USA: Department of State Gets Behind Global Geothermal Energy

U.S. Partnership With IRENA: Harnessing the Potential of Geothermal Energy (US Department of State)

Amos Hochstein, Special Envoy and Coordinator for International Energy Affairs at the U.S. Department of State

The United States’ new partnership with the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) is one way we and our partners in the Global Geothermal Alliance (GGA) are working to demonstrate our commitment to the global clean energy economy. The launch of this new partnership complements the efforts underway in Paris by forging action to increase the share of geothermal energy in the global energy mix through both geothermal power generation and direct use of geothermal heat.

Geothermal energy is a proven clean energy technology that provides stable and affordable electricity. Geothermal resources can also provide direct heating for domestic, commercial, and the industrial sectors. With geothermal resources now identified in nearly 90 countries, this resource has great potential to contribute to a cleaner energy future. We have only barely begun to harness this potential— to date, only 24 countries, including the United States, are producing geothermal electricity, leaving 94 percent of the estimated global geothermal power potential untapped.

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Climate Change: California Leads the World in Geothermal Energy

@CalEnergy @California_ISO Yesterday #Geothermal was the #1 #renewable #energy in #California https://t.co/3ggTJYKwUB #COP21

— Geothermal Resources (@GRC2001) December 10, 2015

Mexico: Construction Contract for 25 MW Los Azufres III, Phase II Project Awarded

CFE adjudica central geotérmica Los Azufres - CFE awards Los Azufres geothermal power contract (azteca noticias)

The Mexican Comision Federal de Electricidad (CFE) has awarded the 25 MW Los Azufres III, Phase II project to Spanish company TSK Electronica y Electricidad SA. It will have an average annual generation of 186.15 gigawatt-hours per year.

The project includes engineering, civil engineering, assembly and supply of main equipment and materials for the comprehensive construction of a geothermal power plant in Michoacan, whose estimated execution time is 30 months. TSK Electronica y Electricidad will use Fuji turbines.

The 50 MW Los Azufres III, Phase I was inaugurated in September.

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Germany, USA: Partnership Formed To Build Drilling Rigs

Schlumberger and Bauer Agree on Manufacturing Joint Venture (The Wall Street Transcript)

Joint venture to develop land drilling rigs and rig equipment including for geothermal industry

German company BAUER Maschinen GmbH, an affiliated company of BAUER AG, and Schlumberger today announced the signing of a joint venture agreement to manufacture land drilling rigs and associated products.

Bauer and Schlumberger have 51/49 ownership of the joint venture, respectively. Bauer is an industry leader in specialist foundation drilling equipment manufacturing and provides access to global rig manufacturing capabilities with facilities in Germany, US, China, Far East and Russia. Schlumberger is the world's leading provider of drilling technology, integrated project management and information solutions for customers in the oil and gas industry.

Through the joint venture, land drilling rigs and associated rig equipment for use in the oil, gas and geothermal sectors will be developed and manufactured for Schlumberger and other third parties.

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Iceland: Geothermal Energy is Promoted by Government Minister

The 'Little' Icelandic Example: Pursuing a Clean-Energy Agenda (Huffington Post)

 

Ragnheiður Elín Árnadóttir,
Minister of Industry and Commerce, Iceland

Ragnheiður Elín Árnadóttir, Minister of Industry and Commerce, Iceland

How can a small nation of just 330,000 people, located in the middle of the North Atlantic, be fully self-sufficient when it comes to energy for house heating? And not just independent -- but with 99% of it's energy production renewable.

Iceland is a volcanic island where volcanic eruptions occur on average about every four years. Our country is rich in glaciers and glacier rivers, which have, for more than 50 years, been harnessed for clean, sustainable electricity production. Iceland is alsorich in geothermal energy, which has for decades been utilized for house heating, as well as for electricity production. Utilizing these two resources provides for the impressive statistic outlined here above.

Geothermal energy is a domestic renewable-energy source and as such plays an important role in our energy security by reducing the need for us to import non-renewable energy.

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Kenya: Geothermal Supplies Over Half of all Energy

Kenya geothermal generation surges to 402 million KWh a month (Coastweek)

Geothermal's contribution to the national energy mix now stands at 51 percent

"Man Made Rainbow" by Sam Abraham.
Well flow test a Menengai, Kenya

Kenya’s geothermal power production has peaked at 402 million kilowatts per hour (KWh) a month.

