Global Geothermal News

Tuesday, January 28, 2020

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

Webinar - Climate change solutions: Geothermal energy opportunities in Scotland (Scottish Enterprise)

Wednesday, 29 January 2020, 2pm - 4pm (GMT), 6:00 AM - 7:30 AM PST

Scottish Enterprise presents an overview of Scotland's unique minewater geothermal investment opportunity.

The global warming crisis has highlighted the urgent need for solutions required to help countries to limit their environmental impact through the reduction of global greenhouse gas emissions. Scotland is an international leader in combating climate change however there is much more to be done both in Scotland and around the world.

This webinar will explore how the use of geothermal heat from mine water could help on the journey to be a net carbon zero country and how your business could help.

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

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

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

The following speakers are confirmed:

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

Monday, January 27, 2020

USA, California: Radio Interview on the Potential for Geothermal Energy in the Golden State

More Energy Expected To Come From Geothermal In California (KPBS)

Two new geothermal plants are in the works in the state, one is in the Salton Sea area and the other is in northern California.

The growth in geothermal is believed to be spurred by a California bill passed in 2018 requiring the state to get to 100% renewable energy by 2045. Clean power from geothermal sources has long been generated in California, but the scale has been small, accounting for just 4.5% of the state’s energy in 2018.

Los Angeles Times energy reporter Sammy Roth wrote about the expected expansion of geothermal energy in the state. He joined Midday Edition to discuss how geothermal makes energy and why it's poised to grow.

Read More.........

Philippines: Indigenous Peoples Give Thanks for Benefits from Mt Apo Geothermal Power Plants

Manobos hold thanksgiving ritual in Mt. Apo for Benefits from geothermal power (Minda News)

Leaders of Indigenous Peoples (IPs) in North Cotabato held a ritual on Friday as part of their thanksgiving for the ‘gifts’ they received from a private company for allowing it to use part of their ancestral domain as site of its geothermal power production.

Leaders from the Manobo Apao Descendants of the Ancestral Domain of Mount Apo (MADADMA) led the ritual they call ‘Sumaya’ at Lake Agco in Barangay Ilomavis.

The Manobos came from Barangay Ilomavis in Kidapawan City and Barangay Kinawayan in Magpet, whose lands are situated within the 10-kilometer radius of the 701-hectare in Mount Apo where the geothermal power plants owned by the Energy Development Corporation (EDC) were constructed in the early 1990s.

The Manobos claim the land as part of their ancestral domain.

During the ritual, MADADMA chair Datu Damaso Bayawan said they appreciate the benefits they continue to receive from EDC as part of their royalty share.

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

Kenya: 35 MW Sosian Menengai Geothermal Power Project Gets Green Light

Sosian Energy gets nod to drill Menengai steam (Business Daily Africa)

Local renewable power firm, Sosian Energy has been granted approval to drill geothermal power in Menengai, Nakuru.

The firm got the green light through a notice last Friday by the National Environment Management Authority (Nema). The environmental watchdog further invited the public to share their views on the project within 30-days from last Friday.

The firm, associated with Steel and cement tycoon Narendra Raval, is one of the three Independent Power Producers (IPPs) contracted by the state to build the 105-MW Menengai Geothermal power plant.

Chile: EDC Progressing With 240 MW Mariposa Geothermal Power Project

Compañía filipina que inyectará 240 MW de energía geotérmica suma nuevos avances - Philippine company that will develop 240 MW of geothermal energy makes new advances (La Tercera)

Nuevos pasos ha dado en las últimas semanas el Proyecto Mariposa, ubicado en la VII Región, que busca inyectar 240 MW de energía geotérmica en el país. La iniciativa liderada por la compañía filipina Energy Development Corporation (EDC) ya tiene perforaciones iniciales y actualmente se encuentra elaborando el Estudio de Impacto Ambiental (EIA) para ingresarlo a tramitación.

(From Google Translate) New steps have been taken in recent weeks by the Mariposa Project, located in Region VII, which seeks to provide 240 MW of geothermal energy for the country. The initiative led by the Filipino company Energy Development Corporation (EDC) already has started drilling and is currently preparing the Environmental Impact Study (EIA) to begin the process.

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

From Global Geothermal News archives:

Monday, June 3, 2019 - Chile: First 50 MW at Mariposa Geothermal Power Project Expected in 2024
Monday, September 24, 2018 - Philippines: EDC Hopes for New Geothermal Energy Contracts in Chile and Peru
Monday, January 4, 2016 - Chile: Mariposa Geothermal Project Could be Restarted This Year
Thursday, October 15, 2015 - Chile: Mariposa Geothermal Project Drilling to Re-Start in One Year
Wednesday, October 14, 2015 - Chile: Mariposa Geothermal Project Drilling Postponed for Economic Reasons
Thursday, May 14, 2015 - Canada, Chile: Alterra Boss Says 50 MW for Initial Mariposa Geothermal Capacity is "Tip of the Iceberg"

Iceland: Countdown to World Geothermal Congress 2020

2020 to become a milestone year for the global geothermal energy sector (International Geothermal Association)

Going into a new decade, geothermal energy is well positioned in the efforts on a global energy transition providing heating, cooling and electricity around the clock

With the beginning of 2020, an exciting year and decade starts for the global geothermal energy community. Convening at the World Geothermal Congress 2020 (www.wgc2020.com) in Reykjavik, Iceland, the geothermal community enters a new period for our industry, rejuvenated and excited with the increasing interest into what geothermal energy has to offer in the global energy transition.

