Hungary:

Geothermal Mining Tender Announced (Budapest Business Journal)

(Courtesy CIA.gov)

In keeping with its previously stated goals to diversify energy resources and securing local supply, the National Development Ministry of Hungary today announced tenders for geothermal energy and hydrocarbon mining concessions.

The 35-year geothermal energy concessions up for bid are for located in Jászberény, Ferencszállás and Kecskemét. Deadline for the applications in November 15, with awarding of the tenders to be announced by mid-February 2014.

Read More.....

Kenya, Tanzania:

Kenya, Tanzania to Partner on Geothermal Project (The Star)

Kenya has entered into a partnership with Tanzania to develop geothermal exploration. Tanzania’s Energy Com- missioner Hosea Mbise has said the country is exploring alternative sources of renewable energy to shift its over- reliance on hydro-electric power.

The partnership was agreed on following a week- long tour to Kenya by 32 members of the Tanzanian Parliamentary Committee on Energy and Mining. During the tour of the Menengai Geothermal Station, that started on Sunday and ends tomorrow, Mbise said the deal will see Kenya set up modalities to explore geothermal power.

He said Tanzania will rely on Kenya’s geothermal expertise, experience and equipment to diversify sources of electric power. Key areas of the partnership deal unveiled yesterday will include training for Ministry of Energy staff in Tanzania.

On Monday, September 30, 2013 at the GRC Annual Meeting & GEA Energy Expo, the sixth annual International Luncheon will bring together experts from around the world with U.S. private and public sector stakeholders to discuss the latest developments in harnessing East Africa’s considerable geothermal energy resources. Attendees will be able to meet and greet these experts, and explore partnership opportunities. Free with GRC Annual Meeting Registration.

Read More.....

Philippines:

San Miguel to Bid for Leyte Plants' Output (Rappler)

SMC Global Power Holdings Corp., the power arm of conglomerate San Miguel Corp. (SMC), will join the bidding for the rights over Unified Leyte geothermal power plants' output slated in October.

"Yes, we will bid," said Ramon Ang, president and chief operating officer of SMC, when asked for a comment.

SMC Global is the Philippines' largest power trader, currently administering the capacities of the Sual coal plant, San Roque hydropower plant and the Ilijan natural gas power facility.

The company has a total of 2,545 MWe installed capacity, making it one of the largest independent power generation companies in the country.

Technology:

How it Works: Geothermal Electricity (Al Jazeera English)

A very good video explaining geothermal energy including a call for oil/geothermal co-production. 



The deeper you go into the earth's core, the hotter it becomes. Some of this vast energy is already harnessed by geothermal power plants which use steam from heated water deep underground to drive turbines and generate electricity.

(VIDEO 2:16 Minutes)

Technology:

Report Quantifies Solar Power Plant Land Use - Geothermal Has Smaller Footprint (IEEE Spectrum)

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) released a report [PDF] last week that aimed to quantify exactly how much room solar power requires. Land use and space issues have long been a point of contention when it comes to renewables, with opponents complaining that the huge spaces required for solar and wind aren't worth the effort.

The report found that the total area requirements for a small photovoltaic (PV) plant is 8.3 acres per MW. For larger PV plants, the total area needed is 7.9 acres per MW, while concentrating solar power plants (CSP) need 10 acres per MW.

Perhaps more relevant is the question of how these land use requirements measure up to other forms of energy. When it comes to renewables, there's no doubt that solar power is far more area-efficient than wind power; an NREL report from several years ago found a total requirement of about 84 acres per MW, a far cry from the 10 or so acres that solar seems to max out at. Geothermal energy might be the best of the bunch, though, in the low single digits. Previous studies cite 1-8 acres per MW.

Read More.....

USA:

Energy Technology Leadership Group (ETLG) Launches (Press Release)

New Washington-Based Advocacy Group to Promote Smarter, Safer Energy Through Educating Legislators and Regulators on the Latest Innovative Technologies 

The Energy Technology Leadership Group (ETLG) officially launched today to promote smarter, safer energy through the use of the most innovative technologies across the energy spectrum including fossil, solar, hydro, wind, biofuels, and geothermal.

An increasing number of public/private partnerships and individual companies are developing groundbreaking technologies to assist in the safe provision of reliable and cleaner energy. ETLG and its member companies will help educate members of Congress and various federal agencies and regulators about these timely technological advances, to assist them in drafting more accurate legislation and regulations.

The new leadership group is actively seeking members interested in promoting the importance of energy technology development and implementation. Organizations interested in joining can find further information on the group’s website, www.energytechleaders.com.

Read More.....

USA, Nevada:

Ram Power Announces 2013 Second Quarter Results (Press Release)

Ram Power, Corp. has announced its operating results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2013.

The achievement of commercial operation of the Phase II expansion at San Jacinto in December 2012 continued to generate strong year-over-year revenue growth for the company of $13.2 million for the three months ended June 30, 2013, compared to $7 million for the same period in 2012, an 88% increase.

