermal provides.

"Our research has shown that we could set up a 30 MWe plant at a capital cost of about R3m. As a geothermal plant uses a closed water system and a heat exchanger the operating costs are minimal. The problem at the moment is the regulatory environment‚ as there is no legislation covering geothermal‚ so it makes it difficult to get permits, licences and so forth‚" Gavine said.

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USA, Oregon:

Neal Hot Springs Project Update (News Release)

Neal Hot Springs Plant at 85% completion
(Courtesy U.S. Geothermal Inc.)

U.S. Geothermal Inc. has announced an update on the construction of its three module, 22 MWe net geothermal power plant at the Neal Hot Springs project, located in Malheur County, Oregon. Two of Three Power Plant Modules at Neal Hot Springs Are Producing Up to 16.8 MWe

Construction work for the air cooled power plant is largely complete and the contractor is now focused on achieving commercial operation within the fourth quarter of 2012.

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Japan:

Japan's Nuclear Dilemma: Is Geothermal the Answer? (The Christian Science Monitor)

(Courtesy The Christian
Science Monitor)

Japan's hot spring operators were once vocal opponents of geothermal power, which, along with other forms of renewable energy, is now being considered as an alternative to nuclear power.

Until recently, onsen (hot spring) operators were vocal opponents of geothermal power, which, along with other forms of renewable energy, is being considered as a serious alternative to nuclear power: Geothermal plants, they had once feared, would affect the level and quality of water that draws millions of Japanese to onsen resorts every year.

But then came the meltdown at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant – and renewed attention to long-neglected geothermal power as a potential solution to Japan's energy conundrum. And onsen operators – a key constituency for the tourism they drive – are slowly coming on board.

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Kazakhstan:

Kazakhstan, U.S. to Cooperate on Mapping Geothermal Resources  (Asia Times)

(Courtesy CIA.gov)

The latest meeting of the Kazakhstani-U.S. Energy Partnership Commission took place in Washington on October 15-16, 2012. The two delegation heads, Kazakhstan's Minister of Oil and Gas Sauat Mynbayev and the U.S. Deputy Secretary of Energy Daniel Poneman, signed a Joint Action Plan for 2012 - 2013 that promotes cooperation in four broad categories: nuclear security and nuclear power, hydrocarbon resources, renewable energy and energy efficiency, and electric power.

In the area of energy efficiency and renewable energy, the two governments will support joint training and capacity building projects to promote energy management systems, industrial energy audits, as well as the mapping of Kazakhstan's geothermal energy resources.

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USA, Hawaii:

Video: Hearing on Geothermal Night Drilling at Puna (Big Island Video News)

Signs held in opposition to geothermal
well drilling at night in Puna
(Courtesy Big Island Video News) 

Another Hawaii County Council public hearing was held in Puna on Friday evening. It was the second hearing relating to geothermal energy held in Pahoa this year. This time, the subject was the practice of drilling new geothermal wells during the night-time hours; Bill 292, which would amend the county code in order to put a stop to it.

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India:

Indian Regional Government to Study Geothermal Reserves (Press Trust of India)

(Courtesy Google Maps)

State-owned NTPC Limited (formerly National Thermal Power Corporation)  is likely to sign an agreement with the Chhattisgarh government to prepare a study on geothermal reserves available in the mineral rich state and advanced talks are on in this regard.

"The Chhattisgarh government may sign a pact with NTPC to study geothermal reserves in the state, (it) may form a Joint Venture for the same," a state government official said.

Kenya:

New Transmission Link to Bring Olkaria Geothermal Power Plant Electricity to Nairobi  (standardmedia.co.ke)

Kenya has signed a $59 million (Sh5 billion) deal with a Spanish firm for the construction of a substation power project. The plant will allow for the transmission of electricity imported from Ethiopia, the Lake Turkana wind project and the Kengen Olkaria Geothermal Power Plant into Nairobi.

The Kenya Electricity Transmission Company Ltd (Ketraco) signed the power transmission project with Iberdrola Ingenieria y Construccion SAU for the construction of the 220kV ring around the Nairobi Metropolitan area, which is expected to boost reliability of power in the capital.

The substation project — which will be financed by Agence Francaise de Development (AFD) and the Government — will offer a future evacuation outlet for the 280 MW Olkaria Geothermal Power Plant currently under construction. The power cannot reach the city through the existing Nairobi North 220 kV double circuit transmission lines.

