Japan:

Ministry Planning System to Promote Geothermal Power (The Japan Times)

The Japanese Ministry of the Environment will introduce a system to promote geothermal power generation by involving local municipalities from the initial stages of plant construction, according to informed sources.

The ministry will set up consultative bodies of municipalities interested in hosting geothermal power generation facilities, local residents and relevant companies to help communities reach agreements on the construction of such plants, the sources said.

The ministry believes that the new system can shorten the periods needed for starting geothermal plant construction by up to three years.

The ministry plans to earmark necessary funds for the project in its budget request for fiscal 2016, which starts next April, the sources said.

In its energy target for 2030, the central government plans to increase the proportion of geothermal power generation from the current 0.3 percent to between 1.0 percent and 1.1 percent of the country’s overall electricity generation.

Read More........

Kenya:

Kenya Power Signs 70 Megawatts  PPA from Akirra Geothermal Project (Bloomberg)

Kenya Power & Lighting Ltd., will sign a power purchase agreement (PPA) tomorrow for 70 megawatts of geothermal energy.

The utility will buy 70 MW from Akiira Geothermal Ltd., a project developer, and Marine Power Generation Ltd., its development partner, it said.

Akiira Geothermal Limited is the first private sector greenfield geothermal development in Sub-Saharan Africa. It is located 70 km northwest of Nairobi, in the eastern branch of the East African Rift System, south of Lake Naivasha and about 2.5 km south of the nearest producing wells.

The Akiira block with a potential of over 140 MW will be developed in phases beginning with 70 MW for phase I, drilling is set to begin drilling very shortly.

Read More.......

Turkey:

Geothermal Energy firm is Fastest Growing Company in Turkey (Hurriyet Daily News)

Kahramanmaraş-based Maren Maraş Elektrik in southern Turkey has been named the fastest growing company in Turkey with a growth rate of 8,754 percent between 2011 and 2013 in a national ranking made by the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB), in cooperation with the Economic Policy Research Foundation of Turkey (TEPAV) and AllWorld Network.

The company, owned by Kipaş Holding, mainly focuses on geothermal energy.

Read More.......

GRC Annual Meeting & GEA Expo:

40 Days to the 2015 GRC Annual Meeting & GEA Expo

A Preliminary Program is available to view online, or download and print-out if you wish.

There are two methods of completing the registration process......we recommend registering online...........

1. Download the Registration Form (PDF) to your desktop.

Fill-in, saving as you progress. Print out and mail to:

GRC Annual Meeting
P.O. Box 1350,
Davis, CA 95617-1350

You can also attach the Registration Form (PDF) to an email and send to Anh Lay at alay@geothermal.org

Note: Speakers and Exhibitors only have the option of completing the PDF Registration Form - They cannot register online using the link below.

OR

2. We Recommend Registering Online........... 

Register Online at: https://eseries.geothermal.org

Indonesia:

Legal Protocols, Lack of Funding Stall Geothermal Development in Indonesia (Jakarta Globe)

Only 175 MW of geothermal energy were added between 2010 and 2014

(Courtesy CIA.gov)

Despite Indonesia already having several plants and government plans to develop the geothermal industry, progress has been stalled by legal protocols and a lack of funding, the World Bank says.

Indonesia’s position on the Pacific Ring of Fire – the intersection of three tectonic plates – means that the country is a hotbed of seismic activity. The Indonesian Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry estimates that the country might have the potential to generate almost 28 gigawatts of energy this way – 40 percent of the world’s geothermal energy resources.

The recent Indonesian Economic Quarterly published by the World Bank in July highlighted geothermal energy production as an area of great potential. Despite a 2012 Finance Ministry fund to develop the geothermal energy sector and capital seeding of more than $200 million, the sector has not expanded as expected.

Plans to build 44 new plants and triple production capacity to 4000 MW were included in the National Energy Policy last year. However, only 175 megawatts were added between 2010 and 2014. The World Bank attributes this to several factors, including a hesitancy to invest, and a feed-in tariff that has discouraged the market.

Read More.........

Mexico:

Dragon Group Plans Geothermal Projects (El Financiero)

Enrique Ochoa Reza, director of the Federal Electricity
Commission (CFE) [Bloomberg / File]

After announcing the decision to double existing prospective resources in geothermal energy by 2018, the Mexican Federal Electricity Commissions (CFE) held a “Round Zero” meeting this past month to select field concessions.

Since the meeting, news has surfaced that Grupo Dragón has entered into conversations with the Federal Electricity Commission (CFE) to discuss the development of geothermal energy in these fields. “Round One” will begin later this month as private companies bid for 30-year concessions to the remaining geothermal fields in the country.

Read More.......

Canada:

Environmentalists Need To Compromise To Make B.C. A Geothermal Energy Powerhouse (Huffington Post Canada)

The Green Party of B.C. calls British Columbia a potential "green tech powerhouse." We all know about hydro energy, but few know about a much-neglected potential source of energy: geothermal energy.

As presented in this map, the province has a tremendous potential for geothermal energy. It isn't a fancy new technology either; rather, it is a mature technology that's used worldwide. Once constructed, a geothermal power plant is pretty close to carbon neutral and for an energy technology, it is remarkably clean.

So why aren't we a geothermal energy powerhouse? Well consider this picture of B.C. protected areas. Our most bountiful geothermal resources are situated right smack in the middle of some of our biggest and most beautiful parks. Moreover, all that potential is located deep underground and we don't have a secret map with an X marked "geothermal energy here." The only way to find this energy is to drill.