Significant accomplishments during the quarter and to date include:

• Ram Power reached an agreement on July 31, 2013, with its project lenders syndicate, led by the International Finance Corporation, to convert its Phase II Credit Facility construction loan for the San Jacinto-Tizate Project to a term loan amortizing over 11 years through 2024. 
• Ram Power, together with Sinclair Knight Merz, finalized its resource remediation plan for the San Jacinto-Tizate Project entered into a drilling contract with ThermaSource Inc. to carry out the remediation program drilling, and commenced drilling on July 18, 2013. 
• Ram Power has identified a buyer and is currently in discussions to finalize sale of the Geysers project by the end of 2013. Proceeds of the sale, net of selling costs, are expected to be approximately $6.4 million. Ram Power recognized an impairment loss of $16.5 million during the second quarter 2013 to reflect the current expected purchase price net of selling costs.

Read More......

USA, California:

Geothermal Interest Heats Up in Modoc County (Herald and News)

Modoc County’s geothermal potential has been known for centuries but, aside from some commercial applications in Canby and Surprise Valley, little realized.

Researchers with the University of California Davis’ California Geothermal Energy Collaborative and geology department want to learn more about how the county’s nascent geothermal energy can be used.

As part of the learning process, the UC Davis Geology Department and California Geothermal Energy Collaborative will conduct a public meeting from 8 a.m. to noon Saturday, Aug. 17, at the Alturas City Hall. During the session, Glassley said he and others will discuss what is known about Modoc County’s geothermal resource, provide information on recent research, discuss ways potential resources might be developed and answer audience questions.

Read More.....

Italy:

‘Clean’ Geothermal Energy Plant Sparks Protest in Italy (SmartPlanet.com)

Enel Green Power's Bagnore 3 plant

The concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere crossed 400 parts per million earlier that month, a threshold that signified the relentlessness of the march toward climate change. So why was the crowd protesting a plant, called Bagnore 4, that proposes to provide clean, renewable energy?

Geothermal plants in Larderello now power two million households. In 1998, Enel Green Power, which also operates plants in Nevada and is a subsidiary of Italy’s largest power company, built the Bagnore 3 plant at Mount Amiata; the facility provides 20 MWe of power, enough to power 62,000 homes.

The 40 MWe Bagnore 4 plant under construction here promises to save 70,000 metric tonnes (77 tons) of oil equivalent annually, but opponents say that it will pollute the air, produce carbon emissions and increase the concentration of arsenic in the local drinking water.

Read More......

Chile:

Chile Looks to Launch Geothermal Insurance, Funding in 2014 (BNamericas)

(Courtesy CIA.gov)

Chile next year aims to launch a failed drilling insurance program alongside geothermal funding in 2014, the energy ministry's renewable energy head Carlos Barría told BNamericas on the sidelines of the 3rd BNamericas Hydro Power & Renewable Energy Summit in Santiago Wednesday.

"Any geothermal project in the world runs the risk of not being successful - of not finding the quantities of vapor that were expected. But in Chile it's even harder because we are just starting out and don't have much reserve information," Barría said.

The Chilean government is working with IDB and the World Bank to create failed drilling insurance to help alleviate some of the risk of exploratory drilling. The government is also asking US$30mn-35mn from the Clean Technology Fund (CTF) to help with costs.

If Chile is successful in launching drilling insurance and securing CTF funding, Barría has high expectations.

"By 2025-30 we hope to have 1,000-1,500MW of geothermal in Chile," he said. "In the next decade we expect to enter the world's top 10 in terms of geothermal."

Read More......

Global:

GRC Annual Meeting & GEA Geothermal Energy Expo

The Special Room Rate Offer For Weekday Nights Has Been Extended to August 16

MGM Grand Resort & Casino - $89 - Reserve your room today and save over $60 a Night!  (Rooms at the Signature at MGM Grand are sold out)                  

More information..........

Climate Change:

2012: The Warmest Year on Record in the U.S. (kcet.org)

(Courtesy NOAA Climate.gov)

Another reminder of why getting off fossil fuels is so important: The American Meteorological Society (AMS) has released an annual report on the world's changing climate, and the news is just about as bad as you might expect. 2012 was one of the ten warmest years on record worldwide, and the warmest year on record in the United States.

The report, published by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) on it's climate.gov website, has been produced annually for the last 23 years, each year's news seemingly more ominous than the year previous.

Read More.....

Global:

Ormat Technologies Reports 2013 Second Quarter Results (Press Release)

Operational highlights and recent developments:

• Increased electricity generation by 12.9% to 1.1 million MWh, driven by new capacity coming on line at Olkaria III Plant 2 in Kenya and McGinness Hills in Nevada.
• Exceeded the expected capacity in both McGinness Hills and Olkaria III complex which are contributing additional 6 MW, bringing the total generating capacity to 595 MW.
• Accelerated the handover of the 22 MW Momotombo power plant in Nicaragua that was scheduled for mid- 2014.
• Signed the Sarulla project agreements and secured our role as a supplier for approximately $254 million of equipment;
• Signed a 20-year PPA with Southern California Public Power Authority (SCPPA) for our 16 MW Wild Rose project in Nevada

Commenting on the results, Dita Bronicki, Chief Executive Officer of Ormat, stated: "In the electricity segment, our focus on prudently expanding generation capacity is paying off as reflected in the results. The addition of Olkaria combined with the impact of McGinness Hills, which commenced operations in July 2012, drove a 12.9% year-over-year increase in generation capacity in the quarter. As we increase capacity, we are also improving operational efficiencies at our plants attaining a gross margin of 33.1%.”

