Japan: Binary Geothermal Plant at Obama Onsen

Japanese Town Ventures Into Clean Energy (National Geographic)

On the foothills of the Mt. Unzen Volcano, the Nagasaki Prefectural town of Obama Onsen,  which literally means “Small Beach Hot Springs” in Japanese, is harnessing the power of the earth. In the town famous for its relaxing therapeutic spas and some of the hottest natural springs in Japan, the local people have come together to start their own renewable energy initiative.

To supplement the loss of nuclear power, the use of oil, natural gas and solar has since increased to stabilize the energy supply. However, according to reports only 2 percent of Japan’s geothermal resources are used to generate electricity.

The people of Obama Onsen believe that there is another way to produce clean geothermal energy in a way that is rarely done in Japan.  Prior to this new initiative, the hot springs in Obama Onsen were noted to waste 70 percent of their famously hot water. The 180 kW Obama Onsen Energy Plant uses the excess heat from natural hot springs to generate electricity. The concept has the power plant run and funded entirely by collaborating with local people and a company, Koyo Denki Co.

The energy plant uses 100℃ (boiling) spring water in a heat exchanger. The hot water evaporates the fluorine into steam that turns the turbine. Sea water is used to cool the vapor back into liquid for the binary process to begin again.

Read More........

USA, California: Abstract Submission for Stanford Geothermal Workshop Closes Next Week

Stanford Geothermal Workshop

22-24 February, 2016
Frances C. Arrillaga Alumni Center, 326 Galvez St., Stanford, CA 94305-6105

The goals of the conference are to bring together engineers, scientists and managers involved in geothermal reservoir studies and developments; provide a forum for the exchange of ideas on the exploration, development and use of geothermal resources; and to enable prompt and open reporting of progress.

We strongly encourage all scientists and engineers involved in geothermal reservoir technology to attend the workshop.

• Abstract submission opened on Tues, 28th July 2015
• Abstract submission closes Tuesday 27th October 2015
• Notification of abstract acceptance/decline Friday 27th November 2015

More Information.......

The Latest News in Audio from the Geothermal Wire Podcast

Geothermal Wire Podcast: Weekly Geothermal News Overview October 20, 2015

The weekly podcast by ThinkGeoEnergy with an audio global geothermal news report from things happening in the geothermal energy industry.

Kenya: Wellhead Geothermal Energy Turbines Produce 56 MW

Before Renewable Power Plant is Completed, Geothermal Overtakes Hydro in Kenya (IPS)

Five wellheads in Olkaria, in Kenya's Rift Valley region. Credit I. Esipisu/IPS

In its quest to generate more reliable, climate-friendly electric energy, Kenya has become the first country in the world to make use of temporary geothermal wellheads, which are currently injecting an extra 56 megawatts into the national grid.

According to engineers at the Kenya Electricity Generation Company (KenGen), it takes a number of years to construct a single geothermal power plant, because it has to be fed by steam from several wells, which are often drilled and left open for years awaiting completion of the main plant.

So far, the company has mounted 11 wellheads that now account for 56.1 megawatts of the country’s total geothermal energy production, as it constructs the sixth and seventh geothermal power plants at Olkaria site in the Rift Valley, which will be completed by 2018. Four more wellheads are under construction, and experts say they will produce a total of 20 more megawatts of electricity in the next few months.

Read More........

USA: Useful Information on Energy Stats Including Geothermal Energy

EIA celebrates World Statistics Day with an energy statistics quiz (EIA)

As the statistical and analytical agency within the U.S. Department of Energy, the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) is participating in World Statistics Day. Sponsored by the United Nations Statistical Commission, World Statistics Day promotes better understanding of statistics among the general public and policymakers worldwide.

This year's theme emphasizes the role of high-quality official statistical information in analysis and informed decision-making. EIA is committed to helping people understand energy and is committed to the dissemination of timely, relevant energy statistics.

The first World Statistics Day was celebrated in 2010 with more than 130 countries and areas participating. In 2012, the United Nations Statistical Commission decided to observe the celebration every five years on the same calendar date: October 20. In honor of World Statistics Day 2015, EIA created a 20-question energy quiz to highlight some key energy statistics.

In addition to our data and analysis products, EIA also provides several energy education products.

• Energy Explained is an energy encyclopedia that provides more than 170 articles written in plain language that cover energy sources, uses, and markets - Webpages on Geothermal Energy........
• Energy Kids covers energy sources and uses and includes games and activities for students - Webpages on Geothermal Energy.......
• Energy in Brief stories answer questions about energy in short, easy-to-read articles
• FAQs answer 160 of the questions about energy that are often posed to EIA

More information about World Statistics Day is available at the United Nations' World Statistics Day site.

GRC Annual Meeting & GEA Expo: Over 1,200 Attendees from 26 Countries

39th GRC Annual Meeting Attracts International Geothermal Industry (News Release)

Nearly 1,200 attendees from 26 different countries gather for the largest annual meeting of the global geothermal community 

GRC President Paul Brophy addresses the Opening Session of the GRC Annual Meeting

The Geothermal Resources Council (GRC), one of the world’s premier geothermal associations, has completed a successful 39th GRC Annual Meeting at the Peppermill Resort Spa Casino, Reno, Nevada, USA.

At the Opening Session, GRC Annual Meeting Chair Lisa Shevenell welcomed the attendees from 26 different countries and introduced an array of speakers from the regional, national and global energy communities.

Nevada Governor Brian Sandoval greeted the meeting saying the importance of geothermal power production in the State of Nevada is well known. The Silver State recently exceeded 30 years of geothermal power generation with 2014 production of 2.742 million net MWh. This is enough to power 247,000 Nevada households. “Congratulations to all for achieving this important and impressive milestone.”

