USA, California:

Calpine Bids to Provide Power to Sonoma County (Santa Rosa Press Democrat)

Ten companies and one nonprofit agency are competing for an initial contract to provide electricity to Sonoma County homes and businesses through the county's proposed public power agency.

The bids are for a contract of at least three years with an estimated worth of about $340 million, according to county officials. The program seeks to displace PG&E as the area's dominant electricity supplier, a move that supporters say would boost support for renewable energy and spur investment in local power projects.

The responses, received Friday, came mostly from large national and multinational energy suppliers, including Calpine Corp., the Houston-based operator of The Geysers, already the source of about a quarter of California's renewable energy and set for a $700 million, 100 MWe expansion. Last year, officials said the first of two new plants could start production in 2014 if they could land contracts for the energy.

The county is looking for up to 355 MWe, enough for about 220,000 metered residential and commercial customers, or about 80 percent of those served by Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) in the county.

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Philippines:

EDC Ordered to Submit Rehab Plan for Leyte Field (Philippine Daily Inquirer)

Leyte Geothermal Production Field (Courtesy EDC)

The Philippines Department of Energy has asked Energy Development Corp., the country’s largest geothermal producer, to submit a “holistic” rehabilitation plan for the Upper Mahiao field in Leyte to prevent the occurrence of a landslide, similar to what happened last month.

An energy official explained that EDC has to first complete the assessment of the hazard-prone areas before it can come up with a rehabilitation plan so that the approach that will be taken will be “holistic and will include prevention of similar or related accidents.”

At present, EDC’s operations at the Upper Mahiao geothermal field in Leyte remain suspended, following the landslide that claimed 14 lives and left eight workers injured last month.

The Upper Mahiao geothermal field is part of EDC’s Leyte Geothermal Production Field, which is the world’s largest wet steamfield. The field also includes the Tongonan 1, Malitbog, Mahanagdong and Leyte optimization steam fields.

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Japan:

Japan Considering 21 Geothermal Plans after Fukushima (Bloomberg)

Japan is considering at least 21 geothermal projects as it searches for alternative energy sources after the 2011 Fukushima nuclear accident, according to data compiled by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.

Incentives for clean energy, including above-market rates for power derived from underground sources regardless of plant size, are encouraging the projects, Shinichiro Fukushima, an official in charge of geothermal energy at the ministry, said at a briefing in Tokyo today. The 21 possible projects include seven where small-sized binary turbines may be used, he said.

Before Fukushima and the beginning of the incentive program in July, Japan’s geothermal power development was mainly comprised of large-scale projects concentrated in the Hokkaido and Tohoku regions in northern Japan as well as the southern island of Kyushu, Fukushima said.

“Even very small projects are now worth the cost with the introduction of feed-in tariffs,” he said.

Japan has 17 geothermal plants currently in operation with a total capacity of 520 MWe, according to the ministry. The 21 projects now under consideration are at different stages of research, Fukushima said.

Officials are conducting studies to determine the capacity for the projects, according to the ministry.

The feed-in tariff for geothermal is 27.3 yen per kilowatt hour for plants with capacity of 15,000 kilowatts or larger, and 42 yen for smaller plants, both for 15 years.

Kenya:

Piping Work on Olkaria to Finish by March 2014 (The Star)

The Chinese firm undertaking the piping work on the 280 MWe geothermal plant in Olkaria has said it will complete the work next year. Sinopec International Petroleum Company won the Sh11.6 billion contract to pipe steam from all the steam wells to the geothermal plant located at Olkaria.

“We expect the piping work on the entire 280 MWe project to be complete by early March, 2014," said  Sinopec International deputy director Huang Guo.

The project, will build four additional geothermal power stations with a capacity of 70 MWe each at two powerplants, Olkaria I and Olkaria IV.

Construction work and piping system installation covers over 40 kilometres and includes various pipe sizes which range up to 42 inches in diameter. Wells for producing steam for the project which are funded buy the Kenyan government have already been successfully drilled. There are 57 wells with a steam harvest able to generate 380 MWe.

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Iceland:

Back to Basics Video: What Is Geothermal Energy Anyway? (RenewableEnergyWorld.com)

A tiny country in the North Atlantic Ocean has perfected the art of geothermal discovery, drilling and utilization.  Iceland currently derives 25 percent of its electrical power from geothermal energy and the resource also provides more than 90 percent of the country’s heat and hot water.  Reykjavik Energy, the utility that provides this baseload renewable energy to Icelanders has put together a fantastically informative video that details how geothermal energy is created. It also shows what other areas of the world have the potential to use geothermal energy to provide heat and power to its inhabitants.