Read More........

USA, California:

Imperial Irrigation District to Vote on Purchasing 50 MW of Geothermal Energy (Imperial Valley Press)

The Imperial Irrigation District (IID) Board of Directors will have its regular bi-weekly meeting on Tuesday. Among the items to be discussed is the approval of purchase of geothermal energy from the Salton Sea Known Geothermal Resource Area.

The IID board will discuss and consider an agreement with Cal Energy to purchase 50 megawatts of its geothermal portfolio in the Salton Sea. This is a 10-year agreement and the proposal would help IID increase its renewable energy standards. It would be 9.3 percent of IID’s renewable energy requirement for the third compliance period.

Read More........

USA, Idaho, Oregon:

Northwest Geothermal Research Aims To Help Solve Energy And Water Squeeze (Northwest Public Radio)

The Raft River Geothermal Plant in Idaho.

President Obama’s new EPA rule seeking drastic reductions in carbon emissions could create more room in the industry for cleaner forms of energy. One of those is geothermal. In eastern Oregon and parts of Idaho, a new study will look closer at this potential source, and how it’s connected to the drought-stricken West.

GRC Member Erick Burns says he’s excited to find out more about what lies below the surface. Burns is the lead scientist on the US Geological Survey’s study.

“This is a potential major source of power for the U.S. that doesn’t emit carbon, if we can figure out how to get at it," Burns says.

Read More........

Geothermal Resources Council:

Geothermal Resources Council Announces Scholarship Winners

$15,000 in Scholarship Awards will be presented at the 2015 GRC Annual Meeting

The Geothermal Resources Council (GRC), a non-profit educational association dedicated to the promotion of geothermal energy and associated technologies around the world, is pleased to announce the recipients of six GRC Scholarship Awards.

The selection of recipients was based upon a variety of factors, including the individual’s academic record, student activities, geothermal industry experience, and career goals.

The scholarships, totaling $15,000, will be presented at the Annual GRC Membership & Awards Luncheon at the GRC Annual Meeting, to be held at the Peppermill Resort Spa Casino, Reno, Nevada, USA, from September 20 – 23.

The winner of the GRC Student Project Award ($4,500) is Marisa Earll – Master’s student in the Department of Hydrology and Water Resources at the University of Arizona.

The three winners of the GRC Graduate Scholarship Awards ($2,500 each) are Owen Callahan - PhD candidate at University of Texas at Austin, Cari Covell - Master’s student at the Iceland School of Energy of Reykjavik University, and Cary Lindsey - PhD student at University of Idaho.

Finally, the two winners of the GRC Undergraduate Scholarship Awards ($1,500 each) are Thomas Lund - Mechanical Engineering student at University of Colorado, Boulder and Jeffrey Olson - Petroleum Engineering student at Colorado School of Mines.

New Zealand:

Vacancy: Geothermal Scientist (Seek)

Auckland, New Zealand

An exciting role as a Geothermal Scientist has become available with a leading project engineering organisation based in Auckland. This role will sit within the companies dedicated geothermal team and will put you at the forefront of geothermal exploration and source identification.

In this role you will be responsible for undertaking a broad range of responsibilities focusing on identifying potential sources of geothermal power. You will use a broad range of techniques developed from your previous experience and will involve assessment based from both the office and being on site in various international locations.

If you are interested in this position then please apply by clicking here. If you would like some more information first then please contact Luke Atkinson at TRS on +64 (0)4 472 6558 or luke@trs.co.nz

Read More.......

Indonesia:

N Sulawesi Governor Signs Cooperation Agreement in Geothermal Energy with New Zealand (Tribun Manado)

Governor Sinyo Harry Sarundajang has signed an agreement with Trevor Matheson, New Zealand Ambassador to cooperate on development of geothermal energy in North Sulawesi.

The agreement was signed at a Geothermal conference hosted by Gadjah Mada University (UGM) at Linow Lake, Tomohon, in North Sulawesi.

The first action will be the launch of a Geothermal Education Park in the City of Tomohon. Governor  Sarundayang said the park would not only be useful in the field of education, but also as a tourist attraction.

Read More........

USA, Nevada:

NV Energy: Warren Buffet’s Plan for a Structural Power Shift (POWER magazine)

Nevada utility plots a move away from coal and water to renewable energy

NV Energy’s renewable portfolio (see map) includes some 800 MW of solar (including the 100 MW Solar Switch project), mostly under development; about 385 MW of geothermal generation in place, largely around the Reno area, with another 150 MW of geothermal projects in process; 235 MW from Hoover Dam (which doesn’t count against its state renewable goal); and 152 MW of wind under development.

NV Energy has its eye on California’s expanding Energy Imbalance Market. Kevin Geraghty, NV Energy’s vice president for generation said his company will join the market this fall. So far, he said, the market “is for multi-utility balancing purposes only.” But it could evolve into a broad multi-state market that looks like the PJM Interconnection or the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO). The imbalance market began in November 2014 with transactions between the ISO and Berkshire Hathaway’s PacifiCorp, headquartered in Portland, Oregon. Puget Sound Energy of Bellevue, Wash., and Arizona Public Service of Phoenix are scheduled to join the market in October 2016.

As for the future of NV Energy’s generating fleet, look for more renewables and natural gas. Is there a future for coal-fired power in Nevada? “Coal has got zero future in Nevada,” said Geraghty, who grew up in coal-centric western Pennsylvania, “and not much future in the rest of the country.” What about nuclear? “No future in Nevada,” he said. “That’s largely driven by water,” as the region is gripped by a long-running drought that could, some fear, be only the opening act for a regional mega-drought.