Caribbean: Funding Provided for Development of Possible 60 MW Geothermal Energy

IDB and CDB fund Sustainable Energy Facility for Eastern Caribbean (News Release)

The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) have signed off on the Sustainable Energy Facility, a US$71.5 million loan and grant package that will fund renewable energy and institutional capacity projects in six Eastern Caribbean countries.

The IDB noted that Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines are island states with small and isolated electricity markets, lacking the scale necessary to import cheaper fossil fuels, such as natural gas, and inadequate development of renewable energy potential. And it said the SEF can change the energy matrix of those countries and increase energy security, which is critical for these economies to be competitive.

“This operation has the potential to trigger a radical transformation of the energy matrix of the Eastern Caribbean,” said Christiaan Gischler the IDB’s team leader of the SEF.

“Geothermal power plants established in each of the Eastern Caribbean countries with potential could have aggregate capacity of approximately 60 MW, which would substitute the equivalent amount of diesel and heavy fuel oil currently used for baseload power generation. This would displace an average of almost a million barrels of oil per year, which is equivalent to a 44 per cent reduction in oil imports or US$56 million per year.”

Gischler added that that public private partnerships could be a mechanism by which many of the energy projects could be successfully delivered.

“Under SEF, Eastern Caribbean governments and geothermal developers will be encouraged to form public and private partnerships. The PPP approach will encourage private partners to assume the loans and minimize the risks associated with the geothermal development. Governments will be able to diversify their energy mix without increasing their debt load,” he said.

Read More.......

Belgium: Progress on 248 Degree F Geothermal Reservoir Project in Flanders

Vito drills deep under Flemish soil to tap geothermal energy (Flanders Today)

A gigantic rig is gradually drilling up to about 4 kilometres under Flanders’ soil. It’s in search not of oil or gas, but the heat from the water deep below the Earth’s surface. The drilling in Mol, Antwerp province, is the first phase of a pioneering large-scale deep geothermal energy project in Flanders.

 

The Flemish Institute for Technological Research (Vito) has been preparing the region’s first large-scale deep geothermal energy project for about five years. The researchers first mapped in detail the deep subsurface of the Mol region to a depth of more than 4km, using seismic data obtained using ground impact systems known as thumper trucks. Vito’s prognosis is that hot water will be found at a depth of about 3.5km, at a temperature of more than 120 degrees Celsius/248 degrees Fahrenheit.

Read More........                      Other stories on VITO..........

Canada: "We are producing the (geothermal) energy, we’re just not doing anything with it".

The Volcanic Underground: Is Geothermal Energy The Answer? (Alberta Venture)

Alberta, B.C. and Saskatchewan are sitting on a wealth of free, green energy. So why is nobody doing anything about it?

We are already in the top – maybe the top five – producers of geothermal energy in the world.”

Strange words when you consider that Alberta has never produced a megawatt of geothermal. Alison Thompson, co-founder of the Canadian Geothermal Energy Association (CANGEA), sounds exasperated trying to explain the fact. “We are producing the energy, we’re just not doing anything with it,” she says. “It’s like a nuclear plant or a coal plant spinning the electrical generator but you didn’t connect it to the grid.”

“We don’t have a geothermal industry in Alberta for the most part,” says Craig Dunn, chief geologist of Calgary-based Borealis GeoPower, all of whose projects are outside of Alberta. “We have people in the industry who are excited and opportunistic about what could be, but we are currently at zero megawatts of production.”

Read More.......

Indonesia: Potential for 29,000 MW of Geothermal Energy

Indonesia has significant potential to increase geothermal electricity production (EIA)

Indonesia ranked third in the world in both geothermal electricity production and geothermal generating capacity in 2014, behind only the United States and the Philippines. The country is located at the convergence of several tectonic plates in Southeast Asia, giving it significant geothermal potential, although most of its potential reserves remain unexplored.

Indonesia's Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources estimates that the country holds a potential 29 gigawatts (GW) of geothermal capacity reserves, only 5% of which is currently being used.

Indonesia's current geothermal capacity of 1.3 GW consists of plants clustered around Java, Bali, North Sumatra, and North Sulawesi. Geothermal currently makes up less than 3% of Indonesia's total electricity generation capacity, but Indonesia plans to increase geothermal capacity by 2025 as part of a plan to increase electrification in the country.

More information on Indonesia's energy sector is available in EIA's Indonesia Country Analysis Brief.

Read More.......

New Zealand: Maori Trust Questions 50 MW Ngawha Geothermal Plant Expansion

Power station's extension appealed (Northern Advocate)

Ngawha Geothermal Plant  (Courtesy Top Energy)

A Maori trust is appealing against plans to expand Ngawha power station.

Far North power company Top Energy was last month granted a raft of consents allowing it to build two more geothermal power plants near Ngawha Springs, east of Kaikohe, boosting the power station's total output from 25 to 75 MW. That would be enough to turn the Far North into an exporter of electricity.

The Parahirahi C1 Trust, however, has since lodged an appeal in the Environment Court against the Northland Regional and Far North District council consents.

The trust is the kaitiaki (guardian) of the nearby Waiariki hot springs and manages a hot pool complex on trust-owned land and Crown land the Waitangi Tribunal has recommended be returned to Maori.

Read More.......

Get Your Daily *Global Geothermal News* Delivered to Your In-box

Get Your Daily Global Geothermal News Delivered to Your In-box

Global Geothermal News is the award-winning news website from the Geothermal Resources Council a trusted source for information.

Enter your email address:



Delivered by FeedBurner

Get a summary of the very latest geothermal energy news from around the world delivered by email every day. Subscribe now!

The Latest News in Audio from the Geothermal News Report

Geothermal News Report

The Geothermal News Report is a weekly podcast wrapping up the top stories in the geothermal industry.

GNR intreviews ENEL’s Daniel Fleischmann at the GRC Annual Meeting & GEA Expo 2015 in Reno, Nevada.



(AUDIO 3:43 Minutes)

United Kingdom: Discuss Geothermal Energy in a Pub!

