Solomon Islands:

Exploration Drillings to Start at Savo Island Geothermal Project (Industrial Info Resources)

(Courtesy Geodynamics Limited)

A joint venture between Geodynamics Limited of Brisbane, Australia, and Kentor Energy Pty Limited, also of Brisbane, a subsidiary of Kentor Gold Limited, plans to begin drilling exploratory wells for its planned 20- to 30 MWe geothermal power plant project on Savo island in the Solomon Islands, following the completion of an environmental and social impact assessment in February.

The joint venture is planning to commence an initial exploration drilling campaign of four slim hole wells in the dry season of 2014 and, with successful results, will undertake further production drilling to target first power generation in 2017.

Japan:

Cabinet OKs New Energy Policy, Kills No-Nuclear Goal (The Japan Times)

(Courtesy CIA.gov)

The Cabinet of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Friday officially abandoned the zero-nuclear goal of the previous administration by adopting a new basic energy policy that pledges to push for restarting the reactors idled in the wake of the 2011 Fukushima meltdowns.

The new Basic Energy Plan, revised about every three years, is a clear departure from the zero-nuclear policy set by the Democratic Party of Japan-led government, which pledged to abolish all nuclear power plants by the 2030s.

The new plan, which sets policies for the next 20 years, described nuclear power as one of the key “base-load electricity sources,” a term the government uses to describe types that can stably generate power at a low cost 24 hours a day.

The new policy also says the government will “lower as much as possible” Japan’s dependency on nuclear power and push for the development of more renewable energies, including wind, geothermal heat and solar power, in particular over the next three years.

Read More......

Global:

GRC 2014 Annual Meeting ‐ Call for Papers Deadline is in 3 Weeks

The paper submission deadline is May 2, 2014.

The Geothermal Resources Council (GRC) reminds authors of the deadline for submitting technical papers for the world’s largest annual geothermal conference taking place September 28-October 1, 2014, in Portland, Oregon at the Oregon Convention Center. Themed “Geothermal: A Global Solution” the 38th Annual Meeting will reflect the world-wide growth of geothermal energy.

Anyone who wants to present at the GRC Annual Meeting must submit a paper. Authors may submit a poster and/or oral technical presentation. The paper submission deadline is May 2, 2014.

The GRC Annual Meeting & GEA Expo is the industry’s largest annual gathering of leading geothermal energy scientists, producers, renewable energy industry stakeholders, regulators, utilities, and key associated business leaders. The four-day event will offer technical, policy, and market conference sessions, educational seminars, tours of local geothermal and renewable energy projects, and numerous networking opportunities. Registration to the GRC Annual Meeting also includes entry to the GEA Geothermal Energy Expo.

Costa Rica:

Costa Rica Geothermal Loan Bill Advances (La Nación)

Diputados aprobaron en Comisión el financiamiento para proyectos geotérmicos en Guanacaste

La Comisión de Hacendarios dictaminó en forma unánime el proyecto de ley que pretende financiar la construcción del Proyecto Geotérmico Pailas II en Guanacaste.

The finance committee of Costa Rica’s legislative assembly has approved a geothermal loan bill to finance the construction of the 55 MWe Las Pailas II Geothermal Project in Guanacaste.

The initiative, under the record 19,040, includes a cooperation agreement with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) for a sector loan for the development of geothermal energy in Guanacaste and contract funding for the Las Pailas II geothermal project with the European Investment Bank (EIB).

Read More.....

Kenya:

Conservationists Urge Government to Stop Drilling in Hell's Gate Park (Standard Digital)

“Harmony with Nature” by Abraham Sam Samuel. 

Giraffe near a Geothermal Power Plant, 

Hells Gate National Park, Olkaria, Kenya, 2011

A major row has erupted over the world renowned Hell's Gate National Park in Naivasha and the move by the Kenyan Government to drill geothermal power in park.

Experts are warning that the park could lose its glory adding that various species of birds, mainly vultures, have either left the area or died. They now want a contract on geothermal exploration between Kengen and Hell's Gate reviewed.

Read More.....

United Kingdom:

More Funds Made Available for Manchester District Heating Project (Place North West)

GT Energy will use the funds to progress its geothermal scheme at Devonshire Street in Manchester.

Round 5 of the Regional Growth Fund (RGF) opened on 17 October 2013 and closed for bids on 9 December 2013. Today the Deputy Prime Minister, Nick Clegg announced that £300 million has been made available to 50 projects.

GT energy, a Dublin-based company, is one of the winning bidders and will use the funds to further develop a geothermal heat generating facility just off Devonshire Street in Ardwick, Manchester.

The project is one of the first of its type in the UK and will put Manchester at the forefront of low carbon community heating schemes. Two deep wells to an approximate depth of 3,000 m will be drilled, providing access to potentially one of the UK’s largest geothermal resources, the Cheshire Basin.