Jack McGinley, Director of NV Energy will be a keynote speaker at the Opening Session of the GRC Annual Meeting, September 21 at the Peppermill Resort Spa Casino, Nevada, USA.

Read More........

USA, Nevada:

Enel Paving The Way For Making CSP A Practical Component Of Geothermal (Solar Industry)

Last year, Enel Green Power North America Inc. (EGP-NA) added a 17 MW trough-based concentrating solar power (CSP) component to its existing 33 MW Stillwater geothermal power facility in Churchill County, Nevada, USA.

The company is hoping the hybrid power station will pave the way for more such projects in the future.

William Price, vice president of geothermal engineering and construction at EGP-NA, says the transformation of Stillwater into a hybrid power facility has nothing to do with output problems. The project is producing electricity for NV Energy under a power purchase agreement (PPA).

Read More........

USA, Indonesia:

The United States Engages with Indonesia to Advance Cooperation on Geothermal Energy (U.S. Department of State)

On August 6th, the United States and Indonesia conducted a workshop with regulatory, financial, and technical experts, as well as high-level government officials, to advance geothermal development in Indonesia. The United States and Indonesia agree to increase collaborations and explore opportunities over the coming weeks and months to accelerate private investment in geothermal energy.

The workshop included discussions of international best practices for geothermal energy development and exploration of opportunities to streamline current policies, rules, and regulations, while also preserving the integrity of local concerns to protect the environment. Experts also explored world-class approaches to reduce risks associated with geothermal development, to increase the efficiency of government processes and to create the financial certainty necessary to increase overall levels of geothermal energy investment.

Developing this clean energy supply has the potential to support long-term, low emission economic growth and to help Indonesia meet its climate change target of a 26 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2020, or 41 percent reduction with international support, compared to business-as-usual. The workshop illustrates how the United States is working with its partners to mitigate the causes of global climate change.

Read More........

USA:

Fuji Electric Announces Acquisition of Turbine Generator and Power Plant Service Company (News Release)

Fuji Electric Co., Ltd., headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, led by President Michihiro Kitazawa, is pleased to announce that its U.S. subsidiary Fuji Electric Corp. of America has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire the turbine and power plant service business of RTS Holdings, Inc. and its subsidiaries, headquartered in Sullivan, Missouri, U.S.A and serving the North, Central, and South American markets. 

Upon completion of the acquisition, which is scheduled to be complete on August 31, 2015, Fuji Electric will have 100% ownership of RTS. Fuji Electric plans to continue providing the same repair and maintenance services.

The acquisition is part of Fuji Electric's global expansion plan, which is focused on expanding the company's energy-related businesses through the acquisitions of strategically placed regional businesses abroad.

Fuji Electric Co., Ltd. will be exhibiting at the GRC Annual Meeting & GEA Geothermal Energy Expo, September 20-23 at the Peppermill Resort Spa Casino, Reno, Nevada.

Read More.......

USA, California:

Salton Sea Plan Calls for $3.15B Restoration Effort (Bloomberg BNA)

Imperial Irrigation District (IID) and Imperial County have released a $3.1 billion framework for restoring the Salton Sea and urged the state of California to meet its obligation and join them in implementing the plan “beginning immediately” so as to avoid an environmental catastrophe.

The plan calls for a “smaller but sustainable” Salton Sea that would limit fugitive dust from exposed shoreline, protect the avian Pacific Flyway from collapse and boost economic opportunity in a depressed region through the development of geothermal energy resources around the lake.

Read More........

USA, California:

Geothermal Update: What’s New at The Geysers (KQED)

(Courtesy Andrew Alden/KQED)

The Geysers geothermal field, in the Coast Range near Clear Lake, has been supplying California with clean electricity for 55 years.

Over time, the output of this field has slowly declined, raising questions about how long we could rely on it.

But a recent experiment offers confidence that we can keep drawing power from The Geysers for many decades to come, by tapping its superheated deeper layers.

The Geysers geothermal field as a whole loses capacity by a percent or two each year. In recent years, Calpine has been exploring the northwest end of the geothermal field, where unfractured rocks as hot as 750 degrees are found. The results from its latest experiment are encouraging.

Read More.......

USA, Idaho:

U.S.Geothermal Inc. Advances Two Significant Development Projects (News Release)

WGP #1 – flow test June 2015

U.S. Geothermal Inc., announced it is advancing two significant development projects. 

The company’s wholly owned subsidiary, U.S. Geothermal Guatemala, S.A., started drilling well EC-2 at the El Ceibillo Project today. 

Additionally, the company has successfully completed a flow test program on the three largest production wells at the WGP Geysers project in northern California confirming the existence of approximately 30 MW of steam. 

“With approximately 30 megawatts of steam drilled, tested and ready for production at Geysers, we are actively pursuing discussions in support of a power purchase agreement for this, our most advanced stage development project” said Dennis Gilles, CEO of US Geothermal and GRC Board Member.

Together, both projects have the capability of adding some 80 megawatts of electricity to the company’s annual capacity

Read More.......

New Zealand:

Boom in Geothermal Energy Means NZ Can Shutter Coal Plants - Minister

The closure of the last coal unit in 2018 will mark the end of coal-fired power generation in New Zealand

New Zealand Energy and Resources 

Minister, Simon Bridges

Genesis Energy’s decision to close its two remaining coal units by 2018 is a sign of the times and reflects the growth of New Zealand’s world-leading renewable energy industry, Energy and Resources Minister Simon Bridges says.

