El Salvador:

Geothermal Diploma Course Starts in El Salvador (Nordic Development Fund)

The Nordic Development Fund (NDF) participated in the official launch of the 2014 Geothermal Diploma Course on 6 June in El Salvador. The event is organised by the National Energy Council, University of El Salvador, and the geothermal company LAGEO. The event brought together national authorities, representatives of international development finance institutions, geothermal specialists, and the 26 students, who are from Argentina, Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Nicaragua and Peru.

The regional training facility is based at the University of El Salvador and financed by NDF and IDB. There is great interest in geothermal energy in many countries in Latin America but local technical capacity is weak. The regional training facility was set up to address this issue. It is estimated that Latin American has a 6,000 MW geothermal potential of which 43% is in Central America.

During the 5 months of training, the students will be trained in topics such as: Exploration geology, geochemistry and geophysics, drilling techniques for geothermal wells, geothermal plant planning, environmental and social management of geothermal projects. In addition, students will have field experience through visits and internships at different geothermal exploration sites in El Salvador.

Read More.....

USA, Nevada:

Alternative Earth Resources to Sell Project Assets to Ormat (4-traders - News Release)

Alternative Earth Resources Inc. (AER), based in Vancouver, Canada, has announced that it has signed a non-binding Letter of Intent (LOI) with Ormat Nevada Inc. whereby Ormat has the right, following a due diligence review, to purchase all of AER's Crump Geyser (50% interest), North Valley and New Truckhaven geothermal project assets for a cash payment of US$1,500,000. AER has received a $50,000 deposit in respect of this LOI.

A definitive Asset Sale Agreement (ASA), to replace the LOI by June 30, 2014, is subject to the approval of the Board of Directors of AER and Ormat, the approval of the shareholders of AER at a Special Meeting to be in late July, 2014, and the acceptance of the TSX Venture Exchange. The ASA, if approved, is expected to close on or about July 31, 2014.

In addition to project assets covered under the ASA, AER had cash and cash equivalent assets of US$1.2 million as of March 31, 2014. The asset sale transaction will free up additional cash of US$175,000 currently pledged for project drilling bonds and will remove a liability for project well abandonment costs of approximately US$450,000.

Alternative Earth Resources intends to pursue other opportunities in the mineral resource development sector.

Spain, Portugal:

La Energía Geotérmica de la Península Ibérica Puede Generar Cinco Veces la Capacidad Eléctrica Actual (El Servicio de Información y Noticias Científicas)

Geothermal Energy on the Iberian Peninsula can Generate Five Times the Current Electricity Capacity

Map of surface heat flow in the Iberian peninsula. / UVa-www.lacasig.com

Investigadores de la Universidad de Valladolid han estimado cuánta electricidad se podría obtener con el calor que se almacena bajo los diez primeros kilómetros del territorio peninsular. Los resultados indican que alrededor de 700 gigavatios, lo que quintuplica toda la capacidad eléctrica instalada en la actualidad. Galicia, Castilla y León, Andalucía y Cataluña son las comunidades con el mayor potencial.

Researchers at the University of Valladolid have estimated how much electricity could be obtained from geothermal heat under the first five miles of the Iberian Peninsula. The results indicate that there is about 700 gigawatts available, which is five times the entire installed capacity existing today. Galicia, Castilla y Leon, Andalusia and Catalonia are the regions with the greatest potential.

Leer más......

Taiwan:

Academics Tout Geothermal Energy on Taiwan (Taipei Times)

(Courtesy CIA.gov)

Several academics and specialists yesterday said Taiwan has the natural resources to develop geothermal energy, but there are still many obstacles that need to be overcome, including strict regulations and a lack of government funding.

While government officials from related agencies say they look favorably upon developing geothermal energy, legislation needs to be amended and a Bureau of Energy official said it would be difficult to replace nuclear power in the short term.

The remarks were made at a public hearing on developing geothermal energy in Yilan held by Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Chen Ou-po (陳歐珀) at the Legislative Yuan in Taipei yesterday.

Song Sheng-rong (宋聖榮), a professor at National Taiwan University’s Department of Geosciences, said an estimated 33,640 megawatts of electricity could be generated by using geothermal energy in four main areas — Hualien and Taitung, Nantou, Yilan and the Tatun (大屯) Volcano Group in Taipei.

Read More.....

USA, Washington D.C.

Geothermal Energy: Opportunities and Challenges in the Developing World (Society for International Development)

Kara Dewhurst, Chief Social Scientist, Dewhurst Group; PhD candidate
at the University of Virginia & Warren Dewhurst, Managing Director, Dewhurst Group

On June 4, 2014, the Energy & Infrastructure Workgroup of the Society for International Development - Washington, DC Chapter, held an event entitled "Geothermal Energy: Opportunities and Challenges in the Developing World”.

Dr. Kevin Wheeler, The Kaizen Company, moderated the event. He began by describing the importance of geothermal energy around the globe, indicating that there are both economic and societal questions surrounding geothermal energy and how to sustainably integrate it into communities.

Warren Dewhurst, Dewhurst Group, provided a brief introduction to geothermal energy. Thermal energy, stored in the Earth’s crust, can be used directly for heating and cooling or for electricity through power plants. This taps thermal reservoirs of hot water/steam that are converted into electricity using turbines. The total heat from the Earth is estimated at 42 million megawatts of power. In the United States, geothermal energy is most predominant on the west coast.