Climate Change:

UN Climate Change Panel to Discuss Global Transition to Renewable Energy (Renewable Energy World.com)

After concluding that global warming almost certainly is man-made and poses a grave threat to humanity, the U.N.-sponsored expert panel on climate change is moving on to the next phase: what to do about it.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, or IPCC, will meet on April 12 in Berlin to chart ways in which the world can curb the greenhouse gas emissions that scientists say are overheating the planet.

It is also trying to give estimates on what it would cost.

In the third report of a landmark climate assessment, the IPCC is expected to say that to keep warming in check, the world needs a major shift in investments from fossil fuels — the principal source of man-made carbon emissions — to renewable energy.

Read More.....

Philippines:

Biliran Geothermal Project Could Generate 200 MW (Philippine Information Agency)

The developer of the geothermal project in Biliran province has seen a big rise in the potential generating capacity of the project based on the status report of the on-going exploration drilling.

Grimur Bjornsson, reservoir engineer of Orka Energy-Biliran Geothermal Incorporated, reported a “possible generating capacity of 200 MW” based on his report on the resource possible and proven potential.

He also reported that the current drilling campaign is expected to prove 50-100 MW generating potential within the next 12 months.

Orka-BGI is currently drilling the third exploration well as provided in the approved provincial  ordinance allowing the conduct of drilling of three exploration wells in Barangays Cabibihan and Villavicenta in Caibiran town.

Construction of the power plant should start by July this year and be completed in two years.

Read More......

USA, Texas:

Texas Town Looks to Geothermal Energy (Marlin Democrat)

Could Marlin’s historic past, which led John McGraw’s New York Giants here, somehow, someday become its economic future?

The answer is “possibly,” with enough drilling work and investment dollars.

Southern Methodist University’s Geothermal Lab is a leader in geothermal research in the U.S. And, last year, David Blackwell, W. B. Hamilton Professor of Geophysics at SMU, and Maria Richards, the SMU Geothermal Lab coordinator, released research showing that the United States potentially could generate more than 3 million megawatts of green power, or 10 times that of current coal-fired electric power plants.

And, some of that is in Texas. No, there’s no geysers bursting out of the ground, unlike Yellowstone National Park; there’s no bubbling mud pots, unlike there and places like Lassen Volcanic National Park in California.

But the city does have the water that gives it the slogan of “Mineral Water City of Texas,” that produces passive heat for Falls Community Hospital.

Read More.....

Germany:

German Renewable Electricity Consumption Hits Record High 25.4 Percent in 2013 (Triple Pundit)

(Courtesy CIA.gov)

European economic and fiscal woes, push-back from utilities and the influx of cheap imports from China have created stiff headwinds for Germany’s homegrown renewable energy sector in recent years. Nonetheless, renewable energy reached a record 25.4 percent of Germany’s total electricity consumption in 2014, according to the latest annual statistics from the Working Group on Renewable Energy Statistics (AGEE-Stat), an increase of nearly 2 percent from 2012.

The German Geothermal Association reports that Germany continues to develop its geothermal resources. Currently, 26 power plants with an installed thermal capacity of 238.95 MW provide a combination of heat and power to German cities, 16 are under construction, and 43 more are planned. Seven of those planned power plants or those already under construction will rely on EGS technology to provide up to 31.31 MW of electricity.

Read More.....

Chile:

Chile Plans Carbon Tax (Business Spectator)

President of Chile, Michelle Bachelet

Chile's government wants to impose a tax on carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from thermal power plants, the second major economy in Latin America to resort to environmental taxation to discourage the use of carbon-intensive fuels.

On Jan. 1, Mexico imposed a tax on several types of fossil fuels, including gasoline, averaging 3 dollars per tonne of CO2.

According to the proposal presented this week by Chile's President Michelle Bachelet, a center-left politician who returned to the helm of the country on March 11, Chile will charge thermal power generators with a generation capacity equal or higher than 50 megawatts, $5 per tonne of CO2 emitted.

"This measure has the objective to encourage the shift to clean technologies," said the government about the environmental tax in a message sent to Congress this week presenting the reform bill.

Read More.....

USA, California:

Which Electricity Source Will Best Weather the Drought in California? (Union of Concerned Scientists)

(Courtesy California Energy Commission)

The late-March storms in California gave the Sierra snowpack a belated boost, but the state is still bracing for dry times ahead. This was confirmed by the California Department of Water Resource’s April 1 snow survey, one of the closest watched of the year because it marks the expected end of the wet season.

But what does a snowpack only 32 percent of its normal size mean for electricity generation? Using water to generate electricity — hydropower — is an important component of California’s electricity mix. Between 2001 and 2012, hydropower from large dams averaged 14 percent of in-state generation, but annual generation varied greatly. This is not surprising: in a wet year, you get lots of hydro; in a dry year, you get little.

Since 2013 went down as the driest year on record for California, utilities have no choice but to look elsewhere for power sources this summer. There is no doubt that spending money on energy efficiency investments is cheaper than investing in new generation, but for the electricity we do need, utilities should consider drought-proof sources like solar, wind, and geothermal that won’t run out once harnessed, rather than lock us deeper into another finite and unpredictable source of fuel: natural gas.