“Historically coal has played an important role in ensuring the security of New Zealand’s electricity supply, particularly in dry years where our hydro-lake levels are low.

“But significant market investment in other forms of renewable energy in recent years, particularly in geothermal, means that a coal backstop is becoming less of a requirement,” he says.

Geothermal generation has more than doubled over the past decade and for the first time in 40 years, geothermal electricity generation contributed more electricity than natural gas during 2014.

“The advance notice of the unit closures will give the energy industry time to consider further investment in renewables. There is a significant amount of consented geothermal capacity ready and waiting for development. Its closure marks the end of coal-fired power generation in New Zealand.

Read More......

USA, California:

Geothermal Resource Group Inc. Appoints Subir K. Sanyal As Senior Technical Advisor (News Release)

Dr. Subir K. Sanyal, PhD

Geothermal Resource Group Inc. (GRG) announced today that GRC Member Dr. Subir K. Sanyal, PhD, has joined GRG as Senior Technical Advisor to assist in their geothermal consulting client base, including resource evaluation and feasibility studies, reservoir engineering, geosciences, and drilling engineering. Dr. Sanyal was formerly President and Senior Technical Advisor for GeothermEx Inc., a Schlumberger company, based in Richmond, California.

Dr. Sanyal’s unparalleled geothermal industry expertise includes project financing and management, economic analysis, property appraisals, reservoir engineering, numerical simulation and training of reservoir engineers.

Dr. Sanyal has served as an expert witness in numerous trials and international arbitration proceedings involving geothermal resources. He has conducted technology transfer programs in Japan, Greece, Bolivia, Indonesia, Brazil and the Philippines, and has evaluated geothermal fields in more than two dozen countries.

Dr. Sanyal has also assisted clients in geothermal power sales and steam sales contract negotiations, and market studies, and provided advice and due diligence for project financing in numerous countries. To date, this has enabled the generation of more than 7,000 MW of geothermal power; the total financed being more than US $12,000,000,000.

Bill Rickard, President of Geothermal Resource Group Inc., commented that “Subir’s extensive experience in the global geothermal industry, particularly in the area of resource evaluation and project financing, will allow GRG to better assist a wider array of clientele, and provide expert advice to our growing staff of geothermal professionals.”

USA, Nevada:

DOE Calls on University of Nevada, Reno Expertise in Geology and Geothermal for Project (CarsonNow.org)

Director of the Nevada Bureau of Nevada Mines and
Geology Jim Faulds talks about mapping geothermal
resources with students.

Researchers from the University of Nevada, Reno are poised to play a key role in a project that holds the potential to unlock massive new resources of power generated from geothermal sources.

The project dubbed “FORGE” is short for Frontier Observatory for Research in Geothermal Energy and seeks to dramatically widen the number of potential locations where power could be produced from geothermal resources. University professors Jim Faulds and Wendy Calvin, also GRC Members, among the world’s leaders in the understanding of geothermal systems, are providing their expertise to the project funded by the U.S. Department of Energy.

Researchers from the University will provide geologic modeling of two potential FORGE sites — one near Fallon, Nevada and a second near Coso, California. This geologic modeling is critically important to the FORGE project, Faulds, director of the University’s Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology, explained. “The feasibility studies will help determine where best to establish the FORGE project.”

Read More.......

Grenada:

Prospects for Geothermal Energy Production in Grenada Looking Good (Caribbean News Now)

At meetings on the 30th July 2015, chaired by permanent secretary of the ministry of finance, Timothy Antoine, attended by the high commissioner from New Zealand, stationed in Barbados Jan Henderson, Alistair Brookes representing the investigating geothermal company Jacobs, from New Zealand presented findings from their study in Grenada, carried out earlier this year, to assembled interested parties.

At this point it seems that there is an underground hot water reservoir coming relatively near the surface within an area of 8 sq km near the base of Mt St Catherine.

This is what is most likely to happen next: additional MT measurements within the area located and gravity measurements within that area also. Gravity at a particular location is affected by the density of the land below it. Rock has a density around 2.6gm/cc. Water has a density of 1gm/cc. So a cave full of water 20 feet deep is like a piece of rock about 4 ft thick, so gravity above a water filled cave will be less than normal. The measurements also have to take account height above sea level, neighboring hills and missing material where there are valleys.

Both of the above steps will provide more detail as to where any geothermal resource is located. Following that wells would be drilled to finally prove the field.

Once the field's extent is known, the site for the generation station can be established. An operating station is likely to have several wells, with the heads close together but their outlets separated an appropriate distance.

Read More.......

Canada:

New Study Finds BC Geothermal an Affordable Option (The Rocky Mountain Goat)

A study just released shows how low the cost of geothermal electricity in BC can be, but the developer behind the project in the Canoe Reach says that project will be even lower. And it will have far less impact than projects like the Site C hydro-electric project, something that is not even considered in the average cost calculation for most electrical generation projects.

GRC Member Craig Dunn, spokesperson for Borealis Geopower, says it’s also important to note that many things aren’t factored into the levelized cost, because the calculation is based on using the electricity at the site and doesn’t include the costs of distributing it. Site C, for example, would cost more, he says, because of the cost of transmission lines to get the electricity to where it is needed, and the loss of electricity over distances. Costs for a plant in the Canoe Reach would be less because power is needed here, and there is already a transmission line.