The country produced 402.2 million KWh in October, up from 389 million KWh in September and 378 million KWh in August, latest data from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS).

It is the first time that the East African nation’s geothermal power production has crossed the 400 million KWh mark ever since it started to surge in December 2014 after the injection of additional 280 megawatts (MW) to the national grid.

Geothermal contribution to the national energy mix now stands at 51 percent, with hydro-power coming in second.

With the rise in geothermal power production, consumers are enjoying uninterrupted power supply and bidding goodbye to blackouts that characterized use of electricity years ago. Boosted by increased geothermal power generation, electricity supplier Kenya Power made its first tariff cut in June.

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USA, California: Geothermal Energy Will Benefit from Salton Sea Restoration

At Salton Sea, political pressure finally spurs progress (The Desert Sun)

The Imperial Irrigation District's Controversial Strategy Appears To Be Working

After decades of false starts and warnings of disaster, hope is on the horizon at the Salton Sea.

No, there's still no plan to return California's largest lake to its former glory. There's still little chance of keeping the lake from shrinking, or from polluting Southern California's air with toxic dust as vast swaths of bone-dry lakebed are exposed.

But a flurry of recent activity — arguably spurred by the Imperial Irrigation District's political brinkmanship — has convinced many Salton Sea advocates that California will finally make good on its promise to revitalize the dying lake.

Local officials, meanwhile, have coalesced around two concrete proposals: the Salton Sea Restoration and Renewable Energy Initiative, developed by the Imperial Irrigation District and Imperial County, and the Salton Sea Authority's so-called SSWIFT plan. Wilcox hopes to submit some combination of those plans to the governor's office by March 31, in response to a bill written by Assemblymember Eduardo Garcia, D-Coachella, which Brown signed into law earlier this year.

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USA, Nevada: The Stillwater Geothermal Solar Hybrid Energy Plant

Three Clean Technologies Used At One Energy Plant (Zayed Future Energy Prize)

Located in Fallon, Nevada, the Stillwater geothermal solar hybrid energy plant uses 33 MW of geothermal power and 26.4 MW of solar power. Ambient air is used for cooling, instead of water.

Steamed water was used in a separate process but it was not as efficient as was needed, so solar power was installed. In 2012, the 26 megawatts of PV solar power was added, followed by 2 more megawatts of concentrating solar power, not photovoltaics, in 2012.

The solar power portion of the plant complements the geothermal power element. The CSP part of the solar power is used to heat geothermal brine. The Stillwater plant is the only one in the world of its kind. Enel Green Power built the plant, which generates enough clean energy for about 15,000 homes.


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USA: Geothermal Energy in U.S. Grew 3.1% a Year in Last Decade

2014 Data Book Shows Increased Use Of Renewable Electricity (EIN News)

The 2014 Renewable Energy Data Book shows that U.S. renewable electricity grew to 15.5 percent of total installed capacity and 13.5 percent of total electricity generation. Published annually by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) on behalf of the Energy Department's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, the Data Book illustrates United States and global energy statistics, including renewable electricity generation, renewable energy development, clean energy investments, and technology-specific data and trends.

The 2014 Renewable Energy Data Book compiles recently available statistics for the 2014 calendar year. Key insights include:

• In 2014, U.S. renewable electricity grew to 15.5% of total installed capacity and 13.5% of total electricity generation. Installed renewable electricity capacity exceeded 179 gigawatts (GW) in 2014, generating 554 terawatt-hours (TWh). 
• In 2014, U.S. hydropower produced nearly half of total renewable electricity generation, wind produced 33%, biomass produced 12%, solar photovoltaics (PV) and concentrating solar power (CSP) produced 6%, and geothermal produced 3%.
• Installed global renewable electricity capacity continued to increase and represents 28.5% of total electricity capacity globally in 2014.
• At the end of 2014 Geothermal energy in the U.S. provided 3,789 MW of capacity and supplied 16,628 GWh.
• From 2004 to 2014 geothermal energy in the U.S. grew by a compound annual growth rate of 3.1% compared to 3.7% globally.