Since we expect climate change to increase the frequency and severity of droughts in California, hedging our electricity supplies with predictable, renewable resources becomes not only an important step to combat climate change, but a smart insurance policy to keep the lights on.

Read More......

Global:

GRC on Facebook - You Really Like Us!

The Facebook page for the Geothermal Resources Council reached a major milestone today. The website has reached 800 likes, a measure of the popularity of the information service.

The page was created on September 20, 2011 to provide a community for those interested in geothermal energy around the world.

Join us in the global geothermal community.......

Norway:

Geothermal Wellhead Power Plant Developer Winds Global Clean Energy Award (News Release)

Bloomberg New Energy Finance, today announced 10 game-changing companies as winners in the field of clean energy technology and innovation in the 2014 New Energy Pioneer awards.

Included is a geothermal energy developer Green Energy Group, a Norwegian company headquartered in Oslo, providing turn-key modular geothermal wellhead plants, which reduce capital expenses and project risk and allow for quicker payback on investment.

Green Energy Group recently announced that it had successfully tested its second and third geothermal wellhead power plants at Olkaria Geothermal field, Kenya.

Read More.....

Malaysia:

Malaysia’s First Geothermal Plant set to Boost Green Energy (The Star Online)

Green energy in Malaysia will receive a boost when the country’s first geothermal plant in Sabah’s east coast starts producing electricity in two years.

The geothermal power plant in Tawau is being developed by Tawau Green Energy Sdn Bhd, and is projected to add 30 MWe to Sabah’s grid by the second quarter of 2016, a statement from the company yesterday reported.

Calculations estimated that the area had a potential to host a geothermal power plant with the capacity of 67 MW at a depth of 2.5km.

Read More.....

Indonesia:

Govt Set to Auction 375 MW Geothermal Plant Projects (Jakarta Post)

(Courtesy CIA.gov)

In the middle of this year, the Indonesian government is set to auction a number of areas with geothermal energy potential that can be developed, in a bid to increase the capacity of the country’s geothermal power plants.

The areas to be auctioned are expected to generate at least 375 MWe of power.

The geothermal director at the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry, Tisnaldi, said the working areas to be offered include Lake Ranau in Lampung and South Sumatra, with a potential production capacity of 110 MW, Mount Lawu in Central and East Java with 100 MW, Mataloko in East Nusa Tenggara with 30 MW, Simbolon Samosir in North Sumatra with 80 MW and Way Ratai in Lampung with 55 MW in power potential.

Read More.....

Global:

Report: Geothermal Energy Only Renewable to See an Increase in Investment in 2013 (Business Green)

The United Nations Environment Program has today unveiled a major report on global green energy investment for 2013.

Investment in renewable energy dropped $US35.1 billion, partly due to the falling cost of solar photovoltaic systems. The other main cause was policy uncertainty in many countries, an issue that also depressed investment in fossil fuel generation in 2013. However, investment in geothermal energy rose 38 per cent to $2.5bn, the only technology to see an increase.

Technology trends include:

• Renewable energy in 2013, excluding hydro, accounted for 8.5 per cent of worldwide power generation, up from 7.8 per cent in 2012.
• Renewable energy now accounts for 13.7 per cent of all generation capacity globally, up from 7.6 per cent in 2007.
• Green energy accounted for 43.6 per cent of all new capacity in 2013.
• Investment in geothermal energy rose 38 per cent to $2.5bn, the only technology to see an increase.

USA, California:

U.S. Geothermal to Buy Ram Power's Geysers Project (Businessweek)

U.S. Geothermal Inc. has agreed to buy Ram Power Corp's. proposed Geysers California geothermal project for $6.4 million in cash.

The acquisition includes Ram Power units that own geothermal leases for about 3,809 acres, as well as design plans and permits for the proposed 26 MWe project, Boise, Idaho-based U.S. Geothermal said in a statement today. The transaction is expected to close on or before April 30.

The Ram subsidiaries included in the transaction are Western Geopower, Skyline Geothermal Holdings, and Etoile Holdings, which, in turn, includes all membership interests in Mayacamas Energy and Skyline Geothermal.

Read More.....

USA, Nevada:

Ram Power's CEO Discusses Q4 2013 Results - Earnings Call Transcript (Seeking Alpha)

Ram Power, Corp. has announced its operating results for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013.

"In the call today we will discuss the current status of our San Jacinto project, including the current performance of the plant and the recently concluded remediation effort, then discuss today's announcement regarding our Geysers project and finally get an overview of the strategic process by the Chair of our Mergers and Acquisitions Committee, Murray Sinclair."

Read More.....

Global:

Flying to the GRC Annual Meeting & GEA Expo? Cheap Flights Now Available!

Southwest Airlines is the major air carrier flying into Portland, Oregon. They are now having a sale - one-way flights as low as $69 are available!