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

Climate Change: Golden State Leads the Way in De-Carbonization Policies - But Could Do Better

How Even Stronger California Climate Policies Could Spark A $7 Billion Economic Opportunity (Forbes)

California is a global leader in the clean energy transition, with some of the world’s most ambitious decarbonization policies. But even the Golden State, which met its 2020 greenhouse gas emission reduction target four years early, should be doing more.

Results from the newly released California Energy Policy Simulator (EPS) find the state’s existing climate policy strategy risks falling short of California’s 2030 target of 40% emissions reductions below 1990 levels. Findings suggest 2030 emissions will exceed the target by about 25 million metric tons – roughly 10 percent – even using optimistic assumptions about policy effectiveness.

Six policies to get on track for the 2030 target:

Fortify the cap-and-trade program.
Modestly boost clean electricity goals.
Accelerate transportation sector decarbonization.
Jump start building electrification transformation.
Establish a zero emission performance standard for heat in the industry sector.
Introduce a GHG emission performance standard for concrete production.

Global: Geothermal Installed Capacity at End of 2019 is 15,406 MW - ThinkGeoEnergy

The Top 10 Geothermal Countries 2019 – based on installed generation capacity (MWe) (ThinkGeoEnergy)

Global geothermal power generation capacity stood at 15,406 MW at the year-end 2019. With addition of 759 MW in capacity, this is the largest annual growth of geothermal in the past 20+ years.

Read More.........

Friday, January 24, 2020

USA, California: High-Temperature Well Cementing Workshop - Exploring Geothermal and Oil & Gas Synergies

Joint GRC-SPE Workshop: High-Temperature Well Cementing

“Exploring Geothermal and Oil & Gas Synergies”

March 30 - April 1, 2020,
San Diego, California, USA

Geothermal wells experience high temperatures at very shallow depths and are required to cement casing across the entire length of each casing string set in the well. Our joint workshop will enable both industries to share their experiences, technologies, technical procedures and best practices on this important aspect of well completion.

Silver Sponsor:

The Geothermal Resources Council (GRC) together with the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) invite you to a special joint High-Temperature Well Cementing workshop.

The draft agenda, hotel reservations, registration and more, can be found on our new website.........

For more information contact Estela Smith at grc@geothermal.org or call 530.758.2360 ext 102.

USA, California: Symposium on Lithium Recovery from Geothermal Brine in the Golden State

California’s Lithium Recovery Initiative - Symposium (California Energy Commission)

Wednesday, February 12, 1-5 pm.
Stanford University, California, USA

The California Energy Commission (CEC) and the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz), will jointly host a symposium facilitating presentations and panel discussions on lithium recovery from geothermal brine in California.

The theme for this symposium is introducing California’s “Lithium Valley” vision of establishing a world-class lithium industry in the state. A focus is advancing California’s unique opportunity to recover lithium from geothermal brine in support of California’s clean energy future. The symposium will feature developers, policymakers, stakeholders, and customers involved from all aspects of the lithium supply chain.

More Information and Register..........

Iceland: Registration Now Open for Battle of the Bands at WGC 2020

WING WGC2020 Battle of the Bands

Thursday 30 April 2020
Ægisgarður Brewery, Reykjavik (evening event)

Registration is Open

Now is the time to register your group for Women in Geothermal (WING)’s first-ever Battle of the (Geothermal) Bands. Please remember:

We can support you in Iceland with musicians, instruments and sound gear (thanks to Atli and Black Box). This registration process will help us provide what you need for a fantastic performance!
You have the opportunity to offer your skills to other groups that might need certain instrumental or vocal support.

To enable this international musical mash-up, we may need to share your contact information with other musicians. Registrants seeking support from or offering support to other musicians hereby agree that the Battle of the Bands organizers may share your contact details and information about the music you will play with other musicians.

Wondering how many songs or instrumental pieces to play? Good question! Answer: obviously at least one! But think about 2 or 3, and possibly more (probably no more than 6, depending on their length and how many people participate in this momentous event).

The flyer below includes the link to the WING WGC2020 Battle of the Bands registration page. Let’s make some music and have some fun!

Battle of the Bands Flyer......... Register...........

Geothermal Energy News from Around the World

Global Geothermal News - Weekly Update (Geothermal Resources Council)

A round-up of this week's international geothermal energy news.......

Click on the links below to view the whole story and other news on Global Geothermal News.

Switzerland: Employment Opportunity for PhD Fellowship Focusing on Understanding Supercritical Geothermal Resources Above Magma Reservoirs in New Zealand

Vacancy - PhD position on understanding supercritical geothermal resources above magma reservoirs in New Zealand (ETH Zurich)

Location: Zurich, Switzerland
The length of the appointment will be for 4 years, starting in summer 2020.

The Institute for Geochemistry and Petrology at ETH Zurich invites applications for a PhD fellowship focusing on on understanding supercritical geothermal resources above magma reservoirs in New Zealand.