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Kenya:

Kengen to Build Geothermal Tourist Resort at Olkaria (eTurboNews)

Hells Gate National Park 

(Courtesy Kenya Wildlife Service)

The Kenya Electricity Generating Company (KenGen), is in the process of diversifying its portfolio with the entry into the tourism industry. Located near Hells Gate National Park near Naivasha West of Nairobi, the new spa will offer a novel experience for locals and tourists alike, hitherto not found in Kenya or anywhere else in Eastern Africa until now.

KenGen will open a full-fledged spa on their property adjoining the national park, known as Olkaria, where the company is converting geothermal heat into “green” electricity.

The new facility is due to open its doors before Easter next year and guests can expect to find several open air “lagoons” with water temperatures of up to 40 degrees Celsius, using brine water with unique healing and medicinal properties. The new health center will also offer steam and sauna rooms for added relaxation and, of course, a restaurant where meals and snacks can be taken.

Adjoining the spa itself will be a visitor center and museum, highlighting Kenya’s involvement in tapping into geothermal energy sources.

Indonesia:

Marubeni and Toshiba Win FTK Order for Indonesia's Patuha Geothermal Power Plant (Japan Corporate News Network)

Patuha Unit 1 project 

(Courtesy PT Geo Dipa Energi) 

Japanese companies Marubeni and Toshiba announced that they will cooperate in the construction of the Patuha Unit 1 project, a 55 MWe geothermal power plant in West Java, Indonesia.

Marubeni will act as a main contractor and oversee management of the project under a full turnkey contract from PT Geo Dipa Energi, the plant owner and operator, and Toshiba will supply the plant's essential equipment, the steam turbine and generator and key auxiliary and management equipment.

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USA, Hawaii:

Testimony in Hawaii Nearly Unanimous For Drilling Restrictions for Puna (Big Island Now)

Supporters of a bill that would ban nighttime drilling for geothermal wells came out in force last Friday for a public hearing held by the County Council.

All but one of the 38 people testifying from the crowd of about 75 people were in support of the bill proposed by Chairman Dominic Yagong that would prohibit drilling between 7 p.m. and 7 a.m.

The only person testifying against the measure was GRC member Mike Kaleikini, manager of the Puna Geothermal Plant, who said there are serious safety concerns associated with the bill. A geothermal consulting company has said that shutting down drilling overnight could cause a failure of the well or release of geothermal gas.

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USA, Oregon:

Klamath Falls Geothermal Project Progresses (Herald and News)

The drilling pad near Olene 

(Courtesy Herald and News)

Construction of a test geothermal well near Olene and Klamath Falls in southern Oregon has started.

Earlier this week, crews from Chancellor Drilling installed a conductor casing that will be used to drill a larger well. Drilling of the well is expected to begin late next week or mid-month, according to Bill Honjas, president and CEO of Klamath Basin Geopower, the project developer.

Honjas said the company will have invested more than $6 million in four geothermal projects east of Klamath Falls after the first well is drilled. He expects the test well will go down to a depth between 4,000 and 6,000 feet.

If the test well is successful, the company plans to drill four more wells to provide enough geothermal resources to develop a 20 MWe power production plant. He said the company’s goal is to have five production wells drilled at the present project in 2013. Based on average estimates, each megawatt provides enough power for about 1,000 homes.

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Indonesia:

Balance Swings in Favor of Indonesia Geothermal (Financial Times)

(Courtesy CIA.gov)

As the world’s most volcanically active country, Indonesia has been bestowed with unparalleled potential reserves of geothermal energy, which is renewable and produces almost no carbon emissions.

With the Indonesian government trying to fulfill surging energy demand while reducing carbon emissions, it is keen to accelerate the development of a raft of proposed geothermal power plants backed by local and international investors.

But, as with the other plentiful natural resources buried beneath Indonesia’s 17,000 islands, efforts at exploitation have often been stymied by the complex bureaucracy, unclear regulation and a lack of financing.

Industry executives and analysts say that the government must streamline its geothermal energy policy and clarify its pricing structure if it is to make progress toward its goal of increasing geothermal energy capacity to 5,000 MWe by 2014 from 1,200 MWe at present.

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Peru:

Hot Rock Gets Another Permit in Peru (Proactive Investors Australia - News Release)

Geothermal prospects filed by Hot Rock 

Peru (Hot Rock Ltd.)

Hot Rock Ltd. has added to its geothermal project portfolio with the grant of another prospective permit called Achumani in Peru.