The sale travel window includes dates at late as October 29, 2014. The GRC Annual Meeting & GEA Expo is from September 28 - October 1 so if you want to save a few bucks buy your flight tickets now.

These fares are only available for a limited time, so don't miss your opportunity to save big on your trip. Book by Midnight on Monday April 7 for travel August 26 through October 29, 2014.

Australia:

Glenelg Gets Back into Hot Water (Warrnambool Standard)

Glenelg Shire will resurrect Portland’s unique underground hot water network in a redevelopment expected to cost up to $3.5 million in this south-west Victoria town, 180 miles from Melbourne.

The council wants to revive a system of heating pipes running through civic buildings in the city center which are tapped into a geothermal aquifer.

The system installed in the 1980s was shut down by Wannon Water in 2006 as it neared the brink of collapse.

The network is able to heat a variety of public buildings and facilities including municipal offices, the Portland library and swimming pool.

Last week Councillors unanimously supported moves to drill a new bore.

Read More.....

Kenya:

Green Energy Group Brings Two More Geothermal Wellhead Plants Online (News Release)

The Managing Director of KenGen Albert Mugo, together with a members of his senior management team were shown around the wellhead site by Terje Laugerud, CEO of Green Energy Group. (Courtesy GEG)

Green Energy Group AS (GEG), a Norwegian company headquartered in Oslo, has announced that it has successfully tested its second and third geothermal wellhead power plants at Olkaria Geothermal field, Kenya. Both OLK02 & 03 plants became operational in February 2014 and having successfully completed the required testing program, will be handed over to KenGen later his month. With each plant providing nameplated capacity of 6.4 MWe, GEG has over the last few months added over 15 MWe of much needed power to the Kenyan national grid network.

Read More.....

USA:

Connecticut Start-Up Offers a Marketplace for Renewable Energy Certificates (Westfair Business Publications)

Stamford-based startup Skystream Markets is in the business of facilitating transactions between buyers and sellers of renewable energy certificates (RECs). As an electronic brokerage provider, Skystream has helped more than 120 national utility companies and trading firms save money and make a profit on this commodity in the past five years.

These renewable energy certificates quantify how much power energy companies place back on the electric grid. One renewable energy certificate is equivalent to one megawatt-hour of renewable energy that gets produced and delivered to the regional power grid.

“Let’s say you serve 100 megawatt-hours of power and you’re told 10 percent must come from renewable resources,” said Kapil Mohindra, co-founder of Skystream Markets. “You prove that you put that amount back into the grid by owning 10 RECs. You own the RECs by buying it from a local producer or creating your own renewable energy project.

Read More.....

USA:

Geothermal Energy Is a Superior Solution for Today’s Electrical Grids (Renewable Energy World)

Energy resource technology that provides stability for changing US power grids is available today from geothermal developers.

Geothermal resources provide about 3,440 MW of power to the United States electrical grid as of early 2014.

In a recent report, the Geothermal Resources Council (GRC) and the U.S. Geothermal Energy Association explored geothermal power’s unique values that make it essential to the U.S. energy mix. These plants have the same important baseload qualities coal now provides for over two thirds of the electric power generation in the nation. Geothermal can be a high-value substitute for baseload fossil fuel or nuclear power plants, providing firm, clean power 24 hours a day regardless of extraneous conditions.

Republic of Ireland:

Hoping to Bring Geothermal Skills Home (Irish Times)

Irish native Gavin Blower (Courtesy Irish Times)

Gavin Blower had only the vaguest notion of what geothermal energy was four years ago. Since leaving Ireland for the US in 2010, though he has become something of an expert on the subject. He hopes one day to bring that expertise to bear closer to home.

The Cork native works as financial manager in Washington DC with GeoGlobal Energy, a company focused on the development and acquisition of geothermal resources to generate renewable, low-carbon electricity.

Blower (26) started off in a lowly role with the firm shortly after completing an MSc in business finance at University College Cork in 2010. He has now become one of its key staff members, with responsibility for raising capital for a number of concessions in Germany.

Read More.....

Solomon Islands:

Geodynamics Appoints Country Rep in Solomon Islands (Solomon Star)

Australian geothermal energy company Geodynamics on Thursday announced the appointment of Mal Kuper as its Country Representative resident in Honiara.

Mr Kuper will be responsible for liaison with local stakeholders, including government, community and suppliers, the coordination of activities necessary to support exploration drilling planned for later this year and representing Geodynamics locally as the company progress the Savo Island Geothermal Project and complete agreement with the SIEA and Government of Solomons Islands for a Power Purchase Agreement covering the Project.

Geoff Ward, Geodynamics CEO, said Geodynamics is now focused on completing land access arrangements with the affected land owners on Savo Island, and continuing its negotiations with Solomon Islands Electricity Authority (SIEA) to secure a power purchase agreement to support and enable the commencement of the planned exploration campaign and allow the continued rapid progress of the project.

Read More.....