We are looking for a highly motivated PhD student interested in studying the physical and chemical interactions between magmas and fluids above active magma reservoirs (in this case, in the Taupo Volcanic Zone, North island of New Zealand), in order to better understand supercritical geothermal resources.

The project will dominantly revolve around modeling fluid flow and heat transfer in and above shallow magma reservoirs, but will also be using field and geochemical data to constrain the models.

More Information and Apply.........

Iceland: Injection of CO2 from a Second Geothermal Plant will Begin Next Year

Carbon dioxide storage through mineral carbonation (Nature.com)

a | The CarbFix method involves the dissolution of CO2 in water during injection into a basaltic reservoir. b | During the Wallula basalt pilot project, pressurized liquid CO2 was injected into basalts.

Carbon capture and storage (CCS) has a fundamental role in achieving the goals of the Paris Agreement to limit anthropogenic warming to 1.5–2 °C.

The pilot phase of the CarbFix project, funded by the European Union, was undertaken in 2012 near the Hellisheiði geothermal power plant in southwest Iceland. A total of 230 tonnes of pure CO2 and a CO2–H2S gas mixture from the geothermal plant were fully dissolved in locally sourced groundwater during their injection to a depth of ~500 m into basaltic rocks.

The CarbFix project currently captures and stores ~33% of the CO2 emissions from the Hellisheiði power plant, or ~12,000 tonnes annually, with the aim to increase injection to ~90% of the CO2 from the plant before 2030. Moreover, injection of CO2 from a second geothermal plant operated in the area will begin in 2021.

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

Snæbjörnsdóttir, S.Ó., Sigfússon, B., Marieni, C. et al. Carbon dioxide storage through mineral carbonation. Nat Rev Earth Environ (2020). https://doi.org/10.1038/s43017-019-0011-8

Reach Out to the Global Geothermal Community

https://geothermal.org/advertising.html

Belgium: Janssen Pharmaceutica Geothermal Project Officially Launches

Janssen Pharmaceutica zet volop in op diepe geothermie - Janssen Pharmaceutica is fully committed to deep geothermal energy (dVO)

Vlaams minister president Jan Jambon heeft op de campus van Janssen Pharmaceutica in Beerse het officiële startschot gegeven voor de eerste diepe geothermieboringen. De boringen gaan 2,4 kilometer diep en pompen water van minstens 85°C op, dat via een warmtenet de gebouwen en bedrijfsprocessen op de campus van warmte en koeling zal voorzien. Janssen Pharmaceutica is het eerste bedrijf in Vlaanderen dat volop op diepe geothermie inzet. Dankzij het diepe geothermieproject kan het bedrijven zijn CO2-uitstoot met 30% terugdringen.

(From Google translate) Flemish Prime Minister Jan Jambon has officially launched the first deep geothermal drilling on the Janssen Pharmaceutica campus in Beerse. The wells will be 2.4 km deep and will pump water of at least 85°C, which will provide the buildings and business processes on the campus with heat and cooling via a heat network. Janssen Pharmaceutica is the first company in Flanders that fully focuses on deep geothermal energy. Thanks to the deep geothermal project, companies can reduce their CO2 emissions by 30%.

Lees verder......... Read More.........

From the Global Geothermal News archives:

Monday, December 2, 2019 - Belgium: Drilling Commences at Janssen Pharmaceutica Geothermal Project
Friday, June 1, 2018 - Belgium: Janssen Investing in Geothermal District Heating Network

Japan: Geothermal Developer Issues First Green Bond to Finance Projects

ORIX to Issue the first Green Bonds in Japan (News Release)

ORIX Corporation has decided to issue its first Green Bond (unsecured straight bonds) in the domestic market.

Green bonds are bonds issued by companies to finance green projects (such as renewable energy, construction and renovation of energy‐saving structures, and projects with environmental improvement effects such as the prevention and management of environmental pollution).

In the Environment and Energy Business, which is subject to this Green Bond, ORIX is actively promoting renewable energy businesses such as wind power, geothermal power and biomass power generation, including the development and operation of solar power generation business with a total capacity of approximately 1,000MW in Japan. By promoting the Renewable Energy Business, ORIX will address the global challenge of climate change and achieve long‐term business growth.

East Africa: Opportunity to Influence Financing Policy for Geothermal Energy Projects

Online Survey for Project Financing and Direct-Use Projects (GRMF)

Awarded projects from Application Round 1 to Application Round 5

Dear Developers, After five successful Application Rounds of the Geothermal Risk Mitigation Facility (GRMF) with 30 awarded projects, the Regional Geothermal Coordination Unit (RGCU) of the African Union Commission (AUC) is currently assessing the potential of a scope extension. Therefore, the RGCU would like to gather market information both for the financing situation from the exploration phase up to the power plant operation, and for direct-use projects in East Africa.

The results of this survey will form the informational base for the discussions with the relevant financing institutions and donors, in order to develop further financial instruments for the advanced project phases, and to assess the potential financial support for direct-use projects.