GRC Company member Ormat Technologies will be at booth #301 at the GEA Expo run in conjunction with the GRC Annual Meeting, Sept. 29-Oct. 2 at the MGM Grand, Las Vegas, Nevada.

Read More.....

India:

India's Underground Power Potential - Vision or Reality? (Business Green)

(Courtesy CIA.gov)

Geothermal energy has a long history in Asia, with the first drill holes being dug in Java in 1926, but until recently it has been under-exploited. Recent developments aim to change this.

In particular, India, a country with vast and expanding energy needs, is looking at the possibilities that geothermal energy can unlock. For India, geothermal is an ideal energy source - low carbon, reliable and proven technology. Many Indian companies have experience with geothermal installations in other countries, such as Tata's recent work at Sorik Marapi in Indonesia.

The country also has significant geothermal resource. Estimates range up to 10 GW, which is significantly more than the current combined installed capacity of the three largest geothermal users, the US, Indonesia and the Philippines.

Read More......

Slovakia, Peru:

Eurasian Minerals Sells Geothermal Energy Assets in Slovakia and Peru (Stockhouse)

Eurasian Minerals Inc. announced the sale of its geothermal energy assets in Slovakia and Peru to privately-held Starlight Geothermal Ltd. (SGL).

In Slovakia the assets include the Ziar Basin of west-central Slovakia and the Pannonian Basin in the southeastern corner of the country. The company's geothermal portfolio in Slovakia totaled five licenses covering approximately 320 square kilometers.

Eurasian Minerals also assessed opportunities in Latin America that led to the acquisition of four geothermal licenses totaling 328 square kilometers in Peru, including the Tambochaca, Pumahuiri, Sengata, and Coropuna projects. These licenses occur in prospective regions of Peru's Western and Eastern Cordillera that include geologically recent volcanism and occurrences of thermal springs and fumaroles.

Read More......

Global:

Global Geothermal News Receives Another Award

This website has won an award for the second consecutive year in a prestigious communications competition.

Global Geothermal News won an Award of Excellence in the Green Electronic Media section of the APEX 2013 awards.

APEX 2013, is the Twenty-fifth annual awards program recognizing excellence in publications work by professional communicators. APEX Awards are based on excellence in graphic design, editorial content and the ability to achieve overall communications excellence. APEX Grand Awards honor the outstanding works in each main category, while APEX Awards of Excellence recognize exceptional entries in each of the individual categories.

Subscribe now to get your daily geothermal news from a trusted source.......

USA:

EPA Screens More Than 66,000 Contaminated Sites for Renewable Energy Potential (Directions Magazine)

Portion of the RE-Mapper Tool for Potential Hydrothermal Sites in the South West USA

Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) updated its RE-Powering Mapping and Screening Tool, which will now provide preliminary screening results for renewable energy potential at 66,000, up from 24,000, contaminated lands, landfills, and mine sites across the country. The RE-Powering America’s Land Initiative, started by EPA in 2008, encourages development of renewable energy on potentially contaminated land, landfills and mine sites when it is aligned with the community’s vision for the site. 

The updated screening provides insight into the significant potential for renewable energy generation on contaminated lands and landfills nationwide. For geothermal energy alone, EPA identified over 355 Hydrothermal sites (including 6 in the Las Vegas area where the GRC Annual Meeting & GEA Expo is taking place Sept. 29-Oct.2), 1,616 Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS) sites and 57,202 Geothermal heat pump contaminated sites.

RE-Powering Mapper Fact Sheets: Geothermal (PDF)

The total geothermal technical potential for EPA tracked sites is more than 7,000 MW.                     Read More......

Uganda:

AAE Rejects Mutimba’s Claims for $60m Slice of Ugandan Geothermal Project (NewNet)

U.S. infrastructure firm AAE Systems has rejected allegations made by Ahmed Mutimba and his company Apex Petroleum Uganda following claims that Apex was owed $60m for services relating to a $1.2bn geothermal project.

In a statement, AAE rejected Mutimba’s claims and denied he was responsible for the procurement of the project or entitled to a fee.

Read More.....

Kenya:

GDC Calls Investors for 90 MWe Geothermal Plants (businessdailyafrica.com)

Kenyan government-owned Geothermal Development Company (GDC) has invited investors to bid for contracts to develop three wells with a combined production capacity of 90 MWe, marking a major milestone for the corporation which was founded to exploit Kenya’s geothermal power potential.

The plants are to be set up at the Menengai field within the Rift Valley basin and estimated to have naturally occurring steam with the potential to produce about 10,000 MWe of geothermal power. Tender Document (PDF) - Deadline September 16, 2013.

Read More.....

Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands:

Saipan Agency Supports Protest Appeal in Geothermal Energy Project (Saipan Tribune)

(Courtesy CIA.gov)

The Office of the Public Auditor in Saipan has granted one of two procurement appeals that Australian-based KUTh Energy Ltd. filed related to a request for proposal for geothermal energy on Saipan.

KUTh won a Commonwealth Utilities Corp. (CUC) bid to develop geothermal energy on Saipan, only for that same request for proposal to be cancelled months later.