Levelized cost also doesn’t take into account differences in reliability. For example, a geothermal plant can produce power more hours of any given day than a wind turbine – three times as much. Dunn says his plant will actually produce 8,300 megawatt hours a year for each megawatt the plant is rated at.

Read More.......

USA, Utah:

BLM Seeks Public Comment on Cove Fort Geothermal Expansion Project (St George News)

The Bureau of Land Management Utah Cedar City Field Office is seeking public comment on Enel Cove Fort LLC’s proposal to drill geothermal wells on federal lands to expand it's 25 MW plant. The proposal includes testing and potential production of up to six wells, with supporting delivery pipelines and access roads on BLM and U.S. Forest Service lands in Millard and Beaver counties.

The BLM, in cooperation with the U.S. Forest Service, prepared an environmental assessment that is available online for public review and comment.

Written comments will be accepted by letter or email until Aug. 25

Read More.......

Canada:

Study of Geothermal Energy from Abandoned Mines in Nova Scotia (cumberlandnewsnow.com)

The Cumberland Energy Authority in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia, announced Wednesday a new partnership to research the commercial potential for geothermal energy in the town of Springhill.

The Verschuren Centre for Sustainability in Energy and the Environment at Cape Breton University will conduct the research, in hopes of better understanding the geothermal resource potential within the former Springhill mines.

Geothermal energy has been of interest to the region due to the significant presence of abandoned mines in the Springhill area. The development of geothermal energy involves extracting heat from underground water to use as an energy source. By harvesting geothermal energy from mine water, it makes mine water management economically appealing. The Community of Springhill currently has five buildings using geothermal energy.

Read More.......

Philippines:

Nickel Asia Hikes Stake in Geothermal Power Unit (Manila Standard Today)

Funds will be used to drill additional wells and related production facilities at Montelago geothermal project

Nickel Asia Corp. said Wednesday it increased its stake in Emerging Power Inc. to 66 percent from 55 percent to help fund a geothermal project in Mindoro Oriental.

Nickel Asia said in a disclosure to the stock exchange it paid P237 million or half of the approved P474-million additional investment in the power company. The funds will be used to drill additional wells and related production facilities within Montelago geothermal project in Mindoro Oriental, the company said.

The Montelago geothermal project in Mindoro Oriental recently received a new volumetric assessment report from Iceland Geosurvey, the consultant of project proponent EPI. The company said the new assessment report resulted in an increase in the Montelago geothermal resource to a range of 28 to 30 megawatts over a 25-year period. “The resource can expand with further drilling,” Nickel Asia said.

The geothermal plant project involves the drilling of the Montelago field and the installation of up to 40 megawatts of power generating units at a projected cost of $185 million.

Read More........

USA, California:

BLM to Construct Monitoring Wells near Casa Diablo IV Geothermal Development Project (Sierra Wave)

The Bureau of Land Management Bishop Field Office, in coordination with the Inyo National Forest Mammoth Lakes Ranger District, has approved construction of three groundwater monitoring wells near the town of Mammoth Lakes.

The wells will be used to monitor groundwater conditions to provide increased assurance that geothermal resource development in Upper Basalt Canyon will not adversely affect the town’s groundwater supply.

Monitoring well data will be incorporated into a shallow groundwater monitoring plan required by the BLM as a condition of approval for the Casa Diablo IV Geothermal Development Project.

A GRC Field Trip will visit Casa Diablo Hot Springs and the Ormat Mammoth Pacific Power Plants - including the Casa Diablo facilities - as part of am excursion to the Long Valley, September 18-20, before the GRC Annual Meeting & GEA Geothermal Energy Expo.

Read More.......

GRC Annual Meeting & GEA Geothermal Energy Expo:

Deadline for GRC Geothermal Photo Contest is Next Week

Honorable Mention (2014 contest): The Bulldog 

by Andrew Tiedeman, Fallon, Nevada, USA.

The Geothermal Resources Council (GRC) reminds entrants to submit their photos for this year's Amateur Photo Contest. The purpose of the contest is to showcase quality photography featuring geothermal energy around the world.

The deadline for submissions is August 14.

The winners will be announced at the GRC Annual Member Meeting and Awards Luncheon, the climax to the 39th GRC Annual Meeting & GEA Geothermal Energy Expo being held at the Peppermill Resort Spa, Reno, Nevada, USA from September 20-23. The theme for this year's meeting is "Geothermal: Always On".

GRC Photography Contest Entry Form......... 
More Information........

USA, California:

Geothermal Energy Helps County Reduce Greenhouse Emissions (Sonoma Index-Tribune)

The Sonoma County Center for Climate Protection, an emissions monitoring agency set up in 2008, last week issued a Greenhouse Gas Emissions Report for 2014 which said that compared to 2007, the county reduced its emissions by 14 percent, from 4.2 million tons to 3.6 million tons.

So where does the county find the greenhouse gas savings? Beyond cutting back on cars, community members have helped the air quality situation by using an alternative power source to power their homes.

In 2013, the city of Sonoma was among four others in the county to partner with Sonoma Clean Power. By December 2014, other cities had all followed suit. Sonoma Clean Power uses geothermal, solar, wind and hydro-power to compliment its own fossil fuel power generators, purchasing a mix of 33 percent renewable and 64 percent non-renewable for its standard program, or 100 percent geothermal power from The Geysers with its EverGreen program.