Heat from the Earth, Geothermal Energy Talk and debate (Havant Friends of the Earth)

7.30pm, Thursday 22nd October, The Wheelwright’s Arms, 27 Emsworth Road, Havant, Hampshire, UK

Havant Friends of the Earth winter season of activities starts with a talk and debate on geothermal energy. Hot springs go back thousands of years and were well understood by the Romans who used them at Bath. The best known modern local example is Southampton’s district heating scheme. Launched in the eighties it now has thousands of customers that include a hospital, civic offices and several hotels and is 85% efficient compared with 35% from a conventional power station.

Dr Graham Giles MBE, the guest speaker, will focus on the Southampton installations and the potential for expansion.

The meeting is open to all and further information is available from havantfoe@talk21.com

For Further information please contact Ray Cobbett on (07850) 604490

Canada: First Geothermal Power Plant Aims for 2018 Start

Is geothermal power ready to make its debut in Canada? (The Vancouver Sun)

(Courtesy CIA.gov)

In all, some 24 countries worldwide have tapped geothermal power — energy produced from the natural heat of the earth — to run their homes and power their economies.

Canada, however, is not among them. Despite enormous potential buried beneath our feet, we have yet to power up our first plant.

Borealis GeoPower, a Calgary-based geothermal development firm, hopes to change that. It's developing of a 15 MW hydrothermal plant at Canoe Reach, near Valemount in southeastern B.C. With plans to bring the plant online and begin selling power to BC Hydro in 2018, it could become the first commercial geothermal power facility in Canada.

In addition to Canoe Reach, Borealis is pursuing another 15 MW geothermal power plant at Lakelse Lake near Terrace, B.C., in partnership with LL Geothermal.

Read More............                        More stories from Canada........

Islam: Muslim Countries Support Development of Renewable Energy

Environment Ministers from over 50 Muslim countries agree on “Declaration for environmental protection” (ISESCO)

The 6th Islamic conference of Environment Ministers held in Rabat, Morocco on 8-9 October 2015 (the largest convening of Muslim-world Environment Ministers) agree to a number of steps to tackle climate change and challenges facing sustainable development.

The conference was organised by the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), in conjunction with the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (ISESCO) under the patronage of the Kingdom of Morocco.

The two day event ended with a joint declaration on environmental protection and sustainable development, calling on renewed political commitment from member states to actively pursue sustainable development goals, energy efficiency, and poverty eradication.

The declaration called on all 57 OIC member states to Pursue 'green economies' - where renewables and energy efficiency creates a new green wave of employment and income for societies.

Read More........

Australia: Summary of Geodynamics’ events and achievements for the 2014/2015 financial year

Geodynamics Limited Annual Report 2014-15

Following a major strategic review in 2014, Geodynamics Limited identified the need to diversify beyond geothermal. Hence during the FY15 a key focus has been the assessment and investigation of alternative investment opportunities.

Over the past 12 months many opportunities have been identified and assessed. The review identified three strategic areas which we believe will be important and growing sectors as the global trend towards more efficient and sustainable economies continues. These identified sectors are: Clean Energy Supply and Services, Energy Efficiency and Storage Services, and Cleantech Industrial Services.

There were, however, some geothermal energy highlights:

• Completion of research program under the Beach Energy Cooper Basin Geothermal Farm–In Exclusivity Agreement to demonstrate potential for supply of geothermal sourced direct heat to future natural gas processing facilities in the Nappamerri Trough.
• Completion of the Takara Geothermal Power Project  Environmental and Social Impact Assessment confirmed that the project can be developed safely with low environmental impact resulting in receipt of Environmental Approvals for the exploration phase of Takara Geothermal Power Project in Vanuatu.

Full Report (PDF)......

New Zealand: Search Underway for Hidden Deep Geothermal Reservoirs

New geothermal exploration underway in Rotorua (New Zealand Herald)

A research project looking at the potential for hidden deep geothermal resources is underway east of Rotorua.

The project is being undertaken by GNS Science in partnership with the Bay of Plenty Regional Council.

The aim of the research is to improve the understanding of the deep - 3km to 7km - geothermal resource potential in the wider region, including the Okataina Volcanic Centre.

The work is focused on an area east of Lake Rotorua and is the second stage of a larger research project involving GNS Science researchers based in Wellington that will take place over the next three or four years.

Read More........

USA, New Mexico: Geothermal Power Plant and Tilapia Farm Agree on Geothermal Resource

Geothermal water dispute settled — for now (Albuquerque Journal)

The New Mexico Oil Conservation Commission (OCC) has resolved — for now — a dispute over use of a geothermal water resource in the remote Animas Valley of southern New Mexico.

AmeriCulture Inc., a desert fishery that raises tilapia fingerlings, and a local water conservation board protested a plan by Cyrq Energy Inc. to expand its Lightning Dock geothermal power plant, which has a deal to produce electricity for Public Service Company of New Mexico.

The three-member OCC has OK’d Cyrq’s plan, with conditions that seem to have appeased all parties, but at least two lawsuits could keep the issue simmering for some time.

The tilapia fish farm and $43 million Lightning Dock power plant are a stone’s throw from each other in the dry Animas Valley near Lordsburg. Both draw water in the area: the fishery from a shallow water source and the power plant from a 250-plus-degree, deep geothermal source.

Read More........

USA, California: Casa Diablo IV Geothermal Project is "Prudent Development"

Animation Showing Mammoth Lakes Groundwater and Geothermal Reservoir Separation (Ormat)

The Mammoth Community Water District (MCWD), along with local community groups and local, regional, and federal elected officials, have expressed concerns about Ormat's Casa Diablo IV’s potential impacts to local water supplies and environmental resources.

Ormat has put together a short animation to help dispel fears about the project.

 

From the transcript: The Mammoth Community Water District's water expert publicly says existing publicly available studies and data do not indicate significant interaction between the upper cold water aquifer and the much deeper geothermal reservoir but now the water district is claiming that there will be adverse effects threatening the town's water supply.