A revised RFP was issued later, but by the Capital Improvement Project Office, for geothermal consulting services.

However, OPA denied KUTh’s other appeal, which alleged that CUC had dealt with KUTh in bad faith when it cancelled the first RFP for geothermal energy development.

Read More.....

Switzerland:

Geothermal Energy Stuck in a Hole in Switzerland (Independent European Daily Express)

An accident in a flagship project threatens the future of geothermal energy in Switzerland. The mishap that was followed by earthquakes has come as a warning that geothermal deep drilling still has a long way to go.

It occurred in a project in the eastern Swiss city St. Gallen earlier in July brings a new setback, after earlier accidents.

In 2010, 83 percent of St. Gallen's voters approved a 160 million Swiss francs (172 million dollars) credit for a flagship geothermal project. A geothermal power station was expected to cover the electricity needs of 3,000 to 5,000 households eventually and provide heat for half of the city's buildings. In early July, drilling was concluded up to 4,450 metres depth, and extraction tests prepared.

On Jul. 19 around noon, the engineers' nightmare happened: they unexpectedly encountered gas in the drilling hole, which raised the pressure. The leak was closed and water was pumped into the hole to reduce the pressure. Next morning, St. Gallen was shaken by an earthquake that measured 3.6 on the Richter scale, followed by dozens of micro-earthquakes.

Since then, all eyes are on the city in Switzerland's east. Engineers have managed to stabilize the drilling hole. Further test drilling has been cancelled. Decisions on the project's future will be taken after thorough review. Damage to earthquake-affected buildings and infrastructure was negligible, but the reputation of geothermal energy has suffered considerably.

Read More......

Global:

International Leaders to Explore Geothermal Markets, Developments at GRC-GEA Event (BusinessWire - Press Release)

Members of the international geothermal community plan to discuss their successes and emerging market opportunities at the GRC Annual Meeting & GEA Geothermal Energy Expo in Las Vegas from Sept. 29-Oct. 2.

This is the premier gathering to learn about the latest developments in geothermal energy, and brings together geothermal companies, academics, financiers, policy leaders, students, and other individuals. Last year, the Expo & Meeting hosted more than 2,300 representatives from more than 39 countries and participants from six continents. In 2013, an even broader attendance is anticipated.

The Annual Meeting & Expo will offer three special International Market Events:

• Monday, September 30th (12:00-1:30 pm): International Luncheon: A ticketed lunch focusing on geothermal development in Kenya. Tickets may be purchased through GRC at www.geothermal.org. Tickets may also be purchased at registration.
• Monday, September 30th (1:30-4:45 pm): International Session: A series of speakers summarizing geothermal developments in international regions. Open to participants in the GRC Annual Meeting or GEA Expo.
• Tuesday, October 1st (First Program: 10:00 am; Second Program: 2:00 pm): International Visitors Presentations: Informal presentations by international participants on business developments and opportunities around the world. Open to participants in the GRC Annual Meeting or GEA Expo. To sign up for a speaking slot with GEA, contact Becky Little at becky@geo-energy.org or 202-454-5256.

Registration for the GRC Annual Meeting & GEA Geothermal Energy Expo is now open. A Preliminary Program along with information on registering can be found on the GRC website at www.geothermal.org. To register for the Expo only, visit www.geothermalenergy2013.org/. Registration for the GRC Annual Meeting includes free entry to the GEA Expo.

Read More.....

Global:

3D Geological Modelling - Leapfrog Geothermal Training (GNS Science)

3rd–5th October 2013
GRC Annual Meeting, Las Vegas, USA
US$2,000/person

• 10 people maximum
• Training licences provided
• Materials provided in English: electronic and hard copy
• Lunch and refreshments included

Visit: www.gns.cri.nz/geothermal
Call: +67-7-376 1781
Email: geothermalworkshop@gns.cri.nz

This course provides an introduction to 3D modelling using Leapfrog Geothermal. This software was developed for the geothermal industry, and includes an interface for visualization of geological, geophysical and reservoir datasets, and tools to create comprehensive 3D models.

USA, Wyoming:

Geothermal Yellowstone (Travel Channel)

Earth Wonders: The land in Yellowstone National Park is alive with geothermal activity.

USA, Wyoming:

Yellowstone's Steamboat Geyser Sees Rare Eruption (Phys.org)

Steamboat Geyser, in Yellowstone National Park 

erupts on Wednesday, July 31, 2013.

(AP Photo/Robb Long)

Yellowstone National Park's Steamboat Geyser—the world's tallest—has erupted for the first time in more than eight years.

Park geologist Hank Heasler says Wednesday night's nine-minute blast sent steaming hot water an estimated 200 to 300 feet in the air.

Unlike Old Faithful, which spews water like clockwork every hour-and-a-half, no one knows when Steamboat will erupt next.

In the past, it's gone as long as 50 years without a major event. In 1964, it erupted a record 29 times.

Read More.....

USA, Oregon:

U.S. Geothermal Inc. Announces Final Completion of Neal Hot Springs Power Plant (Marketwatch - Press Release)

U.S. Geothermal Inc., announced today that Final Completion of the 22 MW (net) Neal Hot Springs Project has been achieved. Yesterday, the project also received the final advance under the DOE loan guarantee.