Please fill the survey form until 12 February 2020 on the following link:

https://survey.roedl.com/limesurvey/index.php/412455

Feel free to contact the GRMF team via the website www.grmf-eastafrica.org. The survey will take approx. 15-20 minutes (depending on your internet connectivity).

Once the survey and the internal discussions are finalized, all stakeholders (including participants of this survey) as well as relevant media will be informed accordingly.

Many thanks in advance for your cooperation and contribution to this next development stage of GRMF.

USA: Washington DC.: GRC ED Boosts Geothermal at National Energy Conference

Video - GRC Executive Director Talks About Geothermal at U.S. Energy Association Forum (C-Span)

Will Pettitt, Executive Director of the Geothermal Resources Council (GRC) represented the geothermal community at the 16th Annual State of the Energy Industry Forum, hosted by the U.S. Energy Association (USEA) on Thursday, January 23, 2020 at the National Press Club, Washington, DC, USA.

(Video 23:34 Minutes)

Thursday, January 23, 2020

USA, California: GRC Board Member to Give Presentation on Geothermal Heat Pumps

Geothermal Heat Pumps for Building Decarbonization - A Gridworks Happy Hour

Greetings Friends,

You're invited to the next Gridworks Happy Hour!

On Thursday Jan 23rd, we will be hosting a Happy Hour and community discussion about Geothermal Heat Pumps and their expanding role in the building decarbonizing. This informal opportunity to consider new approaches for CO2 reductions in the building energy sector will be held on:

Date: Thursday January 23, 2020
Time: 4:30 - 6:00 pm

The speaker/facilitator is Kevin Kitz, a member of the Board of Directors of the Geothermal Resources Council in Davis, and a 35 year professional in the geothermal industry. The goal of the session will be to exchange ideas on achieving the mass deployment of Geothermal Heat Pumps (“GHP” aka, passive geothermal energy).

There will be both a presentation of ideas and the community discussion. Topics will include:

Economy of Scale as the key barrier to GHP deployment
Hybrid systems of Air Source Heat Pumps and GHPs as a way to reduce capital cost and time shift grid loads in both heating and cooling
Rate-base of geothermal ground loops for commercial and/or residential systems
Ideas on how to evaluate GHP in a utility model.

We look forward to seeing you there, and to starting a conversation that can lead to new inspiration and further evaluation of policies, opportunities, and projects.

USA, Washington D.C.: Geothermal Resources Council Presents at State of the Energy Industry Forum

GRC Executive Director at USEA State of the Energy Industry Forum

.@GRC2001 Executive Director Will Pettitt says #geothermal is the recovery of #heat from the earth that is then converted to #electricity

A @ENERGY study found that over 60 GW of electricity could be accessible by 2050 if geothermal #technology is invested in#SOTEI2020 pic.twitter.com/etPF2vaGwD
— U.S. Energy Association (@USEnergyAssn) January 23, 2020

USA, California: Sacramento Area Utility Plans for 180 MW Geothermal by 2040

New year, new clean energy goals (News Release)

Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD)’s Integrated Resource Plan (IRP)—which serves as the roadmap for how it will reduce greenhouse gas emissions—has been adopted by the California Energy Commission and lauded for lowering greenhouse gas emissions in the Sacramento region while maintaining affordable rates and reliability.

SMUD’s IRP was adopted by its Board of Directors in October 2018. The plan meets or exceeds state carbon reduction goals by committing to achieving net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2040. Guided by the IRP, SMUD will fully offset its carbon emissions by 2040, equal to net zero carbon emissions, five years ahead of the state mandate.

Currently, on average, more than 50 percent of SMUD’s power mix is carbon free, and SMUD will continue to pursue expanding its diversified renewable portfolio to meet or exceed state mandates for renewable energy and carbon reductions.

With a focus on local renewables, the plan includes 180 MW of geothermal by 2040.

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

The SMUD IRP has the following comments on geothermal energy:

Portugal: Geothermal District Heating Network Proposed for Town of Chaves

Chaves vai usar calor da água termal para aquecer edifícios e potenciar descarbonização - Chaves will use geothermal energy to heat buildings and enhance decarbonization (SAPO lifestyle)

A Câmara de Chaves vai criar uma minirrede de geotermia através de um projeto-piloto que irá utilizar o calor da água termal para aquecer edifícios e, assim, promover a descarbonização, adiantou hoje à Lusa o presidente.

Nuno Vaz explicou que a rede irá servir 25 edifícios públicos e privados, que serão fornecidos com calor através da geotermia, graças ao aproveitamento da água termal que nasce no concelho entre os 66 e os 77 graus centígrados.

(From Google Translate) The Chaves City Council is going to create a geothermal mini network through a pilot project that will use the thermal water heat to heat buildings and, thus, promote decarbonization, the president told Lusa today.

Nuno Vaz explained that the network will serve 25 public and private buildings, which will be supplied with heat through geothermal heat, thanks to the use of the thermal water that rises up to the municipality at between 66 and 77 degrees centigrade.

Consulte Mais informação.......... Read More..........

USA, Alaska: New Legislation Would Extend Period for Geothermal Exploration to Five Years

Governor introduces 'Open for Business' legislation (KTVA)

Gov. Mike Dunleavy

Gov. Mike Dunleavy brought forward bills to the Senate on Wednesday to keep his promise of "making Alaska open for business." The bills would remove roadblocks and promote resource development.