More stories on the Casa Diablo Geothermal project.........

United Kingdom: British Geothermal Leader to Feature in Radio Broadcast

Rethinking Energy: Conversation With GRC Member Paul Younger - UK Geothermal Pioneer (Northern Rock Foundation)

Sunday 8th November, 2015. 5.30pm - 6.30pm, Northern Rock Foundation Hall, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom

GRC Member Paul Younger, Professor of Energy Engineering at Glasgow University

Can we heat our homes using energy from deep beneath our feet? Can we use fossil fuels without damaging the environment? Paul Younger, Professor of Energy Engineering at Glasgow University, discusses these approaches to keeping the lights on in the future with presenter Jim al-Khalili.

The conversation is part of BBC Radio 3 Free Thinking Festival 2015. Attend live, listen live or on demand on BBC Radio 3.

Find all the programmes at bbc.co.uk/freethinking

Mexico: GRC President Paul Brophy Gives Geothermal Industry Update

GRC President Addresses Annual Meeting of Asociación Geotérmica Mexicana

GRC President Paul Brophy updating the Mexican geothermal industry on what's happening in the US @GRC2001 #geothermal pic.twitter.com/5AleaFPGnO

— WING (@WING_geothermal) October 15, 2015

Finance: CEO of Turboden Gives Insights on Geothermal Energy Industry

Interview With Paolo Bertuzzi, Managing Director & CEO of Turboden (Geo Power & Heat Summit)

Where do you see the opportunity in Geothermal power over the course of the next 3-5 years?

We see plenty of opportunities in the geothermal global market, especially for projects based on binary solution. The most interesting markets are Turkey and South East Asia, but also Europe (we have just secured an important 16 MW project in Croatia), Americas, and East Africa.

What do you consider as the main challenges to stakeholders in the Geothermal power industry?

Main challenges for geothermal are not related to the power-generation technology. As of today either flash and binary technologies are well established and mature, having achieved a high degree of competitiveness in terms of performance and cost. Main issues often relate to the financing of the projects, a good knowledge of the underground resource and a knowledge management of the operation and optimization of the overall geothermal plant during its life.  These aspects make the difference between a successful geothermal business and a “good business plan not transformed in actual numbers in the execution”. That is the reason why it is very important to rely on suppliers that demonstrated to deliver results and actual numbers of high availability. About this point, Turboden ORC fleet has over 98% of availability with more than 7,500 GWh of operation.

Read More.......

Kenya: CEO of KenGen Explains Geothermal-Driven Profits

Interview with Albert Mugo Managing Director & CEO KenGen Ltd (Rich Management)

Kenya Electricity Generating Company (KenGen) has posted a 308 percent rise in its net profit to Sh11.5 billion for the financial year ended June 30, 2015 from Sh2.8 billion in 2014.

The firm attributes the growth in profitability to increased installed capacity, better performance and tax credit from capital allowances following the commissioning of the 280 Megawatts (MW) Geothermal project and wellheads in Olkaria and the Ngong wind project.



(Video: 21:05 Minutes)

East Africa, New Zealand: Geothermal Drilling to Use Kiwi Codes

African Union Commission and New Zealand Government sign an agreement on Geothermal Drilling Regulation for Deep Wells in East Africa (News Release)

The African Union Commissioner for Infrastructure and Energy, H.E. Dr Elham M. A. Ibrahim and New Zealand Ambassador to the African Union, H.E. Mr Bruce Shepherd, signed on 9 October 2015 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, an Agreement on Geothermal Drilling Regulation for Deep Wells in East Africa to support regulation of geothermal activity in Eastern African countries.

The Agreement aims to facilitate the development by the African Union Commission of a Geothermal Drilling Code (“AU Commission Standard”) based on the New Zealand Standards SNZ2403:201, for use by African Union member states. “The new African Union Commission Code of Practice will help to ensure increased professionalism and safety for deep geothermal well drilling starting with the Eastern African countries and will help countries make the most of their vast geothermal potential”, Commissioner Dr Elham Ibrahim, said.

For detailed information about the AUC geothermal activities and The Geothermal Risk Mitigation Facility (GRMF) please visit the GRMF website: grmf-eastafrica.org.

Read More.......

Chile: Mariposa Geothermal Project Drilling to Re-Start in One Year

Alterra Power Announces Rescheduling of Mariposa Drilling to 2016 (News Release)

Alterra Power Corp. announces that the drilling campaign for the Mariposa geothermal project in Chile has been rescheduled for late 2016.

Energy Development Corporation (EDC), the managing partner for the joint venture, decided to postpone the drilling in response to lower commodity prices which have negatively impacted near-term project economics. The drilling was previously scheduled to begin in October of this year.

In the meantime, Alterra and its partner, Energy Development Corporation, will continue developing the project through engineering work for the power plant and transmission interconnection, proceeding with an environmental impact assessment, and other development activities. Under the joint venture agreement, EDC is currently funding all project activities up to a total of US$58.3 million.

Read More.......

Finance: Ormat and Toshiba to Share Binary/Flash Geothermal Expertise

Ormat and Toshiba Sign Strategic Collaboration Agreement (News Release)

Collaboration Expected to Increase Geothermal Market Opportunities to Support Future Growth

Ormat Technologies Inc. and Toshiba Corporation announced today that the two companies have signed a strategic collaboration agreement (SCA) to develop strategic opportunities for collaboration in the areas of geothermal power generation systems and related equipment.

Under the terms of the agreement, the parties will explore and develop strategic opportunities that will enable them to offer potential customers a more competitive solution for comprehensive supplies and services related to geothermal developments, from resource assessment, field development, power plant engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) to power plant operation.

The first project expected to be implemented under this collaboration is the Menengai geothermal project in Kenya to be constructed and operated by the Ormat - Symbion Power LLC - Civicon Ltd Consortium, majority owned by Ormat. The parties have already initiated negotiations on the supply agreement and the plant design is at an advanced stage.