The Neal Hot Springs Project, located in eastern Oregon; approximately 90 miles northwest of Boise, was the first geothermal project to obtain a loan guarantee under the DOE's Title XVII loan guarantee program, which was created by the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to support the deployment of innovative clean energy technologies. The DOE loan guarantee, guarantees a loan from the U.S. Treasury's Federal Financing Bank. The project was authorized for a loan guarantee of up to $96.8 million.

The Neal Hot Springs project deployed a first of its kind binary cycle process, utilizing a supercritical cycle that uses R134a refrigerant as the working fluid, as well as pre-fabricated modular construction of major plant components.

Read More.....

Nicaragua:

Ram Power, Corp. Announces Conversion of San Jacinto-Tizate Phase II Construction Loan to Term Loan (PR Inside - Press Release)

Ram Power, Corp. has announced that the company has reached an agreement with its project lenders syndicate, led by the International Finance Corporation, to convert its Phase II Credit Facility for the San Jacinto-Tizate Project located in the northwest of Nicaragua, to a term loan.

Under the terms of the agreement, the lenders agreed to waive the minimum steam requirement set forth in the original agreement and permit Ram Power to complete its resource remediation program over the next five months. While Ram Power will not be permitted to receive distributions until the completion of the resource remediation program, they will receive administrative fee payments from project revenues of $0.5 million per month effective July 31, 2013, August 15, 2013, September 15, 2013 and October 15, 2013.

Read More.....

USA, Texas:

GeoTek Advances With DOE Research Award (watchlistnews.com)

GeoTek of Midland,Texas, has announced approval by the U.S. Department of Energy for reimbursement of up to $1.08 Million for the fabrication and initial testing of its Gravity Head Energy System (GHES). Dave Marshall, CEO, explained that “GeoTek completed last year the first of three phases in the DOE program, under budget.” The third phase of this $2.85Million DOE research award is expected to commence next year with an additional $1.32Million in potential funding for GHES field tests. GeoTek is required to supplement these DOE cost-share research funds with private capital which GeoTek is currently raising.

The Gravity Head Energy System (GHES), uses gravity instead of pumps to capture energy from hot underground water in a binary system. The hot underground water still will flow to the surface in separate tubing from the heated working liquid. The water will then be reinjected in a well some distance away from the source well. The working liquid will be used to generate power, then recycled into the downhole heat exchanger.

GeoTek Energy, LLC will be exhibiting at Booth #502 in the GEA Energy Expo, run in conjunction with the GRC Annual Meeting, Sept. 29- Oct. 2 in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA.

Read More........

Mexico:

Mexican Watchdog Grants Geothermal Import Permits (Business News Americas)

Mexico's power regulator Comisión Reguladora de Energía (CRE) has granted Mexxus RG, a consortium between Mexican and Icelandic geothermal firms, a small producer permit for a 30 MWe geothermal plant in Nayarit state in the Ceboruco volcanic zone. All power will be sold to national utility CFE.

The group expects to begin construction in October 2014 and has an estimated startup in 3Q16.

Opinion:

Drill for Energy? Yes, for More Geothermal (Sacramento Bee)

Why aren't we doing more drilling for another of California's golden resources, geothermal energy – which doesn't require fracking and doesn't have the myriad environmental consequences that come with natural gas.

The age of natural gas fracking is upon us, and the debate about how hydraulic fracturing will be done in California has begun. Even assuming conservative estimates of natural gas reserves in the lower 48 states, the United States could easily move from a coal-based electrical portfolio to one that is based on natural gas. So why invest in renewable energies when natural gas is so cheap and for the time being, plentiful? The answer is multifaceted, but we will focus on two reasons: cost and greenhouse gas emissions.

Read More......

Technology:

Graph of the Day: Why the World Needs Low Carbon Electricity (reneweconomy.com.au)

If the world used just geothermal, global electricity generation emissions of CO2e would be 1/10 of Natural Gas, 1/18 of Oil, and 1/21 of Coal emissions.

Low carbon electricity is a wonderful thing, and will be a central part of tackling climate change.

In 2010 electricity generation was responsible for about 13 Gt of greenhouse gas emissions, or a little bit more than a quarter of all emissions. The rest came from industry, transport, buildings, agriculture, forestry and waste.

The thing that is exciting about electricity from a climate standpoint is that we actually have technology which can slash its emissions. To help provide some clarity and context as to the relative importance of low carbon electricity this post tests a simple idea.

What would global electricity generation emissions look like if the world used just one generation technology?

In 2010 the world generated 21,400 TWh of electricity which resulted in emissions of 13 Gt CO2e (the beige balloon) given the current fuel mix. Using the central estimates from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)’s excellent meta-study of electricity generation lifecyle assessments we can estimate what these emissions would look like using just one technology.

The results are stark. Using Coal 21,400 TWh would result in 21 Gt CO2e, for Oil it is 18 Gt and for Natural Gas it is 10 Gt.  In contrast Geothermal and Solar PV are 1Gt, Solar CSP is 0.5, Biopower and Nuclear 0.4, Wind 0.3, Ocean 0.2 and Hydro 0.1 Gt.

The gap between fossil fuels and the rest is a chasm.

Read More.....