Click here to watch a recording of this event.
View speaker presentation slides: Kara Dewhurst, Warren Dewhurst, and Britt Shaw

Climate Change:

Low Carbon Energy Saves Money in the Long Run – Study (Responding to Climate Change)

Fuel savings will pay for higher up-front costs of renewable energy, say consultants

Low carbon energy coupled with efficiency saves money compared with burning fossil fuels, especially in the longer run, a study by  Ernst and Young said on Tuesday.

EU commitment to cut carbon emissions has faltered in the aftermath of a financial crisis which has focused concerns over lower energy prices in the United States and China.

Staying the course would benefit the bloc, however, in the medium and long-run, said Tuesday’s report, “Macroeconomic impacts of the low carbon transition”.

Decarbonization scenarios analysed by the European Commission would also see an increase in Europe’s fuel bill compared to today, but to a much lower extent than under Business-As-Usual (BAU).

The Commission’s Energy Roadmap 2050 predicts that in 2050, compared to BAU the EU could save between € 518 billion and € 550 billion Macro-economic impacts of the low carbon transition annually by taking a strong decarbonization pathway. This can be achieved through a combination of energy efficiency and the promotion of a diverse portfolio of lowcarbon generation technologies across Europe, including wind, solar, hydro, geothermal, biomass and other promising options.

Read More......

USA, Nevada:

National Geothermal Academy - 10-day Geoscience Course Begins

June 11-20, 2014
University of Nevada, Reno (UNR) in Reno, Nevada

The National Geothermal Academy is today starting a 10-day intensive Geoscience Course focused on geothermal geology, geochemistry, and geophysics taught by experts in the field. The course is open to students and professionals from around the world. The course is being taught at the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR) in Reno, Nevada June 11-20, 2014.

Classroom instruction is at UNR’s Redfield campus in south Reno. An afternoon at Steamboat Springs geothermal complex and a three-day field trip to Long Valley caldera are included with the course. This is an intensive course that runs from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM every day.

The NGA is intended for outstanding undergraduates, graduate students, and professionals. Strong academic preparation in quantitative fields is expected. This course is open to both domestic and international applicants.

2014 Information flyer

Argentina:

YPF Tecnología Se Interesa Por La Geotermia, Argentina - Argentinian JV Company Eyeing Geothermal Development in the Country  (Piensa en Geotermia)

Gustavo Bianchi, presidente de YPF Tecnología SA, ha manifestado su interés por aprovechar la geotermia en Jujuy, Argentina.

The Argentinian venture Y-TEC is interested in developing further the geothermal capacity and estimate that between 2 and 4 MW can be generated in Jujuy.

Read More.....

East Africa:

UNEP Catalyzes Investments to Fast-track Development of Geothermal Energy in Kenya, Ethiopia and Rwanda (4th Estate Wire)

High level geothermal experts from Africa, Europe, Iceland, New Zealand and North America, are gathering at UN Gigiri complex in Nairobi from 10-11 June 2014, to review and evaluate the results of surface exploration studies and a conceptual model of the geothermal prospects in the region, at the initiative of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) through the African Rift Geothermal Development Facility (ARGeo) Project.

The technical review meeting of the Silali and Tendaho projects in Kenya and Ethiopia aims at optimizing the information and quality of the conceptual model of the system that will allow for accurate siting of exploratory wells that minimizes risks of drilling of dry wells while increasing the chances of drilling high productive wells.

Read More..... 

Indonesia:

Draft Bill on Geothermal will Address Issue of Power Shortages (English Hukumonline)

(Courtesy CIA.gov)

The Indonesian Government is optimistic that the Draft Bill on Geothermal will be passed this month before the previously set target of 1 July 2014. Represented by Jero Wacik, the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources, the Government has said that the Draft Bill will help with the current national power deficit by encouraging the construction of geothermal power plants.

Mr. Wacik further explained that the Draft Bill will incorporate provisions to establish an attractive power purchase price scheme for geothermal project investors including feed in tariffs. He believes that the feed in tariffs will encourage more investor to invest in the geothermal sector.

“Prospective investors will surely always calculate the power purchase price so they can adjust investment costs. By providing an attractive feed in tariff scheme, this will surely stimulate investment flows,” said Mr. Wacik.

At present, geothermal-driven electrical supply is still considerably low. Records from the ESDM showed that until May 2014 Indonesia only produced geothermal electricity totaling 1,300 MW from a potential geothermal resource estimated at 28,000 MW.

Read More......

Climate Change:

IRENA: 9 Times More Geothermal Needed to Avoid ‘Climate Catastophe’ (PV-Tech)

Geothermal deployment needs to increase 9 times over by 2030 to avoid "climate catastrophe", a report by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) has warned.

Launched in New York last week, the report, ‘REmap 2013’, aims to show a 36% share of renewables in the energy mix by 2030 is feasible, affordable and will mitigate climate change risks – keeping carbon pollution below 450ppm to keep within a ‘safe’ 2 degrees Celsius rise in global temperatures.

Based on the IRENA model, wind energy needs to increase the most, by a factor of 15, and solar second, by a factor of 12. Geothermal needs to grow nine times over, hydro to double, biomass by a factor of 1.5 and tidal generation to increase by less than 0.1.