The parties are actively analyzing global prospects for upcoming and potential projects in which they can jointly submit applications for geothermal power plants utilizing a geothermal solution consisting of Ormat’s binary system and Toshiba’s flash system.

Read More.......

USA: Geothermal is worlds cheapest and best kept secret for renewable energy

Geothermal Energy – The Earth’s Biggest Untapped Resource (North American Energy Advisory)

Matt Helland, Senior Vice President- North American Energy Advisory

Geothermal energy has the largest potential in the western part of our country. Geothermal plants are very site-specific and are limited to places that have highly accessible reserves of high temperature ground water. With a lack of transmission lines in western states there have been limitations on its growth. The other major limitation has been the fact that completing a geothermal power generating project takes anywhere from 4 to 8 years which is much longer than completion timelines for solar or wind.

As technology progresses, it is expected that the turnaround time for a geothermal build-out will be reduced substantially. Once this is achieved, we will be able to better utilize one of the worlds cheapest and best kept secrets for renewable energy. The earth itself.

Read More.......

Finance: Toshiba and Ormat Announce Partnership

Toshiba teaming up with U.S. player (Nikkei)

Toshiba will collaborate with a U.S. geothermal power company to build plants around the world from the ground up, bringing down project times and growing its involvement in previously thin markets.

U.S.-based Ormat Technologies handles all stages of geothermal plant construction, from mining geothermal resources to building facilities and producing and selling plant technology. The company also operates a number of plants around the world.

Ormat has produced roughly 12% of the world's installed geothermal power capacity, making it the fourth largest player in the market, Toshiba says. Ormat boasts strong sales of so-called binary geothermal plants, which are able to draw power from relatively low-temperature fluid of around 100 C.

Toshiba itself holds a 26% market share, making it the world's geothermal leader. The company focuses mainly on flash systems, which use high-temperature steam to spin generator turbines. But Toshiba's business has so far been centered on the production and sale of turbines, generators and other plant components.

Read More......

Finance: Levelized Cost of Electricity for Renewables Continues to Decrease

Digging Deeper, Why Renewables are Beating Coal and Gas in Some Parts of the World (Renewable Energy World)

Earlier this month Bloomberg New Energy Finance (BNEF) announced findings that the levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) for wind and solar is now cheaper than coal and gas in Europe. Further the organization said that it is actually the renewables that are pushing up the LCOE of gas and coal. Because the BNEF analysis is so deep and complex — it uses thousands of data points the company says — the press release that it issued was hard to understand. Here we take a deeper look at the process involved in comparing energy generation technologies to determine exactly why renewables will continue to push out fossils for the foreseeable future.

A look at the chart below (part of a presentation at the BNEF EMEA Summit in London on October 13) offers a deeper look at the BNEF analysis. It shows not only that the LCOE for wind and solar is beating coal and natural gas in some regions of the world, but that other renewable technologies such as geothermal, biomass incineration and small hydro also have very low LCOEs and in many regions are cost competitive or cheaper than fossil or nuclear energy.

Read More........

Chile: Mariposa Geothermal Project Drilling Postponed for Economic Reasons

EDC Suspends Drilling for Chile Geothermal Project (The Manila Times)

Drill site MP-02 at the Mariposa geothermal Project (Courtesy Alterra Power)

Philippines company Energy Development Corp. (EDC) has postponed its 3-well drilling campaign for the Mariposa Geothermal Project in Chile. This, said EDC, was due to the “challenging project economics resulting from the recent fall in prices of competing fossil fuels.”

The drilling campaign, which intends to prove the availability of resources in the area, was originally scheduled mid-October this year.

Earlier, the company said it would invest $85 million or nearly P4 billion to conduct exploratory activities within a geothermal prospect in Chile. EDC, however, said it continues to pursue development activities with greater focus, including conducting further environmental and technical studies for the steam field, power plant, and transmission line interconnection.

“EDC continues to be committed in developing the Mariposa Project and remains optimistic on the long-term prospects of the Chilean electricity market,” the company said in a statement.

To advance the development of Mariposa, EDC said it would prioritize investing in technical studies for the front-end engineering design (FEED) for the steam field, power plant and for the transmission line connection. It will also proceed with the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for the project.

Read More.......

USA, California: Salton Sea Restoration Plan Would be Anchored by Geothermal Energy Area

Ray of hope for Salton Sea (Press-Enterprise)

After decades of pleas, promises and plans to save the Salton Sea, the planets at last seem to be aligning to make progress possible.

Instead of trying to fund a $9 billion program to rescue the entire, 350-square-mile, accidentally created inland sea, state and regional officials are figuring out ways to begin paying for a bailout in small bites.

Riverside County Supervisor John Benoit, chairman of the Salton Sea Authority board, is in Sacramento today to present what he says is a reasonably priced model for fixing some of the Salton Sea’s pressing problems quickly. He’s calling it SSWIFT: the Salton Sea, Water-limited, Incrementally Funded, Time-limited plan.

SSWIFT would create two, good-sized lakes at the north and south ends of the sea, permanently maintaining the shoreline close to the existing shoreline for two-thirds or more of the sea, Benoit said.

It would establish a geothermal area along the shore where renewable energy projects could be built at the site of natural hot springs (a big selling point of the plan).

And it would create a reservoir of water that could be used to keep down dust, a health-endangering byproduct of the drying sea.

Read More........

USA, Hawaii: Geothermal Survey on Hualalai Seen as an Insult to the Goddess Pele

Group opposes geothermal survey on Hualalai (Hawaii Tribune-Herald)

A group that has long fought geothermal development in Puna plans to challenge a geothermal survey on Hualalai for lacking an environmental assessment.

Terri Napeahi, Pele Defense Fund vice president, thinks the state erred by not requiring the review for the exploration project, which will measure very low-frequency electromagnetic waves underground, and plans to file a lawsuit.