USA, Wyoming:

Yellowstone's Hotspot Theory Heats Up (ABC Science)

Yellowstone has some of the highest heat flow
measurements in the USA (Courtesy SMU)

A new study may have finally resolved debate on how America's famous Yellowstone supervolcano was formed.

The research conducted by scientists including Professor Ross Griffiths of the Australian National University, shows features associated with Yellowstone were caused by a volcanic hot spot affected by a subduction zone.

Reporting in the journal Nature Geoscience, they suggest a mantle plume originated to the northeast of Yellowstone, and is being sucked southwest into the subduction zone caused by the Pacific plate.

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Australia:

Two Asian Groups Approach to Invest in Panax (theindonesiatoday.com)

Panax Geothermal Limited is to be renamed Raya Group Limited

Panax Geothermal Limited, an Australian company with geothermal projects in Indonesia, claims it has been approached by two ‘Asian Groups’ to invest in the company, while Panax will change its name to Raya Group Limited.

“Whilst initial contact has been quite informal, it has highlighted the significance of Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) Approval to continuing discussions, as project funding would need to be linked to confirmed revenue streams from these assets,” Panax said on its recent filing on Australia Securities Exchange (ASX).

Without disclosing the identities of the Groups, one of them is said to have completed significant due diligence on the portfolio of projects, at their own expense.

While the approach has been made, Panax is still monitoring the status and continuing process of PPA approval, specifically for the Sokoria and Dairi Prima Projects. Documentation is still progressing through the execution stage with the relevant Indonesian government authorities.

Additionally, the Extraordinary General Meeting held last week has approved to change the name of Panax Geothermal Limited to Raya Group Limited. According to the cmpany "Raya is a very well-known word and term in Indonesia, and this was also part of the logic behind it." "Indonesia Raya" is the national anthem of the Republic of Indonesia.

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Slovakia:

A Second Geothermal Power Plant Planned in Slovakia (The Slovak Spectator)

Location of Košice in Slovakia

Eastern Slovakia is rich in geothermal energy, which makes it suitable for construction of geothermal power stations.

There are now two projects in the pipeline designed to harness this renewable energy source. Following the intention to start a project by natural gas utility Slovensky Plynarensky Priemysel (SPP), Geocom Invest of Košice now wants to build a geothermal power station in the same region.

United Kingdom:

Under pressure - UK Deep Geothermal Industry Faces Uncertain Future (Business Green)

When the UK government pulled a multi-million pound grant from Geothermal Engineering Ltd last week, it seemed as if the final nail had been banged into the coffin for the UK's first commercial hot rocks scheme.

The £50m United Downs project was expected to supply 10 MWe of electricity to the grid and 50 MW of renewable heat for local homes and businesses. It could also have helped trigger further private investment in the fledgling industry, which according to estimates could meet one-fifth of the UK's electricity demand, while also providing over 100 GW of heat.

The project had been been granted £6m of funding from the Regional Growth Fund, but the government last week axed the funding because the company failed to secure the necessary additional investment to meet the terms of the grant.

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Philippines:

BacMan’s Unit 1 Resumes Operations (Inquirer.net)

Bacon-Manito geothermal plant (Courtesy EDC)

Energy Development Corp. (EDC), has resumed the operations of the 55 MWe Unit 1 of the Bacon-Manito geothermal plants in Albay and Sorsogon.

In a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange Monday, EDC said its subsidiary, BacMan Geothermal Inc., had  started running Unit 1 on March 27 and was able to ramp up power generation to 55 MWe on Monday (April 8).

BacMan Geothermal, however, intends to shut down Unit 1 again after 30 days of operation to inspect and assess the power facility’s condition.

“Based on the findings of such inspection, BacMan Geothermal will decide whether or not any restrictions to the future operation of Unit 1 will be necessary. The review will also determine the needed time intervals between future inspections of Unit 1,” EDC explained.

EDC resumed the commercial operations of the BacMan facilities on Feb. 25 this year, generating a total of 110 MWe then. Only the BacMan I facility—which has two 55-MWe power units both commissioned in 1993—had been fully rehabilitated. The BacMan II facility, which has one remaining unit with a capacity of 20 MWe unit, has yet to be put online.

Days after it resumed operations, EDC had to shut down the geothermal plants, after a turbine blade at the Unit 2 was sheared off. Unit 1 was similarly shut down even if it did not experience similar problems.

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Global:

The Geothermal Resources Council Announces 2013 Amateur Photo Contest (Renewable Energy World)

The 34th Amateur Photo Contest winners will be announced at the GRC Annual Meeting in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA.

Expansion Pipe-work ~ 1st Place in 2012, Alan Ofsoski Mighty River Power, Rotorua, New Zealand

The Geothermal Resources Council (GRC) is pleased to announce this year's Amateur Photo Contest. The purpose of the contest is to showcase quality photography featuring geothermal energy around the world.