IRENA has calculated the switch to renewables also provides US$740 billion of savings each year on environmental costs from burning fossil fuels – cancelling out the investments costs required to reach 36% renewables.

Read More......

USA:

Clean Energy Investment in the United States - The View to 2030 (Center For American Progress)

The United States has attracted capital in clean energy markets for more than a decade. Renewable energy, or RE, investment in U.S. wind, solar, hydro, and geothermal power has increased nearly 250 percent since 2004, reaching 36.7 billion in 2013. These numbers only represent part of clean energy’s full investment potential as new regulations on carbon emissions and advances in technology will significantly increase demand for low-carbon fuels.

Public and private analyses of future energy use both foresee a surge in natural gas and RE. Relative to 2011 levels, the U.S. Energy Information Administration, or EIA, projects that natural gas consumption will grow 12.2 percent by 2030, even as low prices, debate about exports, and future carbon constraints create an uncertain trajectory for future natural gas development. EIA also predicts that 50.2 percent of new electricity consumption will come from natural gas and 46.6 percent from renewables by 2030.  Report.... (PDF)

Read More......

Employment:

Geothermal Exploration Engineer Position - The Dewhurst Group

Job Responsibilities:

• Coordinating exploration projects, and overseeing and providing engineering support for field Operations
• Identifying, designing, and implementing technical improvements to geophysical data acquisition and equipment
• Monitoring for and troubleshooting equipment failures and conducting or directing repairs and calibration
• Perform design, construction and testing of new geophysical data acquisition equipment
• Survey crew training
• Coordinating with Dewhurst Group and their Russian scientific staff
• Data management and analysis
• Technical writing and submittal preparation
• Quality assurance management and documentation
• Project management
• Market development and client primary contact

Your position will include managing and supporting office and field operations for geophysical survey operations throughout the world. Your responsibilities will include learning, facilitating and subsequent training and directing of staff on the following:

• Data acquisition procedures
• Equipment maintenance
• Calibration tests

Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or Geophysics. 
• Minimum 4 years of Geothermal Experience
• Minimum 8 years work experience in engineering or related field. 
• Minimum 3 years’ experience with Vega and Metronix magnetotelluric geophysical equipment. 
• Geothermal Exploration Engineer, Bachelors Degree and 4 Years Geothermal Industry Experience

Application

Email Resume to k.mccallum@dewhurstgroup.us

Global:

Registration Opens for the World Geothermal Congress (WGC)

Sunday 19 to Friday 24 April 2015

Registration for the World Geothermal Congress (WGC) is open! The Congress will take place at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre in Melbourne, Australia from Sunday 19 to Friday 24 April 2015.

Please visit the Congress Website for a full list of registration types, rates and entitlements as well as information regarding booking your accommodation.

Read More......

Technology:

Geothermal Heat Pumps Keep Cell Tower Cool (Cornell Chronicle)

In the March/April GRC Bulletin we published an article by 2013 GRC Scholarship Winner Koenraad Beckers and Jefferson Tester on Utilizing Geothermal Heat Pumps to Provide Cooling for Cellular Towers - Demonstration Project at Cornell University.

Here the Cornell Chronicle sheds a little more light on the partnership with Verizon Wireless on finding a solution to help cool cell-phone tower equipment.

---

A cell phone tower on Cornell’s campus is doubling as a laboratory to study a ground-sourced cooling system for telecommunications equipment.

In collaboration with Verizon Wireless, Cornell engineers led by graduate student Koenraad Beckers are testing a geothermal heat pump system to control the climate of cellular tower shelters. Already in many homes, geothermal heat pumps use stable underground temperatures to provide efficient space and water heating or cooling.





Read More......

Technology:

Simulation Capability Illuminates Geothermal Energy Potential (DOE Pulse)

FALCON is being used to model how the injection of cold water
might increase the permeability, and hence the energy production,
at one geothermal site.

Geothermal energy could become a cost-competitive source for electricity in the very near future with the help of a subsurface modeling program designed by researchers at DOE's Idaho National Laboratory. The Fracturing and Liquid CONvection (FALCON) code can analyze various facets of the subsurface physics behind geothermal energy extraction.

Traditional geothermal energy can be accessed only at rare sites where subsurface heat, water and permeable rock converge. However, Enhanced (or Engineered) Geothermal Systems (EGS) can be built so that they add fluid to the system, as well as increase rock permeability via techniques such as fracturing. Thus, an EGS site only needs a location with subsurface heat. At that point, FALCON can swoop in to optimize the process.

Read More.....

Global:

530 MW of New Geothermal Energy Capacity Came On Line in 2013 (REVE)

Brings Total Global Capacity to 12 GW

Geothermal resources provide energy in the form of electricity and direct heating and cooling, totalling an estimated 600 PJ (167 TWh) in 2013.

Geothermal electricity generation is estimated to be a little less than half of the total final geothermal output, at 76 TWh, with the remaining 91 TWh (328 PJ) representing direct use.

Some geothermal plants produce both electricity and thermal output for various heat applications.

At least 530 MW of new geothermal power generating capacity came on line in 2013, bringing total global capacity to 12 GW, generating an estimated 76 TWh annually.

Read More.....