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France: Partnership Formed to Develop Deep Geothermal Energy Projects

Omnes Capital and Fonroche Géothermie sign a partnership agreement (News Release)

Paris based Omnes Capital and Fonroche Géothermie of Roquefort in southern France, have signed a partnership agreement concerning the development, construction and operation of deep geothermal energy generation projects in France.

Since 2010, Fonroche Géothermie has developed a fully integrated approach and ambitious industrial plans for developing geothermal energy projects in France. This strategy is supported by a team of specialists in geoscience, drilling and surface mining.

Having obtained seven exclusive operation permits in France, Fonroche Géothermie is planning to invest more than €400 million in the geothermal energy market between now and 2025, resulting in the creation of over 500 jobs.

Capenergie 3, Omnes Capital’s most recent renewable energy fund, is the first fund to benefit from the support of the “Juncker” European investment plan via the participation of the European Investment Bank. Its strategy consists of developing green energy generation capacity based on mature technologies in France and Europe in partnership with SMEs.

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Climate Change: Calpine Promoting Geothermal at COP21

Calpine's Thad Miller speaking @UNESCO #EarthToParis at #COP21 on The Geysers #geothermal water recharge project pic.twitter.com/zJm5vg6yc1

— Calpine COP21 (@CalpineCOP21) December 8, 2015

Tanzania: Toshiba to Help Develop Geothermal Energy

Toshiba Concludes Memorandum of Understanding with TGDC for Geothermal Power Generation Business in Tanzania (News Release)

Mr. Boniface S. Njombe and Mr.Fujita Toyoaki signed the MOU

Toshiba Corporation today announced that the company has concluded a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Tanzania Geothermal Development Company Limited (TGDC) for comprehensive collaboration in the geothermal power generation business. This is TGDC’s first MOU with a Japanese company. TGDC and Toshiba will collaborate to promote a geothermal power generation business and human resource development in Tanzania.

Tanzania has a plan to rapidly increase its total power generation capacity from the current 1,577 MW to 10,000 MW by 2025, raising expectations for geothermal generation.

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Africa: Brits and Yanks Team Up to Develop Geothermal Energy

Britain and US unite to power up Africa (StarAfrica.com)

MOU calls for developing regional geothermal energy

A landmark partnership between the UK and US will help millions of people across Africa get access to clean energy, UK International Development (DFID) Minister Nick Hurd and Associate Administrator of United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Eric Postel have announced.

The new partnership between the UK's Energy Africa campaign and the US's Power Africa initiative will leverage much-needed private investment, develop networks to share power across borders and harness geothermal resources to boost access to electricity across the continent.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two countries was signed at the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) and New Climate Economy event “Climate change in Africa: Financing low-carbon pathways for Development” at the COP21 UN climate change conference in Paris.

The new deal will harness the skills, expertise and investment power of the private sector to help improve energy access, boost economic growth and reduce poverty.

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USA: GEA Puts On International Geothermal Event in Washington DC

GEA Announces 2016 U.S. and International Geothermal Showcase (News Release)

17 March, 2016, Washington, DC, USA

The U.S. Geothermal Energy Association has announced the third U.S. and International Geothermal Showcase on March 17, 2016 at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center in Washington, DC. The 2016 International Geothermal Showcase will feature industry and governmental leaders from across the geothermal marketplace.

The 2016 U.S. and International Geothermal Showcase is presented with support from leading companies and organizations. Co-sponsors of the event include Power Engineers, the East African Geothermal Partnership, Dewhurst Group and the Geothermal Resource Group. Supporting organizations include the Geothermal Resource Council, US Trade and Development Agency, US Department of Energy Geothermal Technologies Office, US Energy Association, The World Bank, US Department of State, International Development Bank, US Agency for International Development, and the Overseas Private Investment Corporation.

More information.......

For questions regarding the program or opportunities for sponsorships, please contact Rani Chatrath at Rani@geo-energy.org.

New Zealand: Global Geothermal Group Continues to Grow

New Zealand joins Global Geothermal Alliance (Scoop)

New Zealand is the newest member of the Global Geothermal Alliance (GGA), Energy and Resources Minister Simon Bridges announced overnight in Paris.

The GGA is an initiative led by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) to increase geothermal electricity generation and the direct use of geothermal heat. The announcement of New Zealand’s membership of the GGA took place in Paris as part of the COP21 Climate Change Conference.