The Sonoma Clean Power website advertises its power is 30 percent below PG&E in terms of greenhouse emissions and offers power at competitive prices, generally slightly underneath PG&E.

Read More........

New Zealand:

Maori Community Signs Geothermal Deal in Far North NZ (News Release)

Far North lines company and electricity generator Top Energy has signed a co-operation and development agreement with the Ngawha Marae Trustee Komiti which both parties hope will lead to cultural and commercial development at and around the geothermal field near Kaikohe.

Top Energy is applying for consent to expand its geothermal power generation plant at Ngawha with two 25 MW units. The co-operation and development agreement addresses concerns the Komiti had about the project but also sets the foundations for a long-term relationship between the Parties.

Terms of the agreement are confidential but it recognizes that the hapu of Ngati Rangi has kaitiaki responsibilities in the Ngawha area and contains provision for a Komiti representative to attend meetings of the Peer Review Panel which advises the Northland Regional Council on compliance with resource consent conditions.

It also ensures that Top Energy will make information available to the Komiti relating to details of the power station’s geothermal resource use.

Read More........

New Zealand, Philippines:

NZ and Philippines Co-Operate in Geothermal Energy (Scoop)

GNS Science and Philippine geothermal company Energy Development Corporation (EDC) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to work together on geothermal energy developments in several countries.

The two organisations have worked closely under an existing MOU for the past three years with GNS Science providing specialist advice for geothermal developments in the Philippines and internationally.

The new MOU, signed this week in Manila during the visit of Science and Innovation Minister Steven Joyce, strengthens the current relationship and expands the scope of the work to include new research initiatives in geothermal energy.

Read More.......

USA:

Obama’s Climate Legacy: Renewables are Winners Under the Clean Power Plan (Morning Consult)

President Barack Obama unveiled the highly-anticipated Clean Power Plan Monday, and reactions ran a predictable gamut: the renewables industry lauded the rolling-out, while the power industry attacked it as anti-business and irrelevant to global warming.

The Clean Power Plan encourages the deployment of renewable power to help states meet their emissions targets. The final rule adds a “Clean Energy Incentive Program” that gives “a head start to wind and solar deployment” and prioritizes “the deployment of energy efficiency improvements in low-income communities that need it most early in the program,” according to a White House fact sheet.

The final rule also softened interim compliance deadlines, giving states more time to add zero-carbon electricity sources to the grid. More time also means less money, as the price of renewable energy continues to fall.

Read More........

El Salvador:

Geothermal Training Course Starts in El Salvador (NewEnergyEvents)

For the fifth year in a row, the National Energy Council, the University of El Salvador and the geothermal company LAGEO, the Nordic Development Fund (NDF) and the Inter-American Development Bank are hosting a five-month Geothermal Diploma Course in El Salvador.

The program will train ten professionals from El Salvador and 15 professionals from the Latin American region. The aim is to develop a bank of professionals who in turn can help develop the estimated 6000 MW of geothermal energy in Latin America, 200 MW of which is currently being explored in El Salvador.

The training, which is led by national and international exports and involves hands-on internships at different sites, covers a wide range of topics, including exploration geology, geochemistry and geophysics, drilling techniques for wells, geothermal plant planning, environmental and social management of projects.

More Information.......

USA:

Ormat Technologies' CEO Isaac Angel on Q2 2015 Results - Earnings Call Transcript (Seeking Alpha)

Projects are expected to add between 90 and 115 MW by the end of 2017

Ormat Technologies Inc. CEO Isaac Angel 

We are on track with the construction of Don Campbell Phase 2 in Nevada and are expecting it online towards the end of this year. In Olkaria, Kenya, we are on schedule with the construction of the 24 megawatt expansion. The fourth plant is expected to bring the complex generation capacity to 134 megawatts and the commercial operation is expected in the second half of 2016.

And with regards to Sarulla, Indonesia, engineering, procurement and construction are in progress and infrastructure work has been completed. The construction has successfully drilled part of the plant production wells and drilling of additional production and injection wells is underway. The first phase is expected to commence operation in the second half of 2016 and the remaining two phases are scheduled to commence within 18 months thereafter.

The market opportunity in the U.S. was further reinforced yesterday when President Obama announced the U.S. Environment Protection Agency’s final Clean Power Plan. The plan will catch U.S. carbon pollution from the power sector by 870 million tons or 32% below 2005 levels in 2030. While power plants are responsible for approximately one-third of all carbon dioxide emissions in the United States, there were no nation limits on carbon pollution until today.

USA:

Study Explores Groundwater and Geothermal Energy in Drought-Stricken Eastern Oregon and Neighboring States (USGS)

A new study now underway by the U.S. Geological Survey is exploring the groundwater resources and geothermal energy potential in drought-stricken areas of eastern Oregon and nearby parts of California, Idaho and Nevada. Volcanoes are associated with vast amounts of geothermal energy and lava-flows form many of the Pacific Northwest’s most important aquifers, potentially the only reliable source of high-quality water during periods of drought.

“The research encompasses large areas that have been under drought conditions for several years and data acquired by the study will aid water managers in their efforts to meet the needs of water users in these areas,” said GRC Member Erick Burns, USGS scientist and project chief for this study. GRC Member Jonathan Glen is responsible for the geothermal energy aspect of the study.

The study, being conducted in cooperation with the Oregon Water Resources Department, the Idaho Department of Water Resources and the California Department of Water Resources, is assessing the groundwater resources and geothermal energy potential within parts of the Northwest Volcanic Province. This region of the inland Pacific Northwest has been heavily influenced by landscape-shaping volcanic eruptions over the past 17 million years.