Kenya:

Germans Plan Sh9.5 billion Geothermal Deal in Bogoria (Business Daily Africa)

Baringo County’s quest to become the new hub of geothermal power generation got a boost after German investors pledged Sh9.5 billion (€80 million) to help build new power plants.

The Germans, who were on a fact-finding mission in Kenya last week, made the commitments to President Uhuru Kenyatta at State House.

The funds are meant for exploration and laying of infrastructure in the Bogoria-Silale region in Baringo in preparation for the setting up of a 200 MWe plant.

The county now joins Naivasha and Nakuru as geothermal hotbeds as Kenya races to tap into the steam wells to boost its power capacity.

Read More.....

Peru:

Trade Mission to Peru to Address Geothermal Opportunities (Ethanol Producer Magazine)

(Courtesy CIA.gov)

The U.S. Department of Commerce’s International Trade Administration is organizing a renewable energy and energy efficiency trade mission to Peru. Scheduled for November, the policy mission will promote the export competitiveness of U.S. renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies, including biomass, waste-to-energy, wind, solar, geothermal, hydropower, and smart grid.

According to a notice published in the Federal Register, Peru offers several renewable energy policy incentives, including priority dispatch for renewable electricity, accelerated depreciation of up to 20 percent for investments in machinery or equipment that support renewable energy deployment, and technology-specific auctions. A 5 percent clean energy target is currently in place, along with a 7.8 percent biofuel blending mandate.

Read More.....

USA, Idaho:

Opinion: U.S. Geothermal: Egregiously Undervalued? (Alternative Energy Stocks)

Last week U.S. Geothermal made an appearance at the Marcum Microcap Conference in New York City. The company stood out among most of the companies appearing in Marcum’s so-called ‘energy track’ as one of the few with solid revenue and profits. U.S. Geothermal reported a net profit of $1.9 million on $28.8 million in total sales in the twelve months ending March 2014.  The net profit is commendable, but what I find more interesting is the conversion of 30% of sales to operating cash flow of $11.4 million.

The ability to generate cash flow is vital for a growing company like U.S. Geothermal.  Over the last three years the company has spent an average of $16.5 million annually on capital investments. The company has also been acquisitive. Most recently the company bought the Ram Geysers project in Sonoma County, California for $6.4 million in cash. Ram Geysers has five completed wells available for immediate production near 30 megawatts of total steam assuming 25% of the geothermal liquid is re-injected back into the reservoir.

Read More......

Indonesia:

Govt Sets Deadline for Power Deals on Troubled Geothermal Projects (Jakarta Post)

The Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry has set a time limit for the developers of a number of stalled geothermal projects to reach deals on a power purchase agreement (PPA) should they want to enjoy a new ceiling price.

The ministry has issued a new regulation regarding the ceiling price for new geothermal projects ranging from 11.8 US cents to 29.6 cents as part of the government’s program to attract more investors.

Under the regulation, the ceiling price will be applicable to new projects. Existing developments can also be adjusted with certain requirements.

According to a presentation delivered in a geothermal conference in Jakarta last week, ongoing geothermal development projects were asked to seal PPAs with the buyer of electricity (state electric company PLN) produced from geothermal plants on a given date.

Read More.....

Ethiopia:

Funds Made Available to Start Corbetti Geothermal Project (AllAfrica.com)

The African Union Commission (AUC) and Reykjavik Geothermal last week signed a grant agreement for financial support totaling USD 5,594,821 to drill two-reservoir confirmation wells at the Reykjavík Geothermal ehf owned by Corbetti geothermal prospect located in Ethiopia.

The grant, which was signed through AU's Department of Infrastructure and Energy, was said to be aimed at alleviating infrastructure requirements needed for proper project implementation. The signing ceremony was held at the Grand Hotel in Reykjavik, Iceland on May 26, 2014 at a Donors' Coordination meeting held by AUC to mobilize financial and technical support to the Regional Geothermal Programme as well as the Geothermal Risk Mitigation Facility (GRMF).

Read More.....

United Kingdom, Philippines:

New Coils Boosts Output of Geothermal Generator (Plant Engineer)

The generator at Palinpinon geothermal power plant, in the Philippines, has been successfully rewound by Sulzer, with coil design and construction by its service center in Birmingham, England.

The site comprises two power plants, the first containing three 37.5 MWe generators and the second four 20 MWe generators – together delivering 192 MWe.

Dave Hawley, general manager for the formed coil business at the Birmingham Sulzer Service Center, explains that the project to overhaul one of the Fuji 37.5 MWe generators involved using its database combined with OEM drawings.

These enabled Sulzer to design the new coils along with wooden formers to replicate the stator, which would be used later to check the shape of the coils during manufacturing.

Read More.....

Philippines:

Nine Companies Exress Interest in Operating Mt. Apo Geothermal Plants (Solar News PH)

The bidding for the contracted power output of the Mt. Apo geothermal plants has drawn 9 parties.

Emmanuel R. Ledesma, Jr., Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp (Psalm) president and chief executive officer, said 9 groups complied with the initial requirements for the selection of the independent power producer administrator (IPPA) for the Mt. Apo 1 and 2 plants.

The 9 pre-qualified parties include EDC Mindanao Geothermal Inc, FDC Misamis Power Corp, GDF SUEZ Energy Philippines Inc, Good Friends Hydro Resources Corp, SMC Global Power Holdings Corp, SPC Power Corp, Therma Southern Mindanao Inc, Trans-Asia Oil and Energy Development Corp, and Vivant Geo Power Corp.