“Joining the Alliance will position New Zealand firms to benefit from geothermal projects and partnerships around the world,” Mr Bridges says.

Other members of the GGA include: Bolivia, Burundi, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Djibouti, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Fiji, France, Honduras, Iceland, Nicaragua, Kenya, the Philippines, the United States, Turkey, the Inter-American Development Bank and the World Bank.

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Mexico: French and Icelandic Companies to Jointly Develop Geothermal Projects

ENGIE and Reykjavik Geothermal cooperate in the field of geothermal energy in Mexico (News Release)

ENGIE, the French utility, through its wholly owned subsidiary Storengy and Reykjavik Geothermal, the Icelandic geothermal development company, will jointly study the development of geothermal projects in Mexico.

Following cooperation agreement between Iceland and French geothermal clusters signature in the presence of Ségolène Royal, French Ecology, Sustainable Development and Energy Minister and Ragnheiður Elín Árnadóttir, Icelandic Industry and Trade Minister, ENGIE and Reykjavik Geothermal have initiated cooperation to apply and develop geothermal exploration permits and concession in Mexico. Geothermal carbon-free energy is indeed Reykjavik Geothermal core business and an essential component of the energy transition in which ENGIE intends to be a key player.

The new Energy Reform initiated by Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto offers the possibility for the private sector to enter the power generation market. Today, geothermal energy represents 823 MW, or 1.3% of the country’s installed electrical capacity, but only 6.5% of total estimated geothermal potential (13.4 GW). The country projects it could utilize its high temperature resource potential to reach 4.5 GW in 2030.

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Climate Change: CO2 Emissions Could be Falling

COP21: Carbon emissions 'to stall or even decline' this year (BBC News)

Global emissions of carbon dioxide are likely to stall and even decline slightly this year, new data suggests. Researchers say it is the first time this has happened while the global economy has continued to grow.

The fall-off is due to reduced coal use in China, as well as faster uptake of renewables, the scientists involved in the assessment add. But they expect the stall to be temporary and for emissions to grow again as emerging economies develop.

According to the study, published in the journal Nature Climate Change and presented here at COP21 in Paris, emissions of carbon dioxide from fossil fuels and industry are likely to have fallen 0.6% in 2015.

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USA, California: Geothermal is #1 Renewable

Yesterday, Geothermal Energy Was the Number One Renewable in California

Geothermal energy in California supplies a steady 1,036 MW, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year

The weather here in northern California has been turning increasingly cloudy the last few weeks as winter nears. The days are getting shorter. A large high pressure system remains in place bringing calm conditions.

This affects electricity generation especially wind and solar. When the wind doesn't blow and the sun doesn't shine these renewable energy providers suffer.

The California Independent System Operator (CAISO) measures the output from renewable energy providers to the State grid. As you can see in the graph above it never got very windy in California yesterday. There was enough sun to energize solar panels for 10 hours. The weather isn't cooperating.

However, geothermal energy was still plugging away, supplying a constant supply of clean, dependable, renewable energy 24/7, 365 days a year.

In fact, yesterday in California, geothermal energy was the biggest provider of electricity to the CAISO grid, with almost 25,000 MWh. Solar energy (PV and thermal) peaked at noon and only supplied 24,200 MWh. Wind provided just 8,144 MWh.

Yesterday, geothermal energy was the number one renewable energy provider in the Golden State. This will continue to be the case if the weather continues to not cooperate. El Niño is coming........

USA, California: Imperial Irrigation District is Fighting for More Renewable Energy

On Salton Sea and energy, it's IID versus the world

The Imperial Irrigation District has a habit of picking big fights.

Imperial Irrigation District general manager Kevin Kelley
(Photo: Jay Calderon/The Desert Sun)

For a dozen years, the Imperial Valley water agency waited for lawmakers in faraway Sacramento to live up to their promise to fix the Salton Sea, which threatened public health and the impoverished region's economy as its shoreline retreated. But with no solution in sight, the district threatened last year to cut off water supplies to the Coachella Valley and San Diego County if the state didn't act.

Then this summer, the district sued the nonprofit corporation that manages most of California's electric grid, claiming the quasi-governmental agency had stifled clean energy development in the Imperial Valley and tried to "crush IID out of existence." If it succeeded, district officials warned, higher electricity prices would ensue for valley residents.