The winners will be announced at the GRC Annual Member Meeting and Awards Luncheon, the climax to the 37th GRC Annual Meeting & GEA Geothermal Energy Expo being held at the MGM Grand, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA from September 29 –October 2. The theme for this year’s meeting is “A Global Resource, from Larderello to Las Vegas".

The first place winner will receive $150, second place - $100, and third place - $75. Honorable Mention photos will receive certificates.

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Kenya:

Kenya Power Agrees PPA with Longonot Geothermal Developer (Citizen News)

Kenya Power and Africa Geothermal International Kenya Limited (AGIL) have today signed a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) for development of a 140 MWe geothermal project in Longonot.

The PPA will see AGIL develop, construct, own, operate and maintain the geothermal project with Kenya Power purchasing the generated power.

The PPA - which has a 25 year term - will start after the power plant’s commercial operation date scheduled for 2018.

Project development and construction will be carried out in the interim period.
The Longonot Geothermal Project is located directly adjacent to the Olkaria geothermal complex. AGIL has performed all of the surface exploration and development activities to ready the project for drilling expected to commence in early 2014.

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USA, California:

Resource Assessment & Optimization Workshop and Tour to The Geysers Geothermal Field

Embassy Suites Sacramento Riverfront
Sacramento, California, USA

June 10-12, 2013

Price per person:

• GRC Member: $375
• Non-member: $425
• Students (academic identification required): $50
• Optional Field Trip to The Geysers: $75

Register Now Online....                          Registration Form (PDF)
Sponsor the Workshop (PDF)                Workshop Flyer (PDF)

GRC has secured a discounted room rate of $139 (plus room tax and fees) for workshop attendees at the Embassy Suites Sacramento Riverfront. Hotel stay includes full breakfast buffet from 6:30am - 9:30am and "Manager's Reception" from 5:30pm - 7:30pm everyday. Reserve your hotel room  using the group code: "GRC" or call (800) 498-5237 and ask for the GRC/Geothermal Resources Council discount rate. Don't delay, discounted room rate expires May 19, 2013.

Hotel room reservation

USA, California:

Outlook for Coso Geothermal Power Holdings Remains a Concern (Yahoo! Finance)

Fitch Ratings has affirmed the rating on Coso Geothermal Power Holdings LLC's (CGP) $629 million ($492 million outstanding) pass-through certificates due 2026 at 'CC'. The ratings affirmation reflects the continued expectation that default is probable, as operating cash flows and reserve funds will be insufficient to meet long-term financial obligations.

Coso has been unable to reverse a steady decline in geothermal resource output, and reduced cash flow was insufficient to meet the debt portion of the most recent lease rent payment in January 2013. Approximately $33.6 million of operating cash flow went toward the $43.4 million January payment and the $9.7 million shortfall was drawn from the letter of credit-funded senior rent reserve.

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Mexico:

Mexican Geothermal Energy Association Issues a Call for Papers for Annual Congress

Call for papers deadline is Friday June 28, 2013.

The Mexican Geothermal Energy Association (Asociación Geotérmica Mexicana) will hold its 21st Annual Congress, October 23-26, 2013 in Michoacán, Mexico.

The initial program includes a pre-congress workshop on geochemical and isotopic geothermal techniques on October 23. The Congress will take place October 24-25 with oral presentation of technical papers. A post-congress field trip to the Paricutín Volcano will follow on October 26.

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Indonesia:

Exploring Indonesia’s Rich Geothermal Potential (Jakarta Globe)

(Courtesy CIA.gov)

Indonesia has been known globally for its serious concern towards the climate change issue. Two years after hosting the 2007 Bali Climate Change Conference, Indonesia pledged to reduce 26 percent to 41 percent the greenhouse gas emissions from business as usual by 2020.

Developing renewable energy and promoting energy efficiency are two of the seven main actions which were set up by the Indonesian government to reach the ambitious target.

Fortunately, Indonesia has abundant sources of clean and sustainable energy such as solar, hydrothermal and geothermal. These sources are expected to be able to support the country’s emission reduction target. Among all of the renewable energy potentials endowed, one of the most prospective to be explored is the geothermal energy.

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Philippines:

Basic Energy Corp wins 3 Geothermal Energy Contracts on Luzon (Philippine Daily Inquirer)

Basic Energy Corp has bagged three geothermal service contracts from the Philippines Department of Energy to explore and develop three geothermal concession areas in Luzon.

In a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange Friday, Basic Energy identified these three projects as the Iriga, Mariveles and East Mankayan geothermal power projects.

Basic Energy earlier said that these three geothermal projects were in line with the company’s business thrust this year to look into new projects in renewable energy development and production.