Opinion:

Creating African Lions with Renewable Geothermal Energy (Renewable Energy World.com)

There has been much made of the idea of African ‘lion’ countries, mimicking Asia’s famous ‘tigers’. An aptly impressive piece of imagery for the economical roaring into life Africa has been long overdue. If you ask me, there is no reason Africa shouldn't start behaving like Asia, and why hordes of international businessmen shouldn't be getting on planes to go to air-conditioned offices and lavishly appointed bars in cities like Nairobi and Dar Es Salaam well within my lifetime.

The thorns that need to be removed from the paws of these lions are several, however, and too intricate an issue to squeeze into my introductory paragraph. But I do propose that renewable energy, in particular geothermal energy with its formidable baseload potential, can help provide the electrification (two meanings intended) that sub-Saharan Africa needs, bringing international partnerships and healthy and competitive economies with it; and that there is both the potential and the market for it.

Read More......

United Kingdom:

Tapping Into the Energy That Lies Deep Underground (theconversation.com)

(Courtesy CIA.gov)

Geothermal energy is derived from heat produced by the decay of radioactive elements within the Earth’s molten core, where temperatures reach 6000°C around 6000 km below the ground. This heat naturally dissipates upwards towards the earth’s surface.

Geothermal energy is usually associated with countries that have active volcanoes, for example Iceland, where, geothermal energy provides two thirds of the country’s primary energy, mainly used for heating homes, and 25% of its electricity generation.

While the UK does not possess any active volcanoes it does have several geological features at depths of between 2-4 km that are potential geothermal targets, albeit with lower temperatures of around 60-80°C.

Read More......

Philippines:

Govt Readies Auction for Leyte Power Deal (Manila Standard Today)

Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp. (PSALM) said Wednesday it will hold the bidding for the contract to manage the 440 MWe capacity of the Unified Leyte geothermal power complex in October.

PSALM’s privatization bids and awards committee issued the invitation to interested companies, electric cooperatives, distribution utilities and directly connected power consumers to bid for the selection and appointment of independent power producer administrators for the contracted capacity of Unified Leyte power complex.

The Unified Leyte geothermal power complex, located in the Eastern Visayas region of the Philippines, is composed of several geothermal units in Tongonan, Leyte.  These are the 125 MWe Upper Mahiao, 232.5 MWe Malitbog and 180 MWe Mahanagdong power plants and the 51 MWe optimization plants.

Read More......

Global:

Registration Opens for GRC Annual Meeting & GEA Geothermal Energy Expo

Special Deals for Early Birds and Students

Registration is now open for the international geothermal event of the year. The GRC Annual Meeting & GEA Geothermal Energy Expo will bring together geothermal companies, academics, financiers, policy leaders, students, and other individuals to attend or exhibit at the event, to be held from September 29 to October 2 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

Early birds who register before August 31 pay only $695 as GRC members or $795 if non-members. The non-member registration includes GRC membership through 2014. Students with a current identification card from an accredited institution pay just $5 which includes GRC membership through 2014. Registration to the GRC Annual Meeting also includes entry to the GEA Energy Expo. 

Registration is available from the GRC website. A Preliminary Program complete with a Registration Form is available to view and download. However, the GRC recommends online registration through a secured connection. The link is also available on the front page of the GRC website.

This is the premier gathering to learn about the latest developments in geothermal energy. Last year, the GRC Annual Meeting & GEA Expo hosted representatives from more than 39 countries. Participants from six continents were present. In 2013, an even broader attendance is anticipated.

The GRC Annual Meeting will offer technical, policy, and market conference sessions, educational seminars, tours of local geothermal and renewable energy projects, and numerous networking opportunities.

The GEA Expo floor features a unique opportunity for leaders in the business to showcase their projects, equipment, services and state of the art technology to the geothermal community. Exhibit space still remains but is selling quickly.

Join the conversation on Twitter by following the GRC @GRC2001 and #GRC2013 or GEA at @geoenergist and #GEAExpo2013.

For GRC Annual Meeting information or sponsorship opportunities, please contact Estela Smith, 530.758.2360 or grc@geothermal.org. For GEA Expo exhibitor or sponsorship opportunities, please contact Kathy Kent, 202. 454.5263 or kathy@geo-energy.org.

To request press credentials, please contact Shawna Seldon, The Rosen Group, 917.971.7852 or shawna@rosengrouppr.com.

Australia:

Geodynamics June 2013 Quarterly Activities Report

From Geodynamics: The major highlights of the quarter were the successful commissioning of the 1 MWe Habanero Pilot Plant and the successful completion of Stage One of the Earn-in Joint Venture agreement with Kentor Energy for the Savo Island Geothermal Power Project.

Following is a summary of highlights from the quarter:

• The 1 MW e Habanero Pilot Plant was successfully commissioned on 30 April 2013 with first EGS power being generated in Australia
• Power plant trial operations progressed successfully including turbine runs and brine reinjection loop reliability test
• A significant milestone was achieved on 24 June 2013 with the power plant operating in standalone mode generating net power without assistance from the Site diesel generator
• Step rate tests were completed to assess reservoir performance parameters
• Completion of an Initial Resource Assessment for Savo Island confirming the presence of a high quality geothermal exploration prospect

Post the quarter:

• A tracer test was initiated at Habanero to measure reservoir size and characteristics
• Geodynamics hosted The Hon. Gary Gray AO , MP, Federal Minister for Resources and Energy at a site tour to observe the operation of the 1MWe Habanero Pilot Plant

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Technology:

Romancing the Stone: Geothermal’s Path to Promise (Greentech Media)

AltaRock Energy’s co-founder on how geothermal can live up to its potential

Aaron Mandell (Courtesy
GreatPoint Ventures

An important transition is underway with the integration of renewables into the grid. But often overlooked and seldom appreciated is the tremendous potential of geothermal energy.