According to the governor's office, the "Open for Business" legislation includes SB 161 would promote the exploration and development for the state's geothermal resources. It would allow more time for resource explorers more time to research, get permits and do fieldwork by increasing the exploration period from three years to five.

Turkey: Renewable Energy Support Scheme Subsidizes Geothermal Facilities at $0.105 kWh

Turkey gets 38 bln TL for 2019 clean energy generation (Anadolu Agency)

(Courtesy CIA.gov)

Turkey's clean energy generation received around 38.04 billion Turkish liras in incentive payments in 2019 through the Renewable Energy Support Scheme (YEKDEM), according to Turkey's Energy Exchange Istanbul (EXIST) data on Tuesday.

Turkey, which wants to fully utilize local and renewable energy sources efficiently to support its development, offers feed-in tariffs for renewable energy plants such as wind, hydropower, geothermal, biomass and solar through the YEKDEM scheme.

Renewable energy plants under the scheme are granted incentives based on their energy sources.

In 2019, a total of 777 facilities with an installed capacity of 20,921 megawatts received financial backing under YEKDEM and produced 76.67 million megawatt-hours of electricity.

The scheme, which started in 2011, supports wind and hydropower plants at a cost of $0.073 per kilowatt-hour (kWh), geothermal facilities at $0.105 kWh, and solar and biomass plants at $0.133 kWh. These figures can also vary slightly depending on the use of locally produced equipment.

In 2020, Turkey aims to generate 82.5 billion kWh of electricity with the help of YEKDEM, from 818 plants with a total installed capacity of 21,877 megawatts.

Turkey plans to end this renewable incentive scheme by 2020, and is working on a more updated and more efficient replacement.

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

Canada: Second Well Completed at Estevan Geothermal Power Project

DEEP Earth Energy Continues Geothermal Work (DiscoverWeyburn)

Kirsten Marcia, the CEO of
DEEP Earth Energy

Working with Weyburn’s Panther Drilling, DEEP Earth Energy is continuing work on their geothermal project here in southeast Saskatchewan. Based near Torquay, they are working on a smaller scale project to be able to show the feasibility of a geothermal power generation station in Saskatchewan. To help accomplish that, the company recently drilled the deepest well in Saskatchewan.

“We just completed our second well in our winter program, and we’ll be starting up our third well shortly here,” explained Kirsten Marcia, the CEO of DEEP Earth Energy. She pointed out that they are working to get as much of the drilling done ahead of the spring break-up as possible, so they can get detailed data that will help them with their banking feasibility study. This is needed to help secure the funding for the construction of a full-scale facility.

The hope is to have five of these stratigraphic wells completed by that time.

USA, California: BLM Publishes Final EIA for Haiwee Geothermal Leasing Area project

BLM releases Haiwee Geothermal Leasing Area Project Final Environmental Analysis (News Release)

Area of the proposed Haiwee Geothermal Leasing Project. (Caroline Woods/BLM)

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) today published the Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the proposed Haiwee Geothermal Leasing Area Project in Inyo County. The Final EIS analyzes the proposed leasing of 22,800 acres of BLM-managed public lands for geothermal exploration, development and utilization in the Haiwee Geothermal Leasing Area, including 9,300 acres of Development Focus Area.

The proposed Haiwee Geothermal Leasing Area Project supports the Trump Administration’s goals of achieving energy independence and economic growth. If approved, the project would facilitate opportunities to generate revenue for the Inyo County community—contributing $72 million annually during its peak construction and $3 million annually during operations. The project would also create job opportunities by hiring 250 temporary and 65 permanent employees. The total project investment amounts to approximately $1 billion.

The Final EIS provides a comprehensive analysis of the potential environmental impacts for the proposed Land Use Plan Amendment to the California Desert Conservation Area plan. Additionally, the BLM analyzed three pending geothermal lease applications on public lands within the Haiwee Geothermal Leasing Area and modifications to the management of four Areas of Critical Environmental Concern to allow for surface occupancy of geothermal development within the leasing area

The publication of the Notice of Availability in the Federal Register on Jan. 24, opens a 30-day protest period and a 60-day governor’s consistency review. Pending the outcome of the protest period and Governor’s consistency review, the BLM will issue a Record of Decision. Information about the project, along with the agency preferred alternative and instructions for filing a protest, is available online at: https://go.usa.gov/xEnvy.

Read More.........

USA: Webinar On Energy Opportunities for U.S. Companies in Sub-Saharan Africa

Webinar: Energy Opportunities in Sub-Saharan Africa (U.S. Commercial Service)

12 February, 8 am PST

Join the U.S. Commercial Service South Africa, Power Africa, and Clarion Events for a one-hour webinar highlighting African energy opportunities for U.S. firms interested in expanding into or increasing market share in Africa. U.S. participants will hear from the experts on energy opportunities in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Participants will receive an overview of the current energy market in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) from the United States Energy Association.
Learn about power projects throughout SSA from US Agency for International Development's (USAID) Power Africa.
Clarion Events and US Commercial Service South Africa will provide participants with insight into engaging the African energy market.

More Information and Register.........