Currently, the company has a planned 20 MWe Mabini geothermal power project in Batangas. While it has been continuing discussions with other companies for a potential joint venture, Basic Energy has been undertaking the necessary exploratory works within the site to fulfill its obligations under its geothermal service contract.

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France:

Le Fracking for Geothermal Heat Drawing Ire of French Oil (Bloomberg)

(Courtesy CIA.gov)

It’s an existential question in France: When is fracking not fracking?

The country is pushing ahead with plans to harness geothermal energy from smoldering rock deep in the earth’s crust using drilling methods the oil industry says are like hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, which France outlawed in 2011.

Environment Minister Delphine Batho awarded two geothermal exploration licenses in February and said 18 more are in review. Some will permeate rock using a process called “stimulation” that blasts acid and water into fissures to release volcanic heat. That may be seen as similar to how U.S. explorers use chemical cocktails to fracture fossil fuels from shale rock.

France’s Socialist-led government grew enthusiastic about generating power from underground heat reservoirs as President Francois Hollande pledged to lower dependence on atomic power. The country banned fracking for its “serious health and environmental risks,” and canceled shale exploration licenses held by Total SA (FP), its biggest oil company, and U.S.-based Schuepbach Energy LLC. The French oil-industry lobby disagrees.

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USA:

IRS Boosts 2013 Renewable-Energy Tax Credit Because of Inflation (Businessweek)

The U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is increasing the Production Tax Credit (PTC) available this year for energy generated by wind, geothermal, solar and closed- loop biomass because of inflation.

The credit will increase to 2.3 cents a kilowatt-hour from 2.2 cents, according to a notice in the Federal Register yesterday. The subsidy applies to the 2013 calendar year, according to the IRS.

Global:

Renewable Energy World 2013 Projects of the Year Awards (Renewable Energy World)

Vote for your favorite Geothermal Power project.

Last year's winner,  the John L. Featherstone
 (Hudson Ranch I) Plant 

The Renewable Energy World Network Editors have announced that the Projects of the Year Award Ceremony will now take place in December, 2013 along with the Power Engineering Projects of the Year at the now co-located Renewable Energy World Conference and Expo and Power-Gen International.

Any project, from any part of the world is now eligible to receive an award. Projects must have come online between August 1st, 2012 and July 31st, 2013.

Nominations are being accepted through August 31, 2013.

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Indonesia:

Ormat to Outfit 330 MWe Geothermal Power Plant in Indonesia (News Release - Electric Light & Power)

Sarulla Operations Ltd. signed operations and energy sales contracts for the 330 MWe Sarulla geothermal power project in Tapanuli Utara, North Sumatra in Indonesia.

Ormat Technologies designed the power plant and will supply it with geothermal energy converters. Ormat International Inc. holds a 12.75 percent equity stake in the Sarulla Operations, which owns and operates the Sarulla project.

The Sarulla project is the largest single contract geothermal power project to capitalize on the large-scale potential of highly productive Indonesian geothermal resources. The project will be implemented in three phases of 110 MWe each, utilizing both steam and brine extracted from the geothermal field to increase the power plant's efficiency.

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USA, California:

Lake County Board of Supervisors Supports Bottle Rock Power Permit Extension (Willits News)

Bottle Rock Power Plant (Courtesy BRP)

Bottle Rock Power could be on its way to continuing geothermal-energy activities in The Geysers for another three decades.

The Lake County Board of Supervisors (BOS) made an intended decision Tuesday to deny Friends of Cobb Mountain's appeal of the county planning commission's Feb. 28 approval of extending a Bottle Rock Power LLC (BRP) use permit until 2043.

Friends of Cobb Mountain, a nonprofit group, challenged the commissioners' decision last month, arguing they didn't follow state environmental law and failed to adequately address issues related to the payment for final decommissioning of the BRP steam field.

The commission found the 30-year permit extension was exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) in part because the company did not propose to expand the existing use on the property, located on High Valley Road in Cobb.

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USA, Nevada:

NV Energy to Decommission Coal plants, Shift to Gas and Renewables (equities.com)

NV Energy will roll out a major policy initiative today, announcing that it will shutter its coal-fired plants, increase investment in renewable energy and create thousands of construction jobs over the next 12 years.

Under the plan, Nevada's coal plants would begin closing by the end of next year, and the company would accelerate investment in wind, solar, geothermal and natural gas to replace the coal energy going offline.

The utility plans to unveil the proposal it's calling "NVision" on Wednesday at the Legislature as an amendment to Senate Bill 123.

"This does three things: it retires coal from Nevada, builds renewables, and it creates jobs," said Tony Sanchez, NV Energy senior vice president.


In place of coal, NV Energy wants to invest in a 60-40 split of natural gas and renewables. NV Energy would construct, acquire or contract for 600 megawatts of renewable energy in Nevada during the next five years.