Philippines:

Philippines Company Takes Eight New Geothermal Drilling Cranes (Cranes Today)

Tadano Asia has delivered an order of eight new cranes to ThermaPrime, a geothermal drilling company in the Philippines.

The cranes, a mix of all-terrain and rough-terrain units, were delivered through local heavy equipment dealer Monark Equipment. ThermaPrime bought three 50t Tadano GR-500EX rough terrain cranes, four 70t ATF 70G-4 all terrain cranes and an 180t ATF 180G-5 all terrain.

ThermaPrime Well Services is a geothermal drilling company that operates land-based rotary drilling rigs in five geothermal fields across the Philippines and in Papua New Guinea. The firm said that the eight new cranes would improve the efficiency of its operations.

USA:

Student Run Geothermal Energy Company Wins DoE Prize (Crain's Detroit Business)

A Michigan-based student run clean energy company won a total of $100,000 at the Clean Energy Challenge of 2014 on Thursday in Chicago.

The challenge – sponsored by Chicago-based Clean Energy Trust – awarded $500,000 to eight startup companies, researchers and students who developed innovative technology or services for energy efficiency and clean energy production.

Black Pine Engineering of Michigan State University won the $100,000 U.S. Department of Energy Student Challenge Prize for designing a mechanical pump to remove harmful gases from geothermal power plants. A full scale prototype is currently being tested at COSO Geothermal Power Plant in California.

Black Pine will have a chance to compete for an additional $100,000 at the 2014 National Clean Energy Business Plan Competition in Washington, D.C. this summer.

Read More.....

USA, New Mexico:

First Geothermal Plant in New Mexico Begins Operations (KOB-TV)



Deep in the New Mexico Bootheel, an operation that's been ongoing since this past December has tapped into an energy source that's right underneath us.

"It's been known for 4 decades that there's geothermal product that's right here right under our feet, and it's a viable source from which we can tap and produce electrical power," said Chuck Smiley from Lightning Dock Geothermal.
Lightning Dock, along with PNM, are now extracting that "geothermal product," which is a renewable resource.

This plant is the first of its kind right in the state and it can produce up to 4 MWe, which is enough to power 4,000 homes.

Unlike wind and solar power, it runs 24/7 uninterrupted.

"That's the real difference between the geothermal product and other renewable resources," Smiley said.

By next year, the plant will be capable to provide electricity up to 10,000 homes in New Mexico.

USA, California:

Lawmakers Consider Ways to Boost Geothermal Energy (The Desert Sun)

Sen. Ben Hueso, D-San Diego, and Assemblyman V. Manuel Pérez, D-Coachella, led a joint committee hearing Thursday in Sacramento focusing on the state’s geothermal potential, particularly in areas near the Salton Sea.

Geothermal Energy and the Salton Sea
(Photo: Omar Ornelas/The Desert Sun)

Geothermal energy accounts for about 4 percent of California’s power supply, and some state lawmakers want to see that number grow by tapping more of the vast reservoir of hot water and steam around the Salton Sea.

Sen. Ben Hueso, D-San Diego, and Assemblyman V. Manuel Pérez, D-Coachella, led a joint committee hearing Thursday in Sacramento focusing on the state’s geothermal potential, particularly in areas near the Salton Sea.

GRC Executive Director, Steve Ponder said “The Imperial Valley has the largest confirmed geothermal reservoirs in the USA. These reserves are generally considered by geothermal experts to be between 1500 MW and 2500 MWs. These estimates are orders of magnitude larger that any other geothermal potential  reserves in known geothermal areas in the USA.”

Mr. Ponder also presented a resolution from the GRC Board of Directors endorsing the Salton Sea Restoration and Renewable Energy Initiative.

“Only 50 percent of the total identified geothermal power in California is being utilized. Why is that number so low?” Hueso said, starting off the discussion.

Read More......

USA, California:

Sonoma Clean Power: A Geothermal Utility (Sonoma County Gazette)

New, locally controlled electricity provider offers 100% geothermal electricity

by Geof Syphers, CEO

Geof Syphers, CEO
Sonoma Clean Power

Sonoma Clean Power is starting service for a little over 20,000 customers in May, with two products that help advance Sonoma County.

The default service, called CleanStart, has 30 percent lower greenhouse emissions than PG&E’s service and costs 2 to 3 percent less. It’s a big win for the county because it advances our environmental goals while saving everyone money, making it an easy choice.

But the most exciting part of Sonoma Clean Power is a product that has never been offered anywhere in California before. EverGreen is an optional power product that will provide your electricity from 100 percent renewable sources inside Sonoma County for a premium of about 20 percent on your power bill.

We’re excited about EverGreen because it is the first time we’ve been able to source our power locally, from truly clean power. Geothermal is special because it operates all of the time. Most renewable power sources can’t do that. Solar power can’t run at night, and wind power can’t run when the wind isn’t blowing. As a result, this geothermal power is an ideal starting point for building Sonoma County’s clean power mix.