In both cases, district officials felt they had their backs against the wall. In both cases, they said, they had no choice but to take on powerful interests in the name of protecting the Imperial Valley.

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France: Ormat Tales Over 14.75 MW Geothermal Power Plant on Guadeloupe

Ormat to Acquire Geothermal Power Plant in the Island of Guadeloupe (News Release)

Adds 14.75 MW, with potential expansion to up to 45 MW of capacity Transaction to be immediately accretive to Ormat’s EPS

Ormat Technologies, Inc. announced today it has signed a binding Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to acquire, gradually, 85% of Geothermie Bouillante SA (GB) at a total company enterprise value of up to around €52 million (approximately $56 million USD, based on current foreign currency exchange rates). GB owns and operates a 14.75 MW geothermal power plant and owns two exploration licenses with a total additional potential capacity of up to 30 MW, all located in Guadeloupe Island, a French territory in the Caribbean.

The MOU was signed with the owner of GB, Sageos holding (Sageos), a fully owned subsidiary of Bureau de Recherches Géologiques et Minières (BRGM), the French geological survey. Upon closing, Ormat will hold approximately 80% of GB which will be increased to 85% within two years by capital investment agreed upon in the MOU.

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Climate Change: Global Geothermal Alliance Launches at COP21

36 countries launch world alliance for geothermal energy (News Release)

Click for PDF of News Release

Thirty-six countries gave the official start Monday to an initiative to promote geothermal energy in developing economies as a cleaner alternative to oil, gas and coal.

The Global Geothermal Alliance, launched on the sidelines of the COP21 UN climate talks in Le Bourget, aims at a sixfold increase in geothermal electricity production and a tripling of geothermal-derived heating by 2030.

At present, geothermal is growing modestly, at three to four percent per year, providing 12 gigawatts of electricity annually.

But this just a fraction of its overall potential of 100 gigawatts, according to the industry. Only 24 out of 90 countries with geothermal potential actually use the resource.

The alliance said its members will seek to overcome “political uncertainty” about geothermal and strengthen the industry’s skills base.

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Iceland: Geothermal Energy Has Saved Massive Amount of CO2 Emissions

National Energy Authority: Carbon dioxide savings using geothermal in Iceland instead of oil amounts to 140 million tons over a century (4-traders)

“Geothermal Sunsets” by Sigurdur William Brynjarsson, Hafnarfjordur, Iceland. The area around Nesjavallavirkjun geothermal plant in Iceland.

The National Energy Authority (Orkustofnun) of Iceland has evaluated the CO2 savings of using geothermal instead of oil from 1914 through 2014. The accumulated savings are 140 million tons by utilizing geothermal instead of using oil for heating and production of electricity as is widely done abroad. Two thirds of the CO2 savings are the contribution of the Icelandic district heating utilities for the past century.

Last year the annual savings amounted to 7.5 million tons of CO2, 57% for electrical production and 43% for heating, by geothermal utilization instead of oil. For comparison, last year, the total emissions of anthropogenic CO2 were 3.5 million tons. The emissions thus would have been a total of 12 million tons of CO2 if Iceland did not utilize geothermal instead of oil. Even though such calculations and required assumptions may seem surreal, this is still the reality facing many countries.

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Montserrat: EIA Reports on Impact of Geothermal Energy Project

Draft Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for Drilling of Third Geothermal Well Available for Public Review (MNI Alive)

The draft of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for the drilling of a third geothermal well is now available for public review.

The Public Works Department is encouraging interested stakeholders and residents to read the document online on the Government of Montserrat website. Comments can also be sent in to esales@caribsurf.com

Download a copy of the draft EIA..........

Read More........      Other Montserrat articles.........

New Zealand: Retired Geothermalist Now Spends His Time Crayfish Farming

Nuts about Koura (Radio New Zealand)

Fifteen years ago Jan and Roy Johnstone obtained resource consent to collect up to a thousand koura or freshwater crayfish from local ditches as starter stock and put them into ten swampy ponds on their property in South Otago’s Puerua Valley.

The koura, that are found in waterways throughout the South Island, can weigh up to 250 grammes and although it hasn’t been the commercial success Jan and Ray were hoping for, they do get to enjoy the fruits of their labour.

Roy is a retired geothermal scientist who has lived and worked in several countries