Global: Reach out to the Geothermal Energy Community through the GRC

Looking for a Job or More Clients?

Advertise your Services using your GRC Member Benefits!

Did you know you can include your bio or resume on your online GRC public profile which members can view and download?

Did you know that you can enter your area of expertise so other members can easily find your services in the online Member Directory?

Did you know all of this is included for free with your GRC membership?

Don't wait another minute! Renew your membership and update your profile now!

Membership Website...........

Own a business? List your company on the GRC Online Yellow Pages - instant access for those who are looking for geothermal services and/or equipment.

Yellow Pages...........

USA: Webinar Update from Geothermal Technologies Office

GTO Quarterly Webinar - Geothermal Technologies Office

23 January, 11:00 AM PST

The Geothermal Technologies Office (GTO) is pleased to host its first webinar of the new decade!

Hosted by GTO Director Dr. Susan Hamm, updates on active research and new initiatives will be provided.

In addition to a discussion of GTO's strategic priorities, highlights will include:

An overview of the DOE Energy Storage Grand Challenge with guest speaker Alejandro Moreno, Director, Water Power Technologies Office; and
A look back at the Play Fairway Analysis (PFA) initiative with guest speaker Greg Rhodes, Geothermal Research Analyst, National Renewable Energy Laboratory.

Click here to register. Registration password: 2020

USA, Washington D.C.: Geothermal Resources Council Will Present at State of the Energy Industry Forum

16th Annual State of the Energy Industry Forum (USEA)

Thursday, January 23, 10am to 6pm, National Press Club, Washington, DC

Will Pettitt, Executive Director of the Geothermal Resources Council (GRC) will be representing the geothermal community. He is due to speak at around 4pm.

The United States Energy Association (USEA) begins each calendar year with its widely- recognized State of the Energy Industry Forum. The Forum brings together distinguished leaders from the most influential energy trade associations to share their outlook and to discuss dynamic issues facing the energy industry in the new year. More Information.........

Wednesday, January 22, 2020

USA, California: Employment Opportunity as Manager of Geothermal Operations at The Geysers

Vacancy - Manager Operations - Geothermal (Calpine at The Geysers)

Location: Middletown, California, USA

Manage the daily operations and production activities. Plan and direct the work activities of operations personnel. Supervises operators in all aspects of power plant operations. Assure operational efficiency, reliability and compliance with safety and environmental standards. Develops and coordinates plant safety programs, including oversight of training certifications, compliance and tag-out procedures. Accountable for maintaining up-to-date environmental and permit requirements. Ensures that all Calpine compliance reports are complete, accurate and submitted in a timely manner. Ensures compliance with all local, State and Federal regulations and plant procedures. Monitors and enforces a safe work environment and participates in the development of procedures that support consistent and safe operations.

More Information and Apply..........

USA: Geothermal Design Challenge - Webinar on GIS Mapping Student Competition

Webinar - Geothermal Design Challenge: Geothermal Overview (INL)

Monday, January 27, 2020 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM PST

Join a webinar to learn more about the benefits of geothermal energy technologies and ideas surrounding the 2020 Geothermal Design Challenge™: GIS Mapping student competition.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Geothermal Technologies Office (GTO), in conjunction with Idaho National Laboratory (INL), is hosting the 2020 Geothermal Design Challenge™: GIS Mapping Student Competition. The design challenge focuses on a non-technical barrier to geothermal development to foster understanding and share the benefits of geothermal energy technologies. Student teams of two or three will use geographic information system (GIS) mapping to create a compelling infographic/poster or interactive map to discover potential opportunities from this renewable energy source.

United Kingdom: Cornish Lithium Drilling 1,000 Meter Deep Borehole to Geothermal Brine

From hot water to hot commodity - extracting lithium from geothermal brines (GeoDrilling International)

(Courtesy Cornish Lithium)

First discovered by miners in 1864, the existence of Cornwall's lithium-enriched geothermal fluids can be ascribed to the fact that significant areas of the county are underlain by a body of lithium-rich granite. Continuous interactions with the rocks, which remain hot at depths, has resulted in lithium-enriched geothermal fluids. It is by extracting lithium from these fluids, found deep beneath the surface of Cornwall's granite, that Cornish Lithium hopes to establish a high-tech, environmentally responsible mining industry.

To establish the economic viability of extracting lithium from these waters, Cornish Lithium is currently drilling two test boreholes of approximately 1,000m deep and 120mm width. The research boreholes will intercept permeable geological structures below the area's known historic mine workings.

"Our geologists will take samples of geothermal waters from these permeable structures to measure the amount of lithium that they contain," explains Cornish Lithium's drilling manager, Mike Round.

Cornish Lithium believes that access to these fluids can be gained via extraction boreholes, and that lithium can be extracted at surface in a small processing plant using advanced technologies such as ion-exchange membranes or reverse osmosis.