USA:

Senate Committee Approves Renewable Energy Tax Credit Extension Package (Ethanol Producer Magazine)

The U.S. Senate Finance Committee approved a tax credit extension package today that includes geothermal energy provisions. During the markup process, the committee voted down an amendment that aimed to strip renewable energy credits from the bill.

Additional documentation published by the committee as part of the hearing makes additions to the package. A document that describes the chairman’s modifications to the EXPIRE Act includes a two year extension of the renewable electricity production credit, which lists wind, closed-loop biomass, open-loop biomass, geothermal energy, solar energy, small irrigation power, municipal solid waste, qualified hydropower production, and marine and hydrokinetic renewable energy as qualified energy resources.

Read More.....

Spain:

First Geothermal Power Station in Spain to be Built in Tenerife (News Release)

The Canarian municipality of Guimaras on the island of Tenerife in the Canary Islands, plans to host the first high temperature geothermal power in Spain. A Slovak company Arllen Development, based in Bratislava, Slovakia, and the City of Guimaras have agreed on the geothermal energy project, which will also include a wastewater treatment plant for agriculture and the desalination of sea water for potable water.

The project is expected to start operating in late 2018, after the mandatory environmental impact studies, and will create 100 jobs.

Read More.....

USA, California:

Global Geothermal Community Endorses Salton Sea Initiative

The Geothermal Resources Council backs the plan to restore the inland sea using revenue from new geothermal energy development

The Geothermal Resources Council (GRC) today joined with other influential groups in endorsing the Salton Sea Restoration and Renewable Energy Initiative. Steve Ponder, GRC Executive Director, delivered a resolution backing the initiative, to the Senate Select Committee for California’s Energy Independence and Assembly Select Committee of the Renewable Energy Economy in Rural California at a joint informational hearing for legislators at the California State Capitol in Sacramento.

Read More.....

Nicaragua:

Casita Geothermal Project Might Start in June (Central America Data.com)

Through its subsidiary Cerro Colorado Power, the concessionaire of the project, Ram Power, expects to complete the paperwork to begin the operation by June.

After obtaining the grant for geothermal energy exploration in the Casita project in 2008, the company Ram Power is prepared to sign with the government of Nicaragua the contract for the operation of the project, estimated for midyear.

"During the second quarter of 2013, the company started feasibility studies for the environmental and local permits required for the energy exploitation in the project. The company also began the process required to obtain a license and negotiate a Power Purchase Agreement with the government of Nicaragua.

USA, California:

Geothermal Energy in the Hot Seat (Sacramento Bee)

The State Capitol in Sacramento

California's policymakers are constantly looking at energy innovations or renewable sources that will help the state meet state-required limits on greenhouse gases — just yesterday, Assembly members visited a low-carbon fuel summit — and a hearing today will examine the potential of geothermal, or heat energy trapped beneath the earth's surface. A U.S. Geothermal Energy Association report estimates that geothermal accounted for about 4 percent of California's energy mix in 2012 but could be tapped for far more.

Witnesses expected to testify include David Hochschild of the California Energy Commission, Edward Randolph of the California Public Utilities Commission and representatives of the California Independent System Operator and the Independent Energy Producers Association. Starting after session in room 3191.

Read More.......

USA, California:

Geothermal Hearing to be Held at California Capitol This Morning (Imperial Valley News)

Listen to this hearing live.....               Agenda...... (PDF)

This morning at around 11 am (PST) in Room 3191 at the California Capitol, Senator Ben Hueso, Chair of the Senate Select Committee for California’s Energy Independence, and Assemblymember V. Manuel Pérez, Chair of the Assembly Select Committee of the Renewable Energy Economy in Rural California, will hold a joint informational hearing to discuss the policies and trends affecting geothermal energy production in California.

“Geothermal power is important to California’s renewable portfolio standard (RPS) requirements. However, despite geothermal contributions to the grid, the use of this power source has been steadily decreasing over time. We need clear answers and a thorough understanding of how geothermal power can be used to advance renewable energy production in California,” said Senator Hueso.

Representatives of the Geothermal Resources Council (GRC) will be in attendance and will present a resolution endorsing the Salton Sea Initiative to restore the inland sea using revenue from new geothermal energy development.

Read More.....

Iceland:

Landsvirkjun Receives Production Permit for Theistareykir Project (ThinkGeoEnergy/Vísir)

Icelandic National Power Company, Landsvirkjun has received a 60 year operational permit for its planned 100 MW geothermal power project at Theistareykir in the Northeast of Iceland.

Read More.....

Iceland:

Hellisheiði Geothermal Plant Starts Experimental HS2 Reinjection (ThinkGeoEnergy/Morgunbladid)

Geothermal Sheep, by Hildur lngvarsdottir,
Reykjavik Energy taken at the
Hellisheiði geothermal power plant

A new experimental project at the Hellisheiði geothermal power plant has started pumping hydrogen sulphide extracted from the geothermal steam of the plant operation in an effort to clean its operations.

Read More.....