The first study results, summarizing estimates of groundwater quantity by sub-region, are expected for publication near the end of 2016.

To learn more about the study, please visit the Joint Groundwater and Energy Study website.

Read More.........

Science & Technology:

Benefits Of Geothermal Power Outweigh The Risks (OilPrice.com)

The debate over geothermal energy has generally been a quiet one. With just 13 gigawatts (GW) of global installed capacity, it is considered by some to be a relatively non-controversial (or even irrelevant) energy issue.

Geothermal energy is not only the cheapest form of renewable power but also the most reliable. It is the only renewable energy source that can provide baseload power to the grid, complementing the intermittency of solar and wind.

The greenhouse gas emissions from geothermal are essentially negligible. A U.S. Department of Energy study estimated that the lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions from geothermal power plants were four times less than solar PV and six to 20 times less than natural gas.

Geothermal power plants are also more efficient in terms of land and water use. A geothermal plant requires an estimated 404 m2 per GWh. This is compared to 3642 m2 for coal, 1335 m2 for wind and 3237 m2 for solar PV.

However, as other Oilprice commentators have noted, a combination of policy, financing, and resource availability are likely to keep geothermal power on global energy sidelines in the coming decades.

Read More.......

New Zealand:

Contact Energy to Become Independent Company (Scoop.co.nz)

Major New Zealand geothermal energy producer Contact Energy will become an independently governed company for the first time since privatization in 1999 after cornerstone shareholder Origin Energy, based in Sydney, agreed to sell its 53.1 percent stake to "a broad range of Australian, New Zealand and international equity market" investors.

The transactions end Contact's 16 years under the effective control of a foreign-owned majority shareholder following the original sale of a 40 percent shareholding to Edison Mission Energy of California in 1999, in the first partial privatization of a state-owned electricity company. Contact will also seek a dual-listing on the Australian Stock Exchange, which it abandoned in the mid-2000s.

Contact Energy runs the 166 MW Te Mihi, the 132 MW Wairakei, the 38 MW Poihipi, the 28 MW Te Huka and the 65 MW Ohaaki geothermal power stations.

Read More........

USA:

Ormat Technologies Reports 2015 Second Quarter Results (Nasdaq)

Total Revenues increase 10.1% to $140.5 million

Isaac Angel, chief executive officer of Ormat, stated, "We essentially matched last year's revenue in our Electricity segment, mainly due to the McGinness Hills complex performance, overcoming lower oil and natural gas prices, as well as reduced generation at Puna due to last summer's hurricane, which impacted our revenue in this segment."

"We remain confident in the multi-year plan we outlined at our analyst day in March," continued Mr. Angel. "We are focused on expanding our geographic reach and broadening our technology offering with a vision to position Ormat as a leading provider of renewable energy. We remain excited about the growing number of opportunities before us and believe the tailwinds expected from the potential PTC extension and other regulatory initiatives in the regions we are targeting, will complement our efforts."

Ormat, a GRC Member company, will be exhibiting at the GRC Annual Meeting & GEA Geothermal Energy Expo, September 20-23 at the Peppermill Resort Spa Casino, Reno, Nevada, USA.

Read More.......

USA:

President Obama Announces Historic Carbon Pollution Standards for Power Plants (The White House)


Today at the White House, President Obama and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Gina McCarthy released the final Clean Power Plan, a historic step in the Obama Administration’s fight against climate change.

The Clean Power Plan establishes the first-ever national standards to limit carbon pollution from power plants. We already set limits that protect public health by reducing soot and other toxic emissions, but until now, existing power plants, the largest source of carbon emissions in the United States, could release as much carbon pollution as they wanted.

The final Clean Power Plan sets flexible and achievable standards to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 32 percent from 2005 levels by 2030, 9 percent more ambitious than the proposal.

Read More........

Australia:

Perth Pools a Hot-Spot for Clean Geothermal Energy (Science Network Western Australia)

100 per cent success rate of Perth’s direct-use geothermal projects to date

Hot water piped from the Yarragadee aquifer—located beneath the Swan Coastal Plain—has been providing geothermal energy to Perth pools, schools and leisure centers since 1997, and the industry’s future looks bright for the Western Australian city.

CSIRO Energy Flagship researcher Dr Ludovic Ricard says the success of Perth’s early projects—geothermally heated pools at the Bicton Baths and Christ Church Grammar School—has paved the way for bigger, more ambitious projects.

This includes pools at Hale and St Hilda’s schools, Challenge Stadium and the Claremont, Craigie, Canning and Beatty Park leisure centers.

These projects all work by pumping hot water from the aquifer to the surface, then circulating the water through a heat exchanger, where heat is passively transferred from the aquifer water to the pool water. The cooled aquifer water is then reinjected.

Read More........

New Zealand:

Demand for NZ Company’s Expertise in Geothermal Energy (Scoop)

With Japan’s demand for geothermal energy continuing to grow Auckland company International Earth Sciences (IESE) is looking to take advantage of the burgeoning market.

It follows last month’s announcement by the New Zealand government that the Crown research institute GNS Science was signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Japan Oil, Gas and Metals National Corporation (JOGMEC).

The agreement will be the basis for greater cooperation between the two countries in geothermal energy.

IESE chief executive Hylton White says its an important step for the New Zealand industry. “The MOU signed between GNS Science and JOGMEC should provide private sector companies like ourselves with further access to the Japanese geothermal industry and we look forward to working with them going forward on opportunities like this.”