Ledesma said the deadline for the bids is at 12 noon of September 24, with the opening and evaluation of bids commencing thereafter. 
Psalm will hold the pre-bid conference for the Mt. Apo 1 and 2 IPPA at 2 p.m. of June 26. This is Psalm’s first IPPA auction in the Mindanao region.

The Mt. Apo IPPA will manage the contracted output of the Mt. Apo 1 and 2 plants, which are 390 and 398 gigawatt-hours (GWh) per year, respectively, for 25 years. 
The Mt. Apo 1 and Mt. Apo 2 geothermal power plants each have a rated capacity of 54.24 MW. Both are located in Kidapawan City, North Cotabato.

Owned and operated by the Energy Development Corp, the power plants were commissioned on February 15, 1997 (Mt. Apo 1) and June 17, 1999 (Mt. Apo 2) under a build, operate, and own contract scheme.

Italy:

Geothermal Energy Incentives In Italy (Volcanex Geothermal)

Italy provides significant incentives to encourage development of renewable energy supplies. The main reasons are to reduce its reliance on energy imports, increases the diversity of its energy sources, and reduce greenhouse gas pollution.

The incentive regime is largely a response to European Commission Directive 2009/28 which established the target of 20 % of total European energy consumption to be provided by renewable energy sources by 2020. It also included mandatory national targets for each member country and other measures including improved grid access for renewable power sources. Italy was required to increase its overall renewable energy share from 4.92 % in 2005 to 17 % by 2020.

Volcanex Geothermal consists of two professional service companies in Australia and Italy headed by Dr Graeme Wheller. It includes an international network of like-minded consultants and data acquisition and processing contractors who can be efficiently employed on client projects as required.

Read More.....

New Zealand, Philippines:

GNS Sciences and Energy Development Corp. Sign MOU (Philippine Star)

Three New Zealand companies announced yesterday partnerships in the Philippines as part of a three-day mission to the country this week led by New Zealand Minister of Trade Tim Groser.

GNS Sciences and Energy Development Corp. (EDC), the Lopez-led geothermal company, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the provision of advisory services by GNS to help in EDC’s existing operations.

EDC executive vice president Ernie Pantangco said the MOU would help EDC in evaluating its reservoir and improving as an international company.

“It would help assess our reservoir and improve our processes,” Pantangco said.

GNS Science provides earth, geoscience and isotope research and consultancy services to create economic, social and environmental benefits.

Both GNS and EDC work together on Philippine steam field development as well as EDC’s geothermal interests in Peru, Chile and Indonesia.

Philippines:

EDC Revives BacMan Geothermal Plant's 2nd Unit (InterAksyon)

Energy Development Corp (EDC) has revived a generating unit of the Bacon-Manito geothermal plants in Albay and Sorsogon after an extended shutdown.

In a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange, EDC said the BacMan facility's 55 MWe Unit 2 has completed reliability runs and is delivering electricity to the grid.

"The unit, however, remains subject to close monitoring and/or to additional tests," the Lopez-controlled company said.

EDC shut down the generating unit in March last year after a turbine blade sheared off, causing damage to the facility. The incident happened within days after the company resumed commercial operations of the power plant, which had undergone rehabilitation.

BacMan's 55-MW Unit 1 was recommissioned in February after being shut down in September last year because of hairline cracks spotted in its turbine blades.

Read More......

USA, Colorado:

Colorado Governor Signs Law Supporting Geothermal Energy (RFD-TV)

Tapping into the energy from heat that comes from underground, or geothermal energy, may be a viable alternative to traditional power production for rural communities.

On May 30, Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper signed into law a bill that gives a green light to geothermal projects there.

The bill promotes local ownership of geothermal production.

Hickenlooper traveled to Pagosa Springs in southwest Colorado to sign HB 14-1222, which applies to geothermal generation and clean energy projects, and promotes local ownership of geothermal production.

Read More.....

Indonesia:

Gov't Sets Ceiling for Geothermal Power Price at $29.6 Cents per kWh (Indonesia Finance Today)

The Indonesia government has set the floor for geothermal power tariff at $11.8 cents per kilowatt hour (kWh) and the ceiling at $29.6 cents per kWh. 

Rida Mulyana, Director General of New, Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation at the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, said the government has revised the geothermal power tariff from below $9 cents/kWh to $11.8 cents-$29.6 cents per kWh with Commercial Operation Date (COD) planned for 2015-2025. 

Philippines:

Montelago Geothermal Drilling Project Gets Approval (BusinessMirror)

Emerging Power Inc. (EPI), has been given the green light by the Protected Area Management Board (PAMB)—an agency under the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)—to proceed with its drilling operations in Montelago next month.

This, as the PAMB passed and approved a resolution declaring the land site of the Mindoro geothermal project in Montelago, Naujan, Oriental Mindoro, as a multiuse zone.

The $180-million Mindoro geothermal project, which will be established in barangays Montelago, Montemayor and Melgar-B in the municipality of Naujan, is now entering the drilling phase.

The project will provide 40 MWe of power, with Oriental Mindoro and Occidental Mindoro each receiving 20 MW.