Technology:

Bill Honjas Talks About Geothermal Seismic Imaging (RGJ.com)


(VIDEO 2:29 Minutes)

Optim Software CEO Bill Honjas talks about his company's seismic imaging techniques that have increased the success rate of locating drilling targets for geothermal power to more than 80 percent.

USA:

Opinion: Tax Code of Honor: Congress Must Choose a Clean Energy Future (Natural Resources Defense Council)

Senate Finance Committee Chairman Wyden has officially begun consideration of legislation to reinstate a suite of tax credits that big polluters and their allies succeeded in getting Congress to let expire, including vital, commonsense policies that promote clean energy.

These tax credits grow the economy by cutting pollution and their absence in the committee’s initial bill draft belies the broad, bipartisan support renewable and energy efficiency continue to attract. As final legislation takes shape, Congress should remain clear just what is at stake: clean energy is central to meeting our obligation to defend the next generation from the dangerous pollution that threatens our climate, health, and economy.

Below is a list of the clean energy credits that are applicable to geothermal energy that Congress must ensure are included in any final package:

• The Renewable Electricity Production Tax Credit (PTC) offers a per-kilowatt-hour tax credit for electricity generated by qualified energy resources, including wind and geothermal. 
• The Business Energy Investment Tax Credit (ITC)

Read More.....

USA, California:

Our View: What is the Future of Geothermal for State? (Imperial Valley Press)

The Salton Sea in the Imperial Valley
(Courtesy ThinkgeoEnergy)

Geothermal has long been the go-to, viable and time-proven renewable energy source for Imperial County and our corner of extreme Southern California. But what is its place in the statewide, even national landscape of the green industry?

That seems to be the question Imperial County’s state representatives are trying to find an answer to this week as Imperial County, namely the Imperial Irrigation District (IID) and the Salton Sea Authority, has big plans for developing geothermal as a means to save the sea and power more homes in the state and beyond.

However, geothermal on the whole is losing favor as the preferred renewable energy resource, with geothermal production losing steam steadily over time, as wind and especially solar generation efforts outpace it.

On Thursday, Assemblyman V. Manuel Perez and state Sen. Ben Hueso will host a geothermal energy hearing with many proponents from the industry involved in the discussion.

Ultimately, the discussion is going to be positive; these are geothermal insiders doing the talking, and IID and California Independent System Operator officials involved in the conversation are there to talk about transmission to get the geothermal energy moving.

But there are real concerns whether geothermal reached its plateau long ago, even though we hope that is not the case. The plan afoot by the Salton Sea Authority to develop geothermal around the sea to help restore it has real merit, especially in the sense that geothermal activity is a known quantity around the southern end of the sea.

Read More.....

Technology:

New ‘Extreme’ Computer Chip Can Withstand Temperatures Up to 300 Degrees Celsius (ExtremeTech)

Deep beneath our feet is a nearly unlimited supply of renewable energy originating in the super-dense core of Earth. At up to 7,000 degrees Celsius (12,600 F), the heat from the planet’s interior could be a key part of our energy future, but first we need the technology to dig deep enough to reliably take advantage of it. Temperatures can reach several hundred degrees at a depth of four to six kilometers (2.5 to 3.7 miles) — more than enough to provide oodles of geothermal power. However, the electronics that power the drilling and construction equipment have trouble surviving these hellish extremes.

A new type of microchip developed at the Fraunhofer Institute for Microelectronic Circuits and Systems (IMS) could change that. The new, smaller chip can withstand temperatures in excess of 300 degrees Celsius without loss of performance.

Read More.....

USA, Nevada:

Enel Green Power Adding 17 MW Concentrating Solar Power Unit To Stillwater Geothermal Power Plant (Solar Industry Mag)

(Courtesy Enel Green Power)

Enel Green Power has started construction of a 17 MW concentrating solar power (CSP) plant to operate alongside the existing 33 MW Stillwater geothermal power station in Nevada. The facility is already co-located with a 26 MW photovoltaic plant.

The Stillwater geothermal plant, consisting of two binary-cycle units, will be integrated with the parabolic trough CSP system so that they contribute to the same turbines. The hybrid plant will thus combine the continuous generating capacity of binary-cycle, medium-enthalpy geothermal power with daytime peak generation from the solar thermal component.

The CSP system heats tubes of pressurized water. The integration work will enable the CSP component to raise the temperature of the geothermal fluid extracted from the wells to improve the cycle’s yield and increase its electricity output.

The $15 million CSP plant is expected to start commercial operation by the end of the year. It will be capable of adding approximately 3 GWh of electricity per year to the output of the existing hybrid plant. Combining three generation technologies is expected to produce approximately 200 GW of electricity per year. The energy produced will be sold to NV Energy through an existing 20-year Power Purchase Agreement.

Read More.....

USA, Nevada:

Ram Power Announces 2013 Year End Results (The Wall Street Journal - News Release)

Ram Power, Corp. has announced its operating results for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013.