That move follows the state Board of Land and Natural Resources’ decision Friday to deny her request for a contested case hearing.

Napeahi, a follower of Native Hawaiian religious practices, said she sees geothermal development as an insult to the goddess Pele. While this survey, conducted by the University of Hawaii, uses noninvasive techniques and won’t involve drilling, she said an exhaustive review still should occur to ensure cultural sites are not impacted.

Napeahi, of Hilo, said the potential for drilling is a significant religious issue for her even if she doesn’t live in the area.

“Hualalai is no different from any pu‘u that formed on this island,” she said. “She (Pele) is the source. To get any kind of resource they have to drill. That’s an impact on the deity.”

Read More........

USA, California: Geothermal Community Dinner at The Geysers

Geysers Geothermal Association - 2015 Fall Membership Dinner

Thursday, November 19th, Charlie’s @ Windsor Golf Course
1320 19th Hole Drive, Windsor, California

• 5:30 pm Check-In/Socializing
• 6:00 pm Welcome: Steve Burden, President
  Dinner
• 7:00 pm GGA Membership Meeting
  Guest Speaker, Geof Syphers, CEO, Sonoma Clean Power

Cost: $37 per person - You must RSVP – vera.crabtree@calpine.com or call 707-987-4270

GRC Geothermal News Source is Followed by Over 2,500 Around the World

GRC Twitter Feed Reaches 2,500 Followers!

The Twitter feed of the Geothermal Resources Council has reached 2,500 Followers!

Launched in June 2011, The Geothermal Resources Council (GRC) has posted more than 8,600 Tweets, short 140-character messages, on the GRC Twitter page attracting over 2,500 followers and in turn following the news and information from over 2,000 sources.

As the premier information and education association in the global geothermal energy community, the GRC is the trusted source for the latest geothermal energy news.

Get the latest Geothermal Energy news on your mobile device: https://twitter.com/GRC2001

Philippines: Unified Leyte Geothermal Energy Contracts for 7 Year 5 MW Power Supply

VECO taps EDC subsidiary for power supply (BusinessWorld)

Power distributor Visayan Electric Co. (VECO), jointly owned by Aboitiz Power Corp. and Vivant Corp., has tapped a subsidiary of Energy Development Corp. to provide a portion of its supply needs.

The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) said VECO and Unified Leyte Geothermal Energy, Inc. (ULGEI) have sought regulatory approval for their power supply agreement (PSA).

Under the deal, ULGEI should sell and deliver 5 megawatts (MW) of power from ULGEI’s geothermal power plant at a generation payment rate of P4.6629 per kilowatt-hour (/kWh).

The PSA will have a period of seven years, the order stated.

Read More......

Kenya: Doubling of Geothermal Energy Capacity Helps Boost KenGen profits

KenGen powers 2015 net profit to Sh11.5bn (Capital FM Kenya - News Release)

The Kenya Electricity Generating Company (KenGen) has posted a 308 percent rise in its net profit to Sh11.5 billion for the financial year ended June 30, 2015 from Sh2.8 billion in 2014.

The firm attributes the growth in profitability to increased installed capacity, better performance and tax credit from capital allowances following the commissioning of the 280 Megawatts (MW) Geothermal project and wellheads in Olkaria and the Ngong wind project.

Total revenue grew by 44 percent from Sh18.5 billion to Sh26.6 billion in June with geothermal contributing 46 percent, an increase of 21 percent compared to last year.

Capacity from geothermal sources increased by 99 percent from 256 MW in 2014 to 509 MW.

KenGen now plans to focus on the implementation of 511 MW geothermal projects comprising the 70 MW Olkaria 1 Unit 6, 140 MW each for Olkaria V and VI, 75 MW Wellheads and refurbishment of the old Olkaria 1 from 45 MW to 50.7 MW that it plans to develop in the next two to four years.

Read More........

Philippines: Drilling Starts at 40 MW Montelago Geothermal Project

Nickel Asia sees 40% drop in shipment value in Jan.-Sept. (BusinessWorld Online Edition)

Nickel Asia said its 66%-owned renewable energy firm Emerging Power, Inc. (EPI)'s geothermal project, the 40-MW Montelago plant in Occidental Mindoro will begin drilling work this week, to be done by Iceland Drilling.

The listed company also announced that it has awarded the engineering, procurement and construction to the Spanish-Italian consortium, TSK-Turboden.

The intent of the first phase of the project is to build up to 20 MW geothermal power plant but also to use the geothermal water for direct use for the local population.

Read More........

China: Call for Papers for Deep Geothermal Energy Conference

Fifth Annual Conference for the Development and Utilization of Deep Geothermal Energy

March 15-17, 2016, Beijing, China

Geothermal Engineering Research Center, China University of Geosciences, Beijing (CUGB), Survey and Research Center of Geothermal Resources, China Geological Survey

Over 150 people were in attendance for the 4th conference held last March in Beijing, China. Goals are to bring together engineers, scientists, and managers in the geothermal industry, to provide a forum for the exchange of ideas on the exploration, development, and use of geothermal resources, to promote research, exploration and development of geothermal energy in ways compatible with the environment in China; and cooperate with national and international academic institutions, industry and government agencies to encourage economically and environmentally sound development and bring the innovative technology to china.

Topics covered will be Exploration: geology, geophysics, geochemistry, heat flow studies; Drilling and well stimulation; Power generation technologies; Co-production from oil and gas fields; Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS); Reservoir Engineering: injection, numerical simulation, empirical methods, tracers, etc., and Direct use: heat pumps, space heating, and cooling.

Papers accepted for presentation and/or publication are produced on a standard template that we supply. The papers will be available as a Proceedings CD. We removed the process of submitting abstracts for simplicity. Instead, papers can be submitted directly to geopowerchina@163.com for consideration.