Unfortunately for those in the industry, this fate is justified. Geothermal is not an enticing new source of generating energy competing for attention with the ranks of distributed fuel cells, advanced solar PV or next generation wind turbines -- far from it.

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Global:

Geothermal Heat Pump Market to Triple by 2020 (Renewable Energy World.com)

There has been an uptick of interest in renewable energy heating and cooling in the past year, with several U.S. states and other countries establishing favorable incentives. After a two-year slump due to the global economic downturn, Navigant Research predicts that the geothermal heat pump market (GHP) will nearly triple to $17.2 billion by 2020, which is a “slow but steady growth” for the industry, according to Navigant analyst Mackinnon Lawrence.

The report is Geothermal Heat Pumps. Residential and Commercial Applications for Geothermal Heat Pumps: Global Market Analysis and Forecasts

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New Zealand:

Contact Energy Ltd.’s Te Mihi Power Station Harnesses Sustainable Geothermal Energy (POWER Magazine)

Contact Energy Ltd.’s Te Mihi Power Station is the winner of POWER’s 2013 Marmaduke Award for excellence in power plant problem-solving.

Te Mihi Power Station

In early 2007, Contact Energy announced plans to invest up to $1 billion in the construction of new geothermal plants in the Taupo region, located near the center of the North Island. The latest addition to Contact’s renewable portfolio is the two-unit 166 MWe (159 MW net) Te Mihi Power Station.

Contact CEO Dennis Barnes says its investment in Te Mihi reflects the company’s view that geothermal is New Zealand’s most cost-effective new baseload generation. Barnes identified the importance of Te Mihi to ratepayers when he said, “The additional 114 megawatts is expected to be required by the market by 2013 as economic growth resumes and will also contribute to lowering Contact’s average cost of generation.” The total cost of Te Mihi is estimated to be close to $623 million. A second project at Tauhara is in the development pipeline, with other projects seeking permits or in the reservoir exploration phase.

As this article was being prepared (early July 2013), commissioning work on both units was in full swing and will likely be completed by the time you are reading this article. Performance testing for both units is the next project milestone, followed by a one-month reliability run prior to commercial operation.

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Netherlands:

Heating the Hothouse - How Low Can the Netherlands Go With Deep Geothermal? (PressDoc - Press Release)

(Courtesy CIA.gov)

Using geothermal energy to heat greenhouses is taking off fast in the Netherlands.

Rabobank sees further increasing geothermal energy use as a major and relatively cheap step towards achieving the Netherland’s renewable energy goals and a means to improve the financials and the stability of the Dutch greenhouse industry.

Geothermal energy could replace an estimated 2 percent (22pj) of national natural gas consumption at an estimated investment cost of EUR 1.6 bn.

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Australia:

Hot Rock Ltd: Quarterly Activities Report (Press Release)

Hot Rock Limited is an Australian energy company formed to develop geothermal energy in Australia and overseas.

Strategically, the company is focused on exploring and developing its extensive portfolio of volcanic prospects in Chile and Peru complimented with Hot Sedimentary Aquifer prospects in Australia.The Board of Hot Rock Limited has commenced a strategic review of the company and its projects. This includes potential options for a restructuring, cost cutting and refocusing program for the company's projects which may include the sale or other disposal of projects currently held.

This comes in response to current market conditions in which the ability of the company to raise sufficient capital or to attract joint venture partners to develop the current projects has proved to be extremely difficult despite the quality of the projects held by Hot Rock. The company will advise the market of any material developments in relation to the review as and when they occur.

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Kenya:

Kenya's Geothermal Industry Grows (Voice of America)



With Kenya's proximity to the Great Rift, once a hotbed of volcanic activity, the country is the biggest producer of geothermal energy on the continent. Currently 13 percent of the national grid is powered by this renewable energy, but untapped geothermal fields have the potential to cover all of Kenya's power needs, and then some.

Near the Kenyan town of Naivasha, Isaac Kirimi treks up a steaming hillside. Kirimi is a drilling superintendent with KenGen, Kenya’s leading power company.

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Canada:

Centram Geothermal Signs Service Agreement with ADAGE Ventures (Wire Service - Press Release)

Centram Geothermal Inc., a private geothermal exploration and development company based in Toronto, Ontario in Canada, announced today that it has entered into an agreement with ADAGE Ventures Inc. regarding the exploration, development, and financing of the company's projects in Central America.

ADAGE is a private Canadian company specializing in sourcing, designing, structuring, financing and developing geothermal energy solutions. The ADAGE team has broad and deep expertise in geology, renewable energy development in emerging economies, strategy consulting, finance and law. Under the agreement, ADAGE can earn an interest in Centram by achieving certain milestones in the progression of Centram's projects.