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Indonesia:

Pertamina Geothermal Energy’s Top Executives Fired for Poor Performance (Jakarta Post)

The State-owned Enterprises Ministry as sole shareholder has dismissed four senior executives — including the CEO — of PT Pertamina Geothermal Energy (PGE) due to poor performance by the company’s board of executives.

The minister, Dahlan Iskan, said on Tuesday that he had asked PGE president director Slamet Riyadi, planning and development director Zainal Ilmie Bachrun, operations director M. Irhas and finance director Narendra to quit their jobs.

 The four executives, according to Dahlan, had been “slow” and “disappointing” in leading the company, highlighting the stalled development of the Sarulla geothermal power plant in North Sumatra as a key example.

 In general, he said, PGE, a subsidiary of state-owned oil and gas company Pertamina, had failed to meet the expectations of constructing geothermal-fired power plants in Indonesia.

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Australia:

1MWe Habanero Pilot Plant- Commencement of Commissioning Operations (Audio - Geodynamics)

• Commissioning operations underway at 1MWe Habanero Pilot Plant
• Full commissioning of pilot plant scheduled for end April
• Trial of 1 MW Habanero Pilot Plant to run until August
• Fully funded to complete commissioning and trial activities

Geoff Ward, Geodynamics CEO & Managing Director, gives listeners insight to the purpose of the 1MWe Pilot Plant that has been built near Innamincka. He outlines the work that will be undertaken in the next few weeks and discusses the claim for a significant R&D tax refund. He discusses the significance of this milestone, the work that will be undertaken in the next weeks, and the information they hope to gain from the trial.  News Release (PDF)

USA, Idaho:

U.S. Geothermal Receives $33 Million Cash Grant at Neal Hot Springs (News Release - PDF)

Neal Hot Springs (Courtesy U.S. Geothermal Inc)

U.S. Geothermal Inc., announced today that its subsidiary USG Oregon LLC
received a payment of $32,749,541 from the U.S. Department of Treasury. The cash grant is for Specified Energy Property in Lieu of Tax/Credits relating to the Neal Hot Springs geothermal power plant under Section 1603, Division B of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

The proceeds of the cash grant will be used to fund $8.5 million in plant and well field cash reserves. Approximately $13.3 million of the grant is expected to pay down the outstanding project loan with the balance available for distribution to the equity partners.

USA:

A Failing Grade for Energy Infrastructure Hurts U.S. Competitiveness (Yahoo! Finance)

The nation got a wake-up call recently when the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) released its Report Card for America's infrastructure. Listed among the failing grades for roads, bridges and ports, was a grim evaluation of our energy infrastructure.

Giving it a grade of D+, the Report Card detailed the need for investment throughout the nation’s electricity system, but focused primarily on the aging electric grid. The nation’s power grid, which consists of a system of interconnected power plants, transmission and distribution facilities, some of which date back to the 1880s, is in dire need of repair.

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USA, Nevada:

Nevada Industry Focus: Alternative Energy (nevadabusiness.com)

Left to right: Dean Parker, Peppermill Reno; Dr. Oliver Hemmers, UNLV, Harry Reid Center for Environmental Studies; Paul Thomsen, Ormat Technologies; Bonnie Lind, Governor’s Office of Economic Development; Mark McVeigh, City National Bank; Auguste Lemaire, Sunvelope Solar, Inc.; Dr. Alan Gertler, Desert Research Institute (Courtesy nevadabusiness.com)

Nevada’s alternative energy sector has seen a plethora of hills and valleys in recent years. From federal funding challenges to educating the general populace about alternative energy, the sector has seen its share of challenges.

Recently, executives representing various alternative energy interests throughout the state, including Dean Parker, facilities manager of the Peppermill, Reno and Paul Thomsen of Ormat Technologies,  met at the Reno offices of City National Bank to discuss these issues and the future of alternative energy.

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Indonesia:

Japan International Cooperation Agency Finances Indonesian Geothermal Plant (Voice of Indonesia)

The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has agreed to provide Indonesia up to 10,142 million yen or 147.47 million USD in development loans for electricity generating projects including 5,104 million yen for the Tulehu Geothermal Power Plant Project in the Molucca islands, with PT PLN as the executing agency.

United Kingdom:

Cornish "Hot Rocks" Project Loses Government' Funding (This is Cornwall)

The UK Government has withdrawn its contribution towards a £50 million scheme to create energy using the heat from rocks deep underground near Redruth.

Geothermal Engineering Ltd was awarded £6 million last year from the Regional Growth Fund for the project which is earmarked for United Downs, between St Day and Carharrack.

But the company's failure to attract private funding for the scheme has led to the award being rescinded.