The Department of Energy (DOE) earlier granted a geothermal renewable-energy service contract to EPI, which expects to drill by the third quarter of this year. The company expects to will start producing power by mid-2016.  EPI has also signed power supply agreements (PSA) with Oriental Mindoro Electric Cooperative (Ormeco) and Occidental Mindoro Electric Cooperative.  Earlier this year, Energy Secretary Carlos Jericho Petilla hailed the geothermal project as an important milestone for Mindoro and the Philippines as a whole.

Read More.....

Indonesia:

Govt Auctions 9 New Geothermal Work Areas (Jakarta Post)

The Indonesian Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry is offering nine new work areas to public bidders for geothermal projects nationwide in a bid to generate more electricity from renewable resources.

Of the total 1,030 potential MWe announced on Wednesday, the ministry estimates that the total geothermal capacity to be developed will amount to 550 MW with total investment of around US$2.1 billion.

Read More......

USA, Oregon:

Coming Soon: Co-op Geothermal Plant (Electric Co-op Today)

A 40-foot cooling tower for a co-op geothermal facility sits
on a plateau on the Oregon-California border. (Photo By: Lynn Culp) 

An electric cooperative in California is nearing completion of a geothermal power plant in a tiny Oregon town, just across the border.

In coming weeks, Surprise Valley Electrification Corp. will conduct generation tests on the 3 MWe geothermal plant, which will likely come on-line this summer.

Located on a member’s cattle ranch in Paisley, Ore., the facility will provide power for up to 1,600 single-family homes in Northern California, Nevada and Oregon.

Read More.....

USA, California:

Close to Home: A Small Down Payment on the Energy Californians Want (Santa Rosa Press Democrat)

A geothermal power plant at The Geysers
(Courtesy Santa Rosa Press Democrat)

California has been making great progress replacing electricity generation from fossil fuels with cleaner renewable generation. We are on track to have 33 percent of our electricity come from clean renewable energy by 2020.

However, the strategies that will get us to this milestone are not enough for the next step. To meet new greenhouse gas reduction goals, we need to begin developing the renewable generation that will support a much cleaner electric grid without sacrificing reliability. This is exactly the role for one of California's great resources — geothermal energy.

Read More......

United Kingdom:

Crewe Getting Steamed Up Over Potential Geothermal Energy Benefits (bdaily)

Early indications show the town of Crewe, located just south of Liverpool and Manchester, could have enough geothermal energy supplies to provide every resident in the UK with a daily hot shower – for the next 142 years.

Consultants commissioned by the Cheshire East Council have discovered the vast supplies close to Leighton Hospital – which prompt potential investment opportunities.

Council Leader Councillor Michael Jones said the projected supplies had taken the Council by surprise. He said: “We knew the Cheshire basin was plentiful but these projections show that there is potentially a great deal more than initially thought.

“This is an incredibly exciting project and could well catapult Crewe on to the national platform as a global player in energy production.”

There are around 100 gigawatt hours a year (gwh) within a 2.5km radius of the proposed site in Leighton West and around 50gwh a year from just two sites within 1km.

The authority hopes to begin extraction with a suitable partner within the next 12 months, offering the successful partner a long-term lease and creating a revenue stream through rent and profits.

Read More......

Global:

The Latest News from the Leading Geothermal Energy Magazine

A free article from the GRC Bulletin - Volume 43, No. 3 - May/June 2014

The Geothermal Resources Council (GRC) has made available the latest GRC Bulletin, the definitive voice of the global geothermal energy industry, published continuously since 1972. 

The Bulletin is free with GRC Membership or subscribe (PDF) to six issues a year for $90 in the USA or $140 worldwide.

The GRC has generously published 4 pages from the latest issue for free. However, the full issue is 48 pages!

Join the GRC or subscribe to get the complete issue.

USA, Utah:

Enel Green Power is Utah Energy Innovator of the Year

A geothermal energy developer has won a major award at this year's third annual Utah Governor’s Energy Development Summit, held in Salt Lake City on June 3-4.

Enel Green Power is this year's Utah Energy Innovator of the Year for their Cove Fort geothermal power plant which begun operations in December 2013. The 25 MWe binary cycle plant is expected to produce about 160 gigawatt-hours of power per year, which will go to the Salt River Project – a public utility serving parts of central Arizona, including much of Phoenix – under a 20-year agreement.

Mexico:

Nuevo Mecanismo De Mitigación En México Pretende Estimular En Torno A 300 MW - New Risk Mitigation Mechanism in Mexico to foster 300 MW of Geothermal (Piensa en Geotermia)

(Courtesy CIA.gov)

El nuevo mecanismo de mitigación de riego que se está creando en México por parte de la Secretaría de Energía de México, Nacional Financiera, el Banco Interamericano de Desarrollo y MUNICH RE, pretende estimular la instalación de unos 300 MW, lo que suponen en torno al 30 % de la capacidad instalada a día de hoy en México.

A new RM mechanism is composed by Banks and Government agencies the Secretaría de Energía de México, Nacional Financiera, Banco Interamericano de Desarrollo y MUNICH RE and aims to increase a 30% of the geothermal energy produced in the country.

Read More.....

USA:

US Geothermal Industry Gets Huge Resource "Datapalooza" Boost (Renewable Energy World.com)

In order to move the nearly stagnant U.S. geothermal market along, the industry needs help identifying viable resources. The Department of Energy (DOE) has been hard at work developing a tool that will help this process, and recently announced the official launch of its National Geothermal Data System (NGDS).