We invite companies and sponsors to offer financial support for the conference. Contributions from sponsors allow us to keep the registration fee low ($500). Sponsors will receive acknowledgement in the opening sessions, literature papers, and the conference proceedings. Please contact Prof. Kewen Li for further details.

Call for Papers and Registration Form

Finance: Renewable Energy Yieldcos Loose Some of Their Gloss

Renewable Energy Financing Hits a Snag (New York Times)

However, executives and analysts say that the industry’s long-term prospects remain sound.

Only a few months ago, it seemed that the renewable energy sector could do little wrong: Stock prices were soaring and money was pouring in as investors flocked to get in on the action.

That is no longer the case. Low oil and gas prices have roiled the energy markets, and the specter of rising interest rates has rattled investors’ confidence in the industry’s returns. Although energy and financial experts say that the basics of the business remain sound, the lofty stock prices have tumbled, leading renewable energy companies to scramble for new approaches to their businesses.

Nowhere has the retrenchment been more acute than in a newfangled financing mechanism called a yieldco. Yieldcos, public companies conceived by renewable energy companies as a way to raise cheaper capital for project development, have attracted billions in new investments.

Read More.......

Caribbean: Sir Richard Branson Promotes Renewable Energy for Islands

Transitioning island energy for a better future (Virgin)

By Richard Branson, founder of Virgin Group

As residents of the Caribbean, my family have experienced first-hand the impact that climate change has on this planet. Living on Necker Island we are often subjected to powerful hurricanes and tropical storms.

This wonderful region is bearing the brunt of climate change – facing sea-level rises, increasing temperatures and extreme weather – and yet it has been powerless prepare itself for a sustainable future. High electricity prices contribute to poverty and national debts, and prevent widespread investment in the modern infrastructure to kick start development.

There’s tragic irony in this, however, because as the postcards show, the sun-drenched and wind-swept islands are the perfect settings in which to harvest renewable energy. Solar and wind represents a huge opportunity in sustainable development, and the Caribbean is ideally placed to demonstrate and scale innovative, clean energy solutions.

Read More.......

Kenya: Geothermal Energy Investor Looks to Expand Operations

Centum Seeks to Expand in Africa (AllAfrica)

Publicly listed Kenyan investment firm Centum is looking for cross-border acquisitions in its bid to enter new markets across Africa.

The company is eyeing Anglophone East and West African countries including Uganda, Tanzania, Ghana and Nigeria.

Chief executive James Mworia said the company would be seeking to expand its operations into new territories through joint ventures.

Centum is expected to invest $37 million in Akiira One Geothermal, the first private sector greenfield geothermal private development in sub-Saharan Africa.

Centum is also part of a consortium prospecting for geothermal energy with plans to add 70 MW of clean energy to the national grid in the first phase of the planned total of 140 MW.

Read More.......

Kenya: Ol Karia Geothermal Special Economic Zone to Open Early Next Year

Kenya to Roll Out Special Trade Zones in First Quarter of 2016 (geeskaafrika.com)

Kenya plans to roll out Special Economic Zones (SEZs) which will enjoy lower taxes to boost the country’s investment profile.

The designated trading zones will be established in the first quarter of 2016, the Industrialisation ministry has said. They are expected to help investors cut down on key cost drivers such as transport, with the hope that surplus funds would go towards value addition. The focus of the new policy on SEZs is that goods be produced closer to raw material sources and investors handed preferential terms on matters such as licensing.

The special economic zones law provides incentives for industries to operate in designated zones including Naivasha, near the Ol Karia geothermal power plants. Manufacturers in the SEZs in Naivasha will, for instance, be offered discounts on power bills because of lower transmission costs from the power plants to the industrial hubs.

Read More.......

USA: Call for Oil & Gas Industry to Develop geothermal Energy

Researchers want oil and gas drillers to adopt geothermal technology (Big News Network.com)

Researchers at the University of North Dakota believe geothermal energy production should be a significant part of America's future energy portfolio.

But to get the industry off the ground, proponents are looking to an industry not normally associated with renewable energy -- gas and oil drillers.

"Oil- and gas-producing sedimentary basins in Colorado, Illinois, Michigan, and North Dakota contain formation waters of a temperature that is adequate for geothermal power production," authors Anna Crowell and Will Gosnold - both GRC Members - wrote in their new study on the subject, published this week in the journal Geosphere.

Geothermal energy requires heat, and natural sources of heat lie deep within the ground. Gas and oil drillers have already built the infrastructure to access deep-lying natural resources. Of course, gas and oil drillers want gas and oil, not heat. But in their quest for gas and oil, they get heat nonetheless.

Read More.......

USA, California: State Supports Salton Sea Restoration Efforts

Brown announces plans for larger Salton Sea efforts (The Desert Sun)

Gov. Jerry Brown announced plans Friday for the state to back larger projects to control dust and construct wetlands along the receding shores of the Salton Sea.

In response to recommendations made by the newly formed Salton Sea Task Force, the state plans to restore between 9,000 and 12,000 acres of shoreline habitat by 2020 using already-available state funds.

Starting in 2020, the state will then begin to restore an additional 18,000 to 25,000 acres of exposed shoreline, although an end date for this stage of restoration has yet to be set.

Also approved were plans to use a science advisory committee to supervise decisions related to the Salton Sea, and to ensure regulatory oversight by the State Water Resources Control Board.

The task force has recommended those actions in order to prevent larger problems at the Salton Sea, which since its accidental creation in 1905 has gone from prime fishing and boating location to a possible environmental catastrophe.

The Imperial Irrigation District has been promoting a plan to develop more geothermal energy plants near the Salton Sea. The agency, which owns portions of the lake bed, proposes to generate money through leases and use the funds for dust control projects.

Read More.......

Philippines: EDC Recognizes Importance of Reforestation to Geothermal Reservoir Recharge

DENR lauds the 10M in 10 project in Negros Island (Philippine Information Agency)

Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Assistant Secretary Marcial Amaro Jr. commended the launch of the 10 Million in 10 (10M in 10) for Greener Negros project in this city recently.

The 10M in 10 project is developed by Energy Development Corporation (EDC), the company that runs the geothermal power plant in Valencia, Negros Oriental.

It aims to grow ten million native trees and increase the dwindling forest cover of Negros island in ten years.

EDC president and Chief Operating Officer (COO) Richard Tantoco reaffirmed the company’s commitment to preserve the island’s forest covers. Tantoco emphasized that watersheds play a critical role in ensuring continued geothermal operations. He explained that geothermal energy comes from the steam that we extract from the water reservoirs that are heated by old volcanic magma chambers deep within the mountains.

He said it is only important that the firm plants trees to capture the rainwater that will charge the reservoir to replenish the supply of geothermal energy in the future.

“This is why we are committed to protect the forest. The geothermal energy is a primary example of how development can happen in harmony with nature and how our modern human needs can be met at the same time while protecting our environment,” Tantoco said.

Read More.......

India: 3D MT Surveying Begins for 2 MW Gujarat Geothermal Project

ISR hopeful of tapping geothermal energy, starts survey (Niticentral)

To find out potential spots for setting up India's first geothermal power plant using heat stored below earth's surface, Institute of Seismological Research (ISR) has started surveys using latest 3D Magentotelluric (MT) imaging technology.

With the initiative, the Gandhinagar-based ISR is hopeful of making a breakthrough by finding out the most feasible source of thermal energy to set up a 2 MW geothermal power plant in Gujarat, which will be the first in the country, ISR Director Dr B K Rastogi said.

Read More.......

France, Japan: Companies To Collaborate on Renewable Energy Technologies

ENGIE and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries signed a MOU to develop their collaboration in energy sector and technology (News Release)

The agreement covers a wide range of technologies and solutions: conventional and nuclear power plants, renewable energy technologies, distributed generation as well as the emerging technologies and innovative services allowing to increase energy efficiency, optimize the use of resources and reduce CO2 emissions.

The ENGIE (ex GDF Suez) – Mitsubishi Heavy Industries cooperation agreement will, among other things, cover the development of technologies and services aiming at increasing process efficiency and reducing emissions of electrical systems globally, including optimizing conventional power plants and their auxiliary and integrated facilities, developments of highly efficient gas turbines, developments of innovative solutions for combined generation of electricity, heat and hydrogen, fuel cells, monitoring systems etc. together with the advancement of nuclear related business delivering reliable carbon-free base-load electricity to the market.

Read More.......

Chile: Professor Alfredo Lahsen Receives GRC Geothermal Pioneer Award 2015

Profesor Alfredo Lahsen recibió premio Geothermal Pioneer Award 2015 (Universidad de Chile)

Profesor Alfredo Lahsen flanked by Patrick Dobson (left) and
GRC president Paul Brophy (right)

Por su actividad investigativa pionera en la geotermia en Chile, la formación de especialistas y promoción del avance de esta energía renovable en el país, el Geothermal Resources Council reconoció al académico del Departamento de Geología de la Facultad de Ciencias Físicas y Matemáticas de la U. de Chile, e investigador del CEGA.

“Ha sido un gran honor recibir esta distinción. Me enorgullece ver que desde afuera, de Estados Unidos, constaten que uno ha dedicado la vida a desarrollar un determinado tipo de recurso que es abundante en nuestro país y ha sido poco utilizado. Es un reconocimiento muy satisfactorio”.

Con estas palabras, el profesor Alfredo Lahsen compartió con la comunidad universitaria la experiencia que vivió recientemente en la reunión anual del Geothermal Resources Council (GRC), realizada el 22 de septiembre en la ciudad de Reno, en el estado de Nevada.

La glosa del galardón recibido hace distinción a “una vida de logros en estudios geotermales de Los Andes y por la formación de generaciones de científicos especializados en esta disciplina en Latinoamérica”.

Lahsen fue el  primer geólogo en nuestro país en realizar una evaluación preliminar de los recursos geotérmicos chilenos, lo que dio como resultado un potencial de 16.000 MW susceptibles de ser usados para la generación eléctrica.

Leer Mas........    

USA: GRC Members Suggest Potential for Geothermal Energy Along Front Range of the Rocky Mountains

Geothermal Energy: Look to the Denver-Julesberg Basin (GSA)

Credit: Anna Crowell and Will Gosnold and Geosphere

To offset the need for fuel imports, to decrease greenhouse gas emissions, and to increase U.S. energy independence, geothermal energy has emerged as an important part of the U.S. energy portfolio. This well-illustrated study, published in Geosphere this week, presents a new and inexpensive method using Geographic information system (GIS) and National Geothermal Data System data to evaluate a region for geothermal energy exploration.

Authors Anna Crowell and Will Gosnold - both GRC Members - gathered and analyzed free-access GIS data for trends that could help geoscientists assess whether a sedimentary basin could be economically utilized for geothermal power production. In their article, they identify several counties in the states of Colorado, Illinois, Michigan, and North Dakota where geothermal energy could be used for different energy production scenarios.

In particular, they find that the Denver-Julesberg Basin (which spans Wyoming, Nebraska, and Colorado, and has a surface area of approx. 155,000 square kilometers) has the highest capacity for large-scale, economically feasible geothermal power production. They write that, "assuming an adequate, sustainable water supply," high-population areas west of Denver, near the depocenter of the basin and the Golden fault along the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains, are of greatest interest because costly infrastructure is already in place.

Integrating geophysical data in GIS for geothermal power prospecting

Anna Crowell and Will Gosnold, University of North Dakota, Harold Hamm School of Geology and Geological Engineering, Grand Forks, North Dakota 58202, USA. This article is online at http://geosphere.gsapubs.org/content/early/2015/10/02/GES01161.1 Themed issue: Geothermal Energy from Sedimentary Basins: Challenges, Potential, and Ways Forward.

Read More......