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Canada:

Nevada Geothermal Power Completes Transfer of Blue Mountain Project (News Release)

Nevada Geothermal Power Inc. (NGP) has announced that the company and funds managed by EIG Global Energy Partners, the mezzanine lender for the Blue Mountain Geothermal Project,  have closed the Equity and Collateral Transfer Agreement on March 28, 2013 (refer to News Release dated January 16, 2013).

EIG has accepted the transfer of ownership of NGP Blue Mountain Holdco LLC in full satisfaction of all amounts owing under BM Holdco’s loan agreement with EIG.  NGP received $500,000 in satisfaction of a current account receivable from BM Holdco.

Nevada Geothermal Operating Company LLC (Opco) will continue as project operator of the Faulkner 1 geothermal power plant during a cooperative transition period of up to twelve months. EIG may provide written notice at any time during the transition period, electing to replace the operator or purchase Opco for a nominal amount plus the value of the then existing working capital.

Effective April 2, 2013, the Company will change its name to Alternative Earth Resources Inc. (“Alternative Earth”), and complete a five for one share consolidation (refer to news release dated March 27, 2013).  Alternative Earth retains its ownership interests in four geothermal development properties in the western US (Crump Geyser, New Truckhaven, Pumpernickel and North Valley).

Australia:

Origin Quits Geothermal in Australia as Geodynamics Prepares 1MW Pilot Plant (Reneweconomy)

Australia’s largest electricity utility Origin Energy has announced it will withdraw completely from the Geodynamics led Innamincka geothermal joint venture, just weeks before a 1MW pilot plant – the first to feature enhanced geothermal systems technology in Australia – was due to come online.

The withdrawal was not unexpected given that Origin Energy had written down its $200 million plus investment in “hot rock” geothermal, as well at its stake in Geodynamics, and had withdrawn from funding ongoing drilling programs and the pilot plant.

The timing, however, did surprise, given that it came three months before a decision was due.

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South America:

Los Países Andinos Tienen Como Objetivo Liberar Su Potencial Geotérmico - Andean Countries Aim To Release Their Geothermal Potential  (Piensa en Geotermia)

Durante los días 4 y 5 de Marzo se celebró en Reikiavik, Islandia, un encuentro organizado por los organismos International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), IGA y OLADE sobre energía geotérmica.

On 4th and 5th of March , a meeting organized by IRENA agencies, IGA and OLADE was held in Reykjavik, Iceland on geothermal energy.

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Solar System:

Breaking News: Martians Offer Earthlings Geothermal Energy (RenewableEnergyWorld)

RenewableEnergyWorld.com has learned of secret meetings that have been held between UN energy ministers and Martian ministers of energy regarding the terawatts of easily exploitable geothermal energy that Mars possesses.

An artists impression of our new
geothermal colleagues (Wikipedia)

Little has been understood about Mars and its resources, beyond what has been learned from probes sent to its orbit and more recently to the planet's surface. What is now being learned confirms previous speculation that Mars actually has abundant geothermal energy -- and furthermore that there is a sophisticated infrastructure for harvesting it.

Mars actually has two distinct geophysical characteristics: extensive volcanic activity below its western hemisphere, and massive underground glaciers of ice in its south and eastern hemispheres. Supercharged reactors pierce and melt sections of those glaciers, and the water is channeled through underground caverns to enormous geothermal fields where it is evaporated into steam to power turbines. Martians also have developed innovative cooling and recirculation techniques using the planet's CO2 resources, both dry ice deposits as well as captured and compressed atmospheric gas.

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United Kingdom:

Cornwall Geothermal Electricity Scheme on Hold (This is Cornwall)

A £50 Million scheme to generate electricity using heat stored deep beneath the south-west English countryside has been put on hold pending government support.

Geothermal Engineering has planning permission to drill into the rocks at United Downs in Cornwall and been offered £6 million towards the project from the UK Regional Growth Fund (RGF).

But the company has been unable to secure enough matched funding from the private sector to begin.

Ryan Law, managing director of Geothermal Engineering, said it could lose the RGF funding and that the scheme at Redruth was on hold until the Government indicated how it wanted the sector to develop.

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United Kingdom:

Oil and Gas Giants Queue to Pour Cash Down Cornish Boreholes (thetimes.co.uk)

Granite on the Cornish coast
(Courtesy The Times)

A quarry in the heart of the Cornish countryside is at the center of a bidding war involving some of the biggest names in the international energy industry. The quarry near Penryn, Cornwall in south-west England, was the site of the first deep geothermal project in the UK.

At least half a dozen oil and gas companies, understood to include the state-owned Saudi Aramco, the world’s richest company, have approached the owner of Rosemanowes Quarry, near Penryn. Offers for the site are believed to have surpassed £1 million for the apparently redundant stoneworks.

Japan:

Japan Gives Final Approval for Geothermal Power Tariff (Bloomberg)

The tariff for Geothermal is 27.3 yen per kilowatt hour for plants with capacity of 15,000 kilowatts or larger, and 42 yen per kilowatt hour for smaller plants, both for 15 years.

(Courtesy CIA.gov)

Japan gave final approval to a recommendation to cut the tariff for solar power by 10 percent for the year starting April 1. The reduction marks the first rate change since the country started an incentive program for clean energy in July. Rates for other types of clean energy such as wind and geothermal will remain unchanged, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry said in a statement today.

Earlier in March, a government-appointed committee made proposals for the tariffs; today’s announcement came after approval by trade minister Toshimitsu Motegi.

The tariff for wind is 23.1 yen per kilowatt hour for 20 years, according to the ministry. Geothermal is 27.3 yen per kilowatt hour for plants with capacity of 15,000 kilowatts or larger, and 42 yen per kilowatt hour for smaller plants, both for 15 years.

Turkey:

Munich Re and World Bank Unit to Develop Geothermal Exploration Risk Insurance (Business Insurance)

Munich Reinsurance Co. and International Finance Corp., a member of the World Bank Group, are collaborating to develop and pilot geothermal exploration risk insurance in Turkey in order to reduce exposure to unproductive wells, Balkans reported.

One of the key barriers faced by geothermal developers in Turkey and the world is the high exploration risk, Patrick Luternauer, IFC's regional business line manager for sustainable business advisory, said. The geothermal exploration risk insurance will bring in more international investments in geothermal energy by providing greater investment security, he added.

Japan:

Marubeni Targeting Geothermal Energy Revival in Japan (The Japan Daily Press)

Among Japan’s trading houses, Marubeni Corp. has been the biggest investor in electricity generation, a fact now being strengthened as the outfit is looking towards the revival of geothermal industry as an alternative source of energy in the country. The current stigma against nuclear energy is understandable, and looking towards heat as a source of energy might be a sound move.

“We’ve focused on hydro before,” Masahiro Uegaki, assistant general manager of Marubeni’s domestic power projects said. “Recently we are developing solar, wind and other renewable energies. Geothermal is one of our new activities.” Expanding the firm’s geothermal investments would be an obvious boon to turbine makers like Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. and Toshiba Corp., both of which already supply equipment outside Japan.

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USA, Idaho:

E. Idaho school district expanding geothermal use (idahostatesman)

School officials said Eagle Rock Middle School has been using geothermal energy for almost two years, and there has been no change in the quality of the heating and cooling. But officials said the costs are much lower than a conventional heating and cooling system.

"We are (pumping) water that's already 55 degrees, so we have a lot less differential to heat or cool the building," said Director of Operations Kevin Klingler.

School officials said the district could save up to 50 percent on heating and cooling costs using geothermal energy at the four elementary schools. Read more.....

USA, Colorado:

Geothermal Power Plant Presentation for Pagosa Springs on Monday (pagosadailypost)

The Pagosa Springs Community Development Corporation (CDC) is pleased to announce that Jerry Smith of Pagosa Verde, LLC will join our monthly public meeting, Monday, April 1st at 5:30pm at the Quality Resort to present his proposal for a geothermal power plant in Pagosa Springs.

The Town of Pagosa Springs and much of Archuleta County sit on one of the largest geothermal aquifers in Colorado. Currently, the only use of this resource has been springs for the tourists to soak in and for heating a few buildings downtown. But we can do so much more!

Our geothermal potential has been studied for many years. A 1980 study suggested that there is 200 degree water at two thousand feet down, but at that time geothermal power generation technology required 300+ degree water.
Smith is one of the champions who have been actively advancing geothermal research in the Pagosa Springs area. Smith said that geothermal heat technology has improved greatly over the years—in fact; in 2007, 165 degree water was successfully used to make power. Read more.....

USA, New York:

Kenyan Ambassador To Speak At New York Geothermal Conference (cleantechnica)

Elkanah Odembo is Kenya’s ambassador to the United States. (Before taking on this role he worked in philanthropy and social responsibility). On April 11 in New York City at the U.S. and International Geothermal Energy Finance Forum he will be giving a speech about the importance of geothermal development in Kenya. By 2030, there could be as many as 5,000 MW of geothermal power plants in operation. Read more.....

Turkey:

Munich Re and IFC Announce Agreement to Develop and Pilot Geothermal Exploration Risk Insurance in Turkey (webwire)

Four pilot projects will be supported, expected to facilitate US$ 420million of private-sector investment and the installation of 140 MW of geothermal capacity.

Munich. With the new advisory services agreement Munich Re will be supported by the International Finance Corporation (IFC) in identifying and preparing suitable geothermal projects in Turkey that will use exploration risk insurance to reduce their exposure to the geothermal-well productivity risk.