NGDS is part of President Obama's Open Data Policy initiative and was released during the White House Energy Datapalooza in Washington, D.C., which "highlight[s] private-sector entrepreneurs and innovators that are using freely available data from the government and other sources to build products, services, and apps that advance a secure and clean energy future."

In what the DOE hopes will “change America’s energy portfolio" and accelerate the geothermal industry, NGDS aggregates state geological surveys from across the country into an organized information hub. This data includes more than 650,000 well logs, 530,000 borehole temperatures, and 1.7 million oil, gas, water and geothermal well headers from all 50 states.

Read More......

USA, Nevada:

Report: Nevada CO2 Emissions Plummet Because of Geothermal Energy Development (Reno Gazette Journal)

Nevada recorded the steepest decline nationwide in energy-related carbon dioxide emissions between 2005-2011, a federal report today shows.

Over the period, Nevada’s CO2 emissions in electric power sector fell 33 percent, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration’s “Today in Energy” report, and the state’s reduction in carbon-intensive coal use was a key factor.

The state ranked second in the nation in utility-scale net electricity generation from geothermal energy and third in utility-scale net generation from solar energy in 2013; 9.8 percent of Nevada’s net electricity generation in 2013 came from those two sources.

With 32 operating geothermal power plants producing 566 MW of clean, renewable power, Nevada currently produces more geothermal energy than any other state in the U.S. except California. If Nevada were a country, it would be the eighth largest producer of geothermal power of the 25 countries generating this form of renewable electricity today.

The state-mandated Energy Portfolio Standard requires that 25 percent of electricity sales come from renewable energy resources by 2025. In 2013, 18 percent of net electricity generation came from geothermal, solar, wind, and hydroelectric power sources.

Read More.....

United Kingdom:

U.K. Government To Make Drilling for Geothermal Energy Easier (Bloomberg News)

The U.K. government will introduce a law to make exploring for shale oil, gas and geothermal energy easier.

In a speech setting out the government’s legislative plans for the next year, Queen Elizabeth II said a bill would be proposed to “enhance the U.K.’s energy independence and security by opening up access to shale and geothermal sites.”

Today, companies planning to drill onshore need to obtain consent from every landowner whose property a well may pass under. The new law will remove the need for this permission, the government said. Drilling for shale often involves horizontal wells that run for hundreds of meters, so can pass under several different properties.

If approved by parliament, the Bill could be passed in time for the 2015 election, Tim Pugh, a partner at law firm Berwin Leighton Paisner LLP, said in an e-mailed response to questions.

Read More......

USA, California:

Opinion: Tap Geothermal Power to Restore the Salton Sea (The Desert Sun)

The plan to tap the mammoth geothermal potential of the Salton Sea, and to generate a revenue stream to help restore California's largest lake, took a major step last week when the state Senate approved a bill by two Coachella Valley legislators.

By a largely party-line vote, Senate Bill 1139 by Sen. Ben Hueso and Assemblyman V. Manuel Pérez was approved 21-11. It would require utilities to commit to contracting for 500 MWe of new geothermal baseload power by 2024. The Assembly Rules Committee will assign it to a committee next week.

Geothermal is nonpolluting and costs 80 percent less than power generated by fossil fuels, according to the U.S. Geothermal Energy Association. It produces power constantly, regardless of whether the sun is shining or the wind is blowing. It makes sense to convert the hot desert sun into energy and to capture wind power that blows through the San Gorgonio Pass. It also makes sense to tap into the heat from the Earth that is so abundant around the Salton Sea.

The Desert Sun encourages the Assembly to approve SB 1139 and the governor to sign it.

Read More.....

Global:

Registration Opens for Annual Charity Golf Tournament at Geothermal Resources Council Annual Meeting

Popular Networking Event for the geothermal energy industry on Sept. 28 before the GRC Annual Meeting & GEA Expo in Portland, Oregon. 

The Geothermal Resources Council (GRC) has announced more details of events at the world’s largest annual geothermal conference held this year at the Oregon Convention Center in Portland, Oregon, Sept. 28-Oct. 1, 2014.

Just before the start of the GRC Annual Meeting & GEA Geothermal Energy Expo, the GRC Annual Charity Golf Tournament will take place September 28 on the Great Blue Course at Heron Lakes Golf Club in Portland. Registration for the tournament is now open.

This year the proceeds from the tournament will go to the Oregon Chapter of the Make-a-Wish Foundation and the GRC Scholarship Fund.



Download the Flyer for more information, fill-in the Registration Form and fax or email to GRC or Register Online.

USA:

President Obama Says Geothermal Will Help Reduce Carbon Emissions (The Whitehouse)

President Obama mentioned geothermal energy in a conference call hosted by U.S. Public Health Groups yesterday. 

He was speaking in reference to the US EPA's proposed regulations for existing power plants that require states to substantially reduce carbon emissions.

So these proposed standards will help us meet that challenge head on. It sets carbon targets, give states and regions the flexibility to meet them, using the mix of energy resources that work best for them -- whether it’s natural gas or cleaner coal or solar or wind or hydropower or geothermal or nuclear.  And it provides a huge incentive for the states and consumers to become more energy efficient.