San Jacinto-Tizate Project (Courtesy Ram Power)

Highlights include a summary of progress on the San Jacinto-Tizate Project:

• The San Jacinto-Tizate Power Plant generated 423,998 (net) MWh resulting in revenue of $46.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2012 (an increase of 65% over 2012) and EBITDA (as defined below) of $30.5 million in 2013 compared to revenue of $28.1 million and EBITDA of $9.7 million in 2012; 
•  Well SJ 12-3 was placed in commercial operation following an extensive thermal recovery period in late February, 2014. Well head temperature and pressures continue to oscillate since being placed into production, but will stabilize over time and the well is currently producing between 7-10 MW. 
• Well SJ 9-3 continues to be in thermal recovery. Ram Power has made four attempts to tie in the well into the plant after nine weeks of thermal recovery. SJ 9-3, when achieving well head pressure necessary for the operating pressure of the plant, has demonstrated a production output between 7-10 MW. The well continues to show improved thermal recovery of temperature and pressure, but will continue to be shut in for periods of time over coming weeks to allow for complete stabilization. 

Read More.....

France:

Renewable Energy Gets a Boost in France (reNew)

(Courtesy CIA.gov)

The European Investment Bank (EIN) is to pump €750m into renewable energy projects in France from now to 2016.

The funding drive launched today will target wind, solar, hydro and geothermal schemes and aims to mitigate the effects of climate change.

The funding will be implemented in collaboration with Société Générale Corporate & Investment Banking, Credit Agricole Group and BPCE Group.

Beneficiaries can be public or private entities and loans granted by the EIB will represent 50% of the required funding for selected projects with a capital cost of less than €50m.

Read More.....

Mongolia:

Geothermal Energy and Mongolia (UB Post)

(Courtesy CIA.gov)

There are many places where Mongolia’s geological structure can be to its benefit. Many of these can be found in the hot springs, warm springs and other geothermal zones that can be found in the northern central part of the country and in the northwest.

Some of these springs may be used to produce electricity for the villages and towns near to them. If the waters are very hot, then flash steam geothermal plants can be set up. By drilling down to where it is much hotter than at the surface, the hot water could be used to produce steam, which in turn can turn a turbine, which turns a generator, which produces electricity.

If the ground is not so hot, then a binary geothermal system could be set up. The less hot water is taken up from deep in the ground and its warmth is used to boil something like methanol or ammonia, which boils at a lower temperature than water. The ammonia or methanol steam then turns the turbine, which turns the generator, which produces electricity.

If producing electricity near warm and hot springs seems odd to some, it does happen in some areas of the world where the tourism places produce electricity from the same temperatures that keep the tourists coming for mineral, warm and hot baths for health and relaxation.

Read More.....

USA:

Tax Extenders Bill Does Not Include Credits for Renewable Energy (The Hill )

Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.)

The tax extenders bill proposed Tuesday by Senate Finance Committee Chairman Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) includes a number of tax credits that incentivize the production of biofuels and various energy efficiency measures for vehicles and homes. The credits had expired at the end of last year.

But Wyden’s bill does not include production tax credits (PTC) for renewable electricity sources such as wind, hydropower and geothermal energy, despite recent pleadings from industry, lawmakers, state governors and others. President Obama had sought PTC renewal in his 2015 budget proposal.

Read More......

Latin America:

IDB Boosts Latin Renewables Drive (reNews)

The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and the Japan International Cooperation Agency are extending a scheme to back renewable energy schemes in Central America and the Caribbean.

The duo has updated the Co-financing for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (Core) framework agreement signed in 2012 from $300m to $1bn and made new territories eligible.

In addition to the IDB member countries already qualifying for JICA financing (Belize, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Jamaica and Nicaragua), Core will take in Costa Rica, Panama and Suriname as well as the Caribbean Development Bank and the eastern Caribbean nations of Dominica, Grenada, St Lucia (pictured), St Vincent and the Grenadines.

The first co-financing loans under Core have already been approved by IDB and JICA to fund renewable energy and energy efficiency programs in Nicaragua. Other projects are being developed elsewhere, such as a geothermal scheme in Costa Rica.

Read More......

San Serriffe:

Huge Geothermal Field Discovered on Remote Island in Indian Ocean (Mutley Fool)

Scientists have reported a very large geothermal field on a remote island in the Indian Ocean. The discovery was made in the republic of San Serriffe, located on the seismically active mid-indian ocean ridge near the Seychelle Islands. The potential capacity of the renewable resource has been estimated as upwards of 500 MWe.

San Serriffe comprises two islands, Upper Caisse and Lower Caisse, shaped curiously like a semi-colon. Since it's first exposure to the outside world on April 1, 1977, the island has struggled for acceptance but now with the discovery of geothermal energy it has plans to become a powerhouse for the southern Indian Ocean.

The islands plan to use the geothermal energy for domestic and industrial use but also to export electricity by undersea cable to the Seychelles to help run the huge tourist resorts on the paradise island.                       More information......