Four pilot projects will be supported under the agreement, expected to facilitate US$ 420million of private-sector investment and to lead to the installation of 140 MW of geothermal capacity. Munich Re’s partner is the IFC, a member of the World Bank Group. The project is funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF). Read More......

Africa:

Rwanda: Geothermal Drilling Starts Next Month (allafrica)

Government has allocated $27 million (Rwf17.1bn) towards the drilling of three geothermal wells on the southern slopes of the Karisimbi volcano, an official from Energy, Water and Sanitation Authority (EWSA) has said.

Uwera Rutagarama, EWSA's head of geothermal development, told The New Times last week that the drilling is planned for April 15, and is expected to last about six months. The exercise was supposed to start December last year but was delayed due to some physical works needed to be done, at the sites before the drilling exercise. Read More.....

USA: Hawaii

State of Hawaii to retain control of geothermal project permitting (bizjournals)

A bill that would have given Hawaii County the authority to authorize permits for geothermal projects on the Big Island appears dead in the current legislative session.

The Hawaii Tribune-Herald is reporting that House Bill 106 has been deferred by three Senate committees, leaving project permitting in state hands after last year's implementation of Act 97. Read More.....

USA: Nevada

Nevada Geothermal Power Inc : NGP Announces Effective Date for Name Change and Consolidation (4-traders)

Vancouver, B.C. (March 27, 2013), Nevada Geothermal Power Inc. ("NGP" or "the Company") (TSX.V: NGP) announced that it is proceeding with the share consolidation, on the basis of five (5) old shares for one (1) new share (the "Consolidation"), as was approved by shareholders at the Annual and Special meeting held on July 24, 2012. As a result of the Consolidation, the 122,410,573 common shares which are currently issued and outstanding will be reduced to 24,482,115 shares. The name of the Company will also be changed to "Alternative Earth Resources Inc." concurrently with the Consolidation. Read More.....

Philippines

Commencement of activities of relocating a geothermal power plant in the Philippines (menafn) Mar 27, 2013 -Sumitomo Corporation (head office:Chuo-ku)(head office:Tokyo)(president and ceo:Kuniharu Nakamura)(president and ceo:hereinafter "Sumitomo") announces that it has entered into a contract with Energy Development Corporation (hereinafter, "EDC"), the largest geothermal power generation company in the Philippines, for the relocation of the existing unit and equipment of the Northern Negros Geothermal Power Plant (hereinafter "NNGPP") to the site of the Nasulo Power Project (hereinafter "Nasulo"), in December 2012, and that it has recently commenced activities in relation to this project.  Read More....

USA, Oregon:

Geothermal project gains $35mn cash grant (pennenergy)

U.S. Geothermal Inc. (NYSE: HTM, TSX: GTH) said that its subsidiary, USG Oregon LLC, was approved for a $35.9 million cash grant from the U.S. Department of Treasury for the 35 MW Neal Hot Springs geothermal power plant in Oregon. The company will receive $32.7 million in payments because of a sequestration reduction rate of 8.7 percent. Read More.....

Global:

The GRC Awards ‐ Seeking the Best in Global Geothermal (News Release - PDF)

Last year's GRC Award winners

The 32nd Annual Award winners will be announced at the GRC Annual Meeting in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The Geothermal Resources Council (GRC) is pleased to announce the opening of nominations for this year’s GRC Awards. The awards recognize distinguished colleagues in the geothermal community from around the world and have been a highlight of the geothermal calendar since the late 1970’s.

The winners will honored at the GRC Awards Luncheon, the climax to the GRC Annual Meeting being held at the MGM Grand, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA from September 29 –October 2. The theme for this year’s meeting is Geothermal: A Global Resource, from Larderello to Las Vegas.

“The recipients of these awards often have a lifetime of achievement in the geothermal academic, scientific and commercial communities”, said GRC interim Executive Director Steve Ponder. “The GRC Awards recognizes the contributions of these individuals to the geothermal sector”.

More information on the GRC Awards, including a nomination form (PDF), can be found on the GRC website. The deadline for nominations is June 28, 2013.

Tanzania:

Tanzania's Geothermal Roadmap to Tap Renewable Energy Resources With AfDB Support (allAfrica)

On March 13-14, 2013, a wide range of stakeholders gathered in Dar-es-Salaam for a Tanzania Government-hosted workshop to consider the country's "Geothermal Legal and Regulatory Framework". Participants included government officials, private developers, geothermal resource survey specialists, development partners, lawyers and civil society representatives.

The workshop, co-organized by the African Development Bank (AfDB) and British High Commission with support from the Climate Investment Funds (CIF), set out to identify ways to create an effective legal and regulatory framework to support geothermal development. Read More.....