As a result, your electricity bills will shrink as these standards spur investment in energy efficiency, cutting waste, and ultimately we’re going to be saving money for homes and for businesses.

Read More..... 

USA:

Geothermal Can Play a Significant Role in State Carbon Reduction Plans (altenergymag.com - News Release)

The U.S. Geothermal Energy Association (GEA) urges states to take advantage of the carbon emission reduction available through expanding geothermal power portfolios. Doing so makes sense in light of the US EPA's proposed regulations for existing power plants that require states to substantially reduce carbon emissions. The regulations proposed would give states significant leeway in designing plans to reduce their emissions contributing to global warming, including adopting or strengthening policies to expand clean energy production, like geothermal power.

As a baseload source of clean energy, geothermal power is already helping to reduce the power system's carbon emissions. The U.S. GEA estimates that current geothermal energy production in the U.S. offsets about 14 million metric tons of CO2 from coal or 5 million metric tons from natural gas per year. The developing projects identified by GEA in April 2014, with estimated planned capacity additions of 978 MW, could help 11 states displace an additional 7 million metric tons of CO2 per year from coal or 2.3 million metric tons of CO2 per year from natural gas.

Read More......

Global:

World Not Moving Fast Enough on Renewable Energy, Says IEA (The Guardian)

Energy supply investment at $1.6trn annually but needs to rise to $2trn to stop dangerous global warming, energy thinktank finds

The world is not moving fast enough on investment in low carbon energy to tackle climate change, new research from the International Energy Agency (IEA) has found.

About $1.6 trillion is invested annually in the global energy supply, but while that represents a doubling of investment since the turn of the century, the amount needs to rise to $2 trillion if the world is to limit global warming to no more than 2C of temperature rises, the energy thinktank said.

Read More.....

Technology:

Energy 101: Geothermal Energy

A new video from the U.S. Department of Energy

Colorado:

Colorado Takes Steps To Expand Geothermal Development (EIN News - press release)

Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper signed a geothermal bond bill May 30, providing $1.98 million in state funding and matching the U.S. Energy Department’s investment in geothermal energy exploration at Pagosa Springs. The project, which demonstrates Colorado’s strong support for geothermal energy development, leverages a $3.8 million award from the Department for evaluating and exploring the geothermal resource potential at Pagosa Springs.

Pagosa Springs has long been recognized as a potential target for geothermal energy development, based on surface evidence and assessments such as geophysical exploration conducted by the Colorado School of Mines. The Pagosa Verde project proposes a cost-effective, phased approach for locating and evaluating the viability of geothermal resources in the southern end of the Pagosa Springs area. The project will assess the potential for power production as well as direct use applications for residential, industrial and other purposes.

Read More.....

Philippines:

PSALM Says Apo Geothermal IPPA Attracts 10 Potential Bids (BusinessWorld Online Edition)

The Philippines Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp. (PSALM) said 10 parties expressed interest in bidding for the independent power producer administrator (IPPA) contract covering the output of the Mt. Apo geothermal power plants.

“There are 10 interested bidders who submitted their letters of interest before the deadline set last May 30,” PSALM President and Chief Executive Officer Emmanuel R. Ledesma, Jr. said in a text message to reporters yesterday.

“Out of the total, two are foreign-owned entities and eight are Filipino-owned,” he added.

Mr. Ledesma said earlier that the winning bidder will be in charge of selling the capacity generated by the two power plants under two separate IPP contracts. Each of the power plants has a capacity of 54.24 MWe.

Located in Kidapawan City, North Cotabato, the power plants were commissioned on Feb. 15, 1997 and June 17, 1999 under a build-operate-and-own contract with Energy Development Corp. 

Read More.....

USA, California:

The Geysers Geothermal Powers SCP’s ‘Evergreen’ Option (North Bay Business Journal)

18% percent of California’s renewable energy in our backyard

When we think of renewable energy we mostly think of power from the sky such as solar and wind. And when we think of what we should phase out, we picture underground sources such as coal, oil, and fossil gas. However, one underground power source is relatively benign and counts toward California’s renewable energy goals – geothermal.

Sonoma County is home to the world’s largest electricity-generating geothermal power resource. A very rare convergence of factors creates The Geysers: enough porous rock at a hot enough temperature that is close enough to the surface with a plentiful water supply to create steam.

 Although The Geysers are right in the Mayacamas Mountains, in the past very little of the electricity that Sonoma County customers purchased was from The Geysers. That is changing. Sonoma Clean Power has contracted for electricity from Calpine Corporation, operators of most of The Geysers. Sonoma Clean Power customers can now select EverGreen, electricity that is 100 percent local geothermal power. For customers that select Sonoma Clean Power’s basic service called CleanStart, the electricity mix includes about 15 percent Geysers power.

Read More......

USA:

U.S. Unveils Sharp Curbs on Coal Power Plants (BBC News)

The Obama administration has released strong new rules targeting coal-burning power plants in an effort to curb global warming.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Clean Power Plan seeks to cut carbon emissions by 30% by 2030.

The 645-page rule is a centrepiece of President Barack Obama's plans to leverage similar commitments other polluting nations like China and India.

States must submit initial compliance plans by June 2016.

The rules seek to reduce carbon emissions by 30% below 2005 levels, which the EPA says is equal to the emissions from powering more than half the homes in the U.S. for one year.

Read More......