Read More.......

New Zealand:

Maori Trust Watches over Geothermal Station Repair (Stuff)

Ngahihi o te ra Bidois, trustee for Tauhara North No. 2 Trust, grins widely.

No, it's not a giant pepper shaker or an overpriced piece of public art.  It is a $7 million turbine rotor used to generate power from steam. The rotor was installed at Mighty River Power's Nga Awa Purua geothermal power station last week during its annual shutdown.

Geothermal operations manager Paul Ware said the rotor was part of the largest single shaft geothermal triple-flash turbine in the world. "The triple-flash means it uses three different steam pressures to drive the turbine."

He said during a routine inspection of the Taupo power station in October 2013, a fault in the rotor was identified. Temporary repairs enabled the power plant to remain in operation, albeit at only 95 per cent production. The replacement rotor was built by Fuji Electric in Kawasaki, Japan, and will bring the station back up to full production.

Trustees of Tauhara North No 2 Trust visited the station on Thursday to say a karakia [prayer] to bless the 62 tonne rotor. The plant is 35 per cent owned by the Maori trust and 65 per cent is owned by Mighty River Power.

Read More.......

USA:

Opinion: Creating Western Regional Energy Market Could Help State Meet Climate Goals (Sacramento Bee)

Carl Zichella, Director of Western
Transmission, Energy Program,
Natural Resources Defense Council

In the Western U.S. a major change in how the electrical system is operated is underway. It is driven by economics, environmental policy, and system reliability concerns. This change, from a balkanized, inefficiently operated grid to a coordinated, consolidated grid may just be the key to our renewable energy future.

We cannot reach our ambitious goals without a more coordinated grid. Years of research on deep penetrations of renewable energy (RE) into the region and nation's electricity system agree that regional coordination, balancing area consolidation and related measures are essential elements for success.

Read More.......

Indonesia:

Opinion: Harnessing Geothermal Energy (Jakarta Post)

Geothermal could indeed become one of the best alternative sources of clean, renewable energy to diversify Indonesia’s energy portfolio

(Courtesy CIA.gov)

The government has asked British business leaders, who accompanied UK’s Prime Minister David Cameroon during his visit to Indonesia last week, to invest in geothermal power development in the country.

But not a single investor will be interested in this kind of renewable energy until the government resolves the problems of tariffs, purchasing-power agreements with the state electricity monopoly (PLN), the tendering process and the poor coordination between the ministries and state companies involved in this sector.

Geothermal, like hydrocarbon resources, is highly risky, requires huge upfront investment and has a gestation period of up to eight years from exploration to power generation. But unlike oil and gas mining contractors that can sell their oil or gas to domestic or international buyers, geothermal investors face monopsony (when an employer has market power in the labor market, sort of the employer equivalent of a monopoly) because geothermal steam cannot be exported but must be harnessed on site into power sold only to PLN through its grid.

Read More.......

USA:

President Obama to Announce Historic Carbon Pollution Standards for Power Plants (News Release)

Later on today (11 am PST), President Obama will release the final version of America's Clean Power Plan—the biggest, most important step we've ever taken to combat climate change.



The Clean Power Plan establishes the first-ever national standards to limit carbon pollution from power plants. We already set limits that protect public health by reducing soot and other toxic emissions, but until now, existing power plants, the largest source of carbon emissions in the United States, could release as much carbon pollution as they wanted.

The final Clean Power Plan sets flexible and achievable standards to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 32 percent from 2005 levels by 2030, 9 percent more ambitious than the proposal.

Read More.......

Indonesia:

GRC Announces Workshop Before Indonesian International Geothermal Convention & Exhibition (IIGCE 2015)

August 17 - 18, Golden Ballroom, Sultan Hotel, Jakarta, Indonesia

More information.......               Registration Form......

The Indonesia Geothermal Association (INAGA) in cooperation with the Geothermal Resources Council (GRC) will again conduct a special workshop before the Indonesian International Geothermal Convention & Exhibition (IIGCE 2015) meeting.

The topics are:

• “A Geothermal Conceptual Model & Well Targeting" 
• "A Geothermal Medium Enthalpy Management”.

The GRC Distinguished Speakers presenting are:

• Chun Chin, P.E., Senior Project Manager POWER Engineers Inc.
• Kevin Wallace, P.E., Senior Project Manager POWER Engineers Inc.
• Gene Suemnicht, CEO, Chief Geologist EGS Inc.

PLEASE REGISTER BY AUGUST 12 AT THE LATEST.

For more information, visit www.iigce.com

More Information.......               Registration Form......

For registration please email to registration@iigce.com or contact Rahma +62 899 7722 913

GRC Annual Meeting & GEA Expo:

50 Days to the 2015 GRC Annual Meeting & GEA Expo

A Preliminary Program is available to view online, or download and print-out if you wish.

There are two methods of completing the registration process......we recommend registering online...........

1. Download the Registration Form (PDF) to your desktop.

Fill-in, saving as you progress. Print out and mail to:

GRC Annual Meeting
P.O. Box 1350,
Davis, CA 95617-1350

You can also attach the Registration Form (PDF) to an email and send to Anh Lay at alay@geothermal.org

Note: Speakers and Exhibitors only have the option of completing the PDF Registration Form - They cannot register online using the link below.

OR

2. We Recommend Registering Online........... 

Register Online at: https://eseries.geothermal.org