The latest grant adds to its existing Quellaapacheta project, which bears similar volcanic system, while three more applications are pending awards.

The company has already started engagement with local community groups to negotiate access issues. It is now looking for a partner to develop the project.

The Achumani displays all the characteristics of high quality volcanic geothermal system that have been proven to generate electricity around the world.

In the central project area, there are a number of geothermal features including superheated fumaroles, steaming ground and boiling mud pools that are interpreted to be associated with an upflowing volcanic geothermal system.

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Nicaragua:

Ram Power Announces Update for Its San Jacinto-Tizate Project (Environmental Expert - press release)

San Jacinto-Tizate geothermal power project

(Courtesy Ram Power, Corp)

Ram Power, Corp. has announced the following update on the progress at the company's 72 MWe expansion of the San Jacinto-Tizate geothermal power project.

As recently disclosed, Ram Power received approval from the Nicaraguan Government for a power sales tariff increase under its Power Purchase Agreement for the project. The tariff increase has been registered by the Nicaraguan Energy Institute and the Nicaraguan electricity grid operator, Centro Nacional de Despacho de Cargo, and is in effect for power sold from the project on or after October 1, 2012.

The Phase II, 36 MWe net expansion continues to be constructed on time and on budget, with construction activities 95% complete, power plant critical component engineering 100% complete and plant engineering 99% complete. The Phase II main transformer was successfully energized and plant pre-commissioning activities are ongoing. The unit is expected to be in commercial operation in December 2012.

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USA:

Role of Alternative Energy Sources: Geothermal Technology Assessment (PDF) (National Energy Technology Laboratory)

This report discusses the role of geothermal power in meeting the energy needs of the U.S. This includes an analysis of key issues related to geothermal power and, where applicable, the modeling of the environmental and cost aspects of geothermal power.

The U.S. has a large resource base of geothermal energy, but there are barriers to developing this resource. Assuming that sufficient technologies were to become available to support geothermal resource extraction, the total resource base within the U.S. is enormous. Development of only one percent of this resource would be equivalent to over 1,000 times the annual consumption of primary energy in the U.S.

However, the harnessing of a geothermal resource is constrained by several factors, including the character of geologic formations (which can affect cost and feasibility of drilling), temperature and depth of the resource, and the proximity of the resource to available infrastructure (including power lines and supply/access roads). These factors pose significant limitations with respect to the ongoing development of domestic geothermal resources.

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Kenya:

Honeywell Control System Selected by Hyundai Engineering to Support Olkaria Expansion (FEN)

Kenya Electricity Generating (KenGen) is setting up two key geothermal plants in Olkaria, which are expected to increase KenGen’s total electricity generating capacity by 25% and help meet the country’s increasing demand for energy.

Experion PKS will be implemented at KenGen’s Olkaria I and IV power plants, each with a capacity of 140 MWe.

The control system will be used to integrate data from Olkaria’s different operating systems and share that information with the plant’s workforce, enabling them to make quicker, better informed decisions. The system will also be used to centralize control room strategies.

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USA, Hawaii:

Ormat Promises Noise Reduction at Puna (West Hawaii Today)

Puna Geothermal Venture, criticized for around-the-clock drilling earlier this year, plans to take extra steps to reduce its noise impact.

The geothermal plant in Puna, operated by Ormat Technologies, will install sound barriers around a drill the next time a well is constructed, said Paul Thomsen, Ormat policy and business development director.

Additionally, sound walls, already used around parts of the plant, will be expanded and a “hospital-grade muffler” will be placed around a truck-mounted drill to be used for well maintenance next month.

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Serbia:

Study Determines Action Plan for Geothermal Development in Serbia  (ThinkGeoEnergy)

As part of an EU funded project, Icelandic Mannvit and Spanish company Eptisa recently presented the results of their pre-feasibility study on geothermal utilization and its potential for heat and power in Serbia, formulating an action plan and a vision for the industry in the country.

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Kenya:

GDC and Mount Kenya University to Collaborate on Research (ThinkGeoEnergy)

Kenya’s Geothermal Development Company (GDC) has announced it will collaborate with Mount Kenya University (MKU) through the Public Private Partnership framework to boost research and development.

Speaking during the launch of MKU’s multi-complex science laboratories in Nakuru, the GDC Managing Director & CEO Dr. Silas Simiyu said the two institutions will soon form a special committee to expedite the collaboration process.

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