USA, California: Outlook is More Favorable for Geothermal Energy in Golden State

California needs clean energy after sundown. Geothermal could be the answer (Los Angeles Times)

John L. Featherstone plant at
Hudson Ranch I, Imperial County,
California (Photo by Ian Crawford)

After years of playing third fiddle to solar and wind power, geothermal energy is poised to start growing again in California. Three local energy providers have signed contracts this month for electricity from new geothermal power plants, one in Imperial County near the Salton Sea and the other in Mono County along the Eastern Sierra. The new plants will be the first geothermal facilities built in California in nearly a decade — potentially marking a long-awaited turning point for a technology that could play a critical role in the state's transition to cleaner energy sources.

Geothermal plants can generate emissions-free, renewable electricity around the clock, unlike solar panels or wind turbines. The technology has been used commercially for decades and involves tapping naturally heated underground reservoirs to create steam and turn turbines.

Despite those advantages, development has been bogged down by high costs. Building a geothermal facility can be several times more expensive than a comparably sized solar or wind farm, meaning geothermal plant operators must charge more for the electricity they generate. Geothermal accounted for 4.5% of California's electricity mix in 2018 — about one-fifth the amount supplied by solar and wind, which made up the bulk of California's renewable energy supply. Now those dynamics may be starting to shift.

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Tuesday, January 21, 2020

Tanzania: Employment Opportunity at Geothermal Development Company

Jobs Opportunities - Tanzania Geothermal Development Company Limited

Deadline 2 February 2020

Public Service Recruitment Secretariat on behalf of Tanzania Geothermal Development Company Limited (TGDC) invites qualified Tanzanians to fill 2 vacant posts as mentioned hereunder.

Tanzania Geothermal Development Company Limited (TGDC) is a subsidiary company of The Tanzania Electric Supply Company (TANESCO) established in December, 2013 and came into operation in July, 2014 with a mandate to develop geothermal resources in Tanzania for various uses including power generation.

Director of Business Development (Re-advertised)
To secure the organization’s long-term strategic growth by setting and implementing strategic goals in line with the Mission and Vision Statements of the Company. The core duties and responsibilities of this position include: Strategic Planning, Business Development and performance management.
Manager Geoscience Services (Re-advertised)
Responsible for efficient operation of scientific exploration and development of Geothermal fields.

All applicants must be Citizens of Tanzania of not more than 45 years of age except for those who are in public service. Deadline for application is 2
nd February, 2020.

More Information and Apply.........

India: Solar-Geothermal Hybrid Power Plant to Triple Electricity Output

Solar-geothermal model to be tested (Times of India)

After setting up a geothermal energy plant at Dholera last year, the Centre of Excellence for Geothermal Energy (CEGE) at Pandit Deendayal Petroleum University (PDPU) will experiment with solar-geothermal hybrid model to improve energy output at the site. The plant is likely to be functional later this year.

Prof Anirbid Sircar, the head of the CEGE, said that a researcher at the centre is working on bimodal parabolic trough collector (PTC) design. “The PTC can collect solar energy for 7 to 8 hours a day whereas geothermal energy will be available round the clock,” he said. “Both the modes will be assimilated for amalgamated power generation. We believe that the capacity will increase from the current 20 kilowatts/hour (kWh) for geothermal to 50-60 kWh in the hybrid mode.” Sircar said that a conceptual model has been developed.

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From the Global Geothermal News archives:

Monday, April 1, 2019 - India: Dholera ORC Geothermal Power Plant will Start Operating this Month
Wednesday, March 6, 2019 - India: First Geothermal Power Plant Reportedly About to Start Generating Electricity
Monday, December 10, 2018 - India: The Potential for Geothermal energy in Maharashtra State
Friday, February 10, 2017 - India: Geological Survey Has Identified About 340 Geothermal Hot Springs

Science & Technology: New Sorbent Recovers More than 91% of Lithium from a Simulated Geothermal Brine

ORNL develops sorbent to recover lithium from geothermal brines (News Release)

In work for DOE’s Critical Materials Institute, scientists at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) are working to refine a sorbent that can more effectively recover lithium salts from concentrated brines at geothermal plants. These plants pump hot water from geothermal deposits and use it to generate electricity. Concentrated brines left over from the operation are then pumped back into the ground.

ORNL and its research partners are working to improve the capacity and selectivity of a sorbent that could extract the lithium from these brines. The lithium-aluminum-layered double hydroxide chloride (LDH) sorbent they’re developing is a low-cost, reusable option for large-scale industrial plants.

The LDH sorbent is made up of layers of the materials, separated by water molecules and hydroxide ions that create space, allowing lithium chloride to enter more readily than other ions such as sodium and potassium. After the sorbent loads with lithium chloride, it is selectively washed to remove unwanted ions, and then to unload the remaining lithium chloride. In a bench-scale demonstration, the LDH sorbent recovered more than 91% of lithium from a simulated brine.

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Neutron Spectroscopic and Thermochemical Characterization of Lithium–Aluminum-Layered Double Hydroxide Chloride: Implications for Lithium Recovery, By Lili Wu et al. J. Phys. Chem. C 2019, 123, 34, 20723-20729
Publication Date: August 2, 2019. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jpcc.9b04340

Science & Technology: Salt Domes and Geothermal Reservoirs

From Fossil fuel exploration to underground storage and geothermal energy: Why do we care about Salt tectonics? (The Salt Giant Fellowship)

Giant, halite-dominated salt accumulations are common on Earth. Throughout the human history, they have been mined for their salt that was used for animal nutrition, food conservation, de-icing etc. Compared to the other rocks, halite itself is quite a peculiar material characterized by:

a low density;
a low permeability;
a high solubility in water and;
a high thermal conductivity.