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Technology:

EERE Awards Include Geothermal Waste Heat Recovery Company (EERE News)

The Energy Department's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) has announced new awards totaling nearly $11 million to help small businesses in nine states develop innovative ideas that could cut carbon pollution, reduce our reliance on imported oil, and boost energy efficiency.

(Courtesy Cool Energy, Inc.)

Technologies among the 11 projects receiving awards include a project led by Cool Energy, Inc. of Boulder, Colorado, that will test a high efficiency, low temperature geothermal power technology that could help develop geothermal energy resources across most of the United States.

Cool Energy has developed an innovative and pioneering Stirling engine, called the SolarHeart® Engine, that converts low temperature heat energy (100°C to 300°C) into electricity.

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Germany:

Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency in Germany (internationallawoffice.com)

(Courtesy CIA.gov)

As a result of strong legislative activity in favor of renewable energies, the development of renewable energies in Germany in the past 20 years has made significant progress.

Geothermal energy facilities used to produce heat energy have already been established, while the (additional) production of electricity through geothermal energy plants is expected to develop in the near future.

According to the Renewable Energy Act, the share of renewable energy in Germany's overall power supply will total 30% by 2020 and is expected to increase continuously. This 30% target is a concrete aim stipulated in the act, but is not legally binding. However, the target is a general principle for execution of the act and a political target of the government. It exceeds the 20% target set out by the European Union to be achieved by 2020.

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USA, Hawai'i:

Draft Puna Geothermal Health Assessment Published (Big Island Video News)

The Geothermal Public Health Assessment findings and recommendations for the area around the Puna Geothermal Venture on the big Island of Hawaii, have been posted in draft form.

The 118 page document, is not a scientific research paper, but rather a joint fact finding effort done through a “study group”. It was organized and conducted by Peter Adler at the request of Mayor Billy Kenoi, who at the time was facing increased public outcry over the effects of the existing geothermal industry on public health – specifically in the area nearest the Puna Geothermal Venture plant – and the planned expansion of the industry around the resource.

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India:

Gujarat State Pitches for First Geothermal Energy Plant in India (Indian Express)

Even as the Centre plans to table a geothermal energy policy in the winter session of Parliament to streamline and expedite projects in the country, Gujarat made a pitch to set up the first geothermal energy plant at an international conference held at Pandit Deendayal Petroleum University (PDPU) here on Friday.

Gujarat, Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal are the few states which plan to set up projects with capacities of 3-5 MW. All these projects involve companies like ONGC, Mitsubishi and NTPC.

"We are proactive on the geothermal front. A draft policy on geothermal energy is ready," R. N. Sawant, director (geothermal & biomass power) at the Union Ministry of New and Renewable Energy told The Indian Express on the sidelines of the conference on 'Issues and Challenges in Geothermal Energy' organised by PDPU.

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Malaysia:

First Malaysian Geothermal Plant to be Onstream in 2016 (Free Malaysia Today)

The geothermal power plant in Apas Kiri is scheduled to come onstream in 2016, said Energy, Green Technology and Water Minister Dr Maximus Ongkili.

He said the project on a 12 square kilometre site being undertaken by Tawau Green Energy Sdn Bhd (TGE) was at the site preparation stage would be able to generate 30 MWe of electricity when completed.

“This project is a good example of innovation in green energy,” he told reporters after making a visit to the project site yesterday.

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USA, Colorado:

Optimism for Geothermal Project in Colorado (The Durango Herald)

Jerry Smith (Courtesy Durango Herald)

Renewable-energy supporters and producers celebrated this spring when Colorado legislators approved doubling the amount of renewable energy rural cooperatives must use by the year 2020. Legislators who supported the bill said it would provide expanded opportunities for wind, solar and biomass projects that are popping up in rural areas.

One renewable energy source notably absent from Colorado’s list of current projects, however, is geothermal power generation. As it stands, there are no active geothermal power generation projects in the state. It’s a statistic that Pagosa Springs businessman Jerry Smith is determined to change, though the process has taken him five years and likely will take several more.

GRC member Jerry Smith sees potential for development of geothermal energy but says that securing financing for geothermal projects is a significant challenge. His company, Pagosa Verde, has two geothermal projects in the works, including one just south of Pagosa Springs.

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Technology:

Fracking Could Help Geothermal Become a Power Player (Scientific American)

Here's another use for fracking: expanding access to hot rocks deep beneath Earth’s surface for energy production. In April Ormat Technologies hooked up the first such project—known in the lingo as an enhanced geothermal system, or EGS—to the nation's electric grid near Reno, Nevada.

"The big prize is EGS," enthuses Douglas Hollett, director of the Geothermal Technologies Office at the U.S. Department of Energy (DoE). "The key is learning how to do it in a reliable way, in a responsible way."

By some estimates, the U.S. could tap as much as 2,000 times the nation’s current annual energy use of roughly 100 exajoules (an exajoule equals a quintillion, or 1018 joules) via enhanced geothermal technologies. With respect to electricity, the DoE concludes at least 500 gigawatts of electric capacity could be harvested from such EGS systems. Even better, hot rocks underlie every part of the country and the rest of the world. Australia's first enhanced geothermal system, spicily named Habanero, began producing power in May, and Europe has brought three such power plants online.

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