In response to long-term geological stress, it undergoes plastic deformation, in other words it flows, within a more brittle subsurface. This results in complex geological structures that have drawn the attention of the oil and gas industry in the 20th century (you can see here a brief history of salt tectonics). Its properties mentioned previously make halite layers an excellent seal against fluids migration.

The structures shaped by salt tectonics provide traps where the fluids accumulate, allowing the formation of a fluid reservoir. If nowadays these reservoirs are primarily investigated for oil and gas resources, they can also be used for underground storage of CO₂, nuclear wastes, compressed air and hydrogen energy storage, which are coming increasingly important topics for the energy transition.

Global: Video Shows Changes in Geothermal Energy Production over Last Few Decades

Top Countries by Geothermal Electricity Generation - 1980 to 2017 (Animated Stats)

(Video 2:27 Minutes)

USA, Nevada: Opportunity to Provide Geothermal Energy in Silver State

NV Energy Requests Bids for Major Addition to Renewable Energy Portfolio (News Release)

NV Energy today issued a request for proposals to add new renewable energy projects to its portfolio.

The request for proposals seeks solar, geothermal, wind, biomass and biogas technology projects that are compliant with Nevada’s existing renewable portfolio standards. NV Energy will also consider adding supplemental energy storage systems that are integrated with the proposed renewable energy resource and stand-alone energy storage systems. Projects will be competitively evaluated on a number of factors, including best value to customers of NV Energy and creation of economic benefits to the State of Nevada.

NV Energy requests that all parties interested in becoming a bidder for this opportunity register on the company’s website here and follow each of the directives under the “Steps to Complete” section of the website.

Bids are due by 4 p.m. on March 9. Projects proposed by successful bidders will require the approval of the PUCN. It is anticipated the projects would be completed and producing energy for customers by December 31, 2025.

Germany: Insheim Geothermal Power Plant Successfully Supplies Brine for Lithium Extraction Demonstration Plant

Maiden Indicated Resource Insheim Vulcan Zero Carbon Lithium (News Release)

Australian company Vulcan Energy Resources Ltd. has announced the completion of the maiden Indicated Lithium-Brine Mineral Resource Estimate at the Insheim Licence, in the Upper Rhine Valley (or Upper Rhine Graben) of South-West Germany.

Vulcan has acquired direct access to lithium-enriched brine at the operating Insheim Geothermal Plant and Insheim Exploitation Licence via a binding Memorandum of Understanding with German utility Pfalzwerke geofuture GmbH (announced November 26, 2019).

The Insheim Geothermal Plant is currently pumping hot (approximately 165ºC), high-flow, lithium-enriched brine from aquifer depths of >2,980 m to the surface for power generation. Pfalzwerke geofuture GmbH is not processing or extracting lithium as part of the power generation circuit before the reinjecting the brine back down into the reservoir and the Memorandum of Understanding grants Vulcan an initial collaboration period that allows access to the Insheim Licence brine and data, with a pathway to construct a lithium extraction demonstration plant at Insheim in the future.

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New Zealand: Vaporiser Delivered to Ngāwhā Geothermal Power Station

Monster power station load sets Northland record (New Zealand Herald)

(Photo / Tom Zink)

The largest single part of a geothermal power plant being built near Kaikohe has arrived on site after a six-hour trip from Northport near Whangārei.

The 130-tonne, 21.5-metre-long vaporiser was transported on a 144-wheel trailer pulled and pushed by three heavy-haulage trucks, arriving just before dawn on January 15.

The vaporiser dwarfs even the three heat-exchangers, each of which weighed 90 tonnes, which have been transported to the power station site over the past month. It also sets a new record for the heaviest object transported on Northland roads in recent times.

The Top Energy plant is expected to produce 32 MW of power once fully operational later this year. The company's existing Ngāwhā geothermal power station produces 25 MW.

A Top Energy spokeswoman said the three heat exchangers would be used to transfer heat from the geothermal fluid to liquid pentane. The hot geothermal fluid is extracted from wells drilled into New Zealand's second biggest geothermal field.

The pre-heated pentane would then enter the vaporiser where it would turn into a high-pressure gas used to drive the turbines and generate electricity.

Canada: DEEP Begins Drilling of Five Wells at Estevan Geothermal Power Project

DEEP Geothermal Delineation Drilling In Progress (News Release)

(Video 5:02 Minutes)

DEEP Earth Energy Production Corp. has announced that the 2019-2020 winter drilling and testing program is underway. DEEP intends to drill up to 5 stratigraphic wells by the end of March 31, 2020, to further define the field’s geothermal reservoir parameters.

Drilling contracts have been awarded to Saskatchewan based Panther Drilling Corporation. The first of these new wells, Border-02A, was completed in December. It was drilled from the same surface location as DEEP’s first well, Border-01, directionally to the southwest with a bottom hole located 1,500 metres from Border-01. It was drilled to a depth of 3,834 metres measured hole depth, (3,490 metres true vertical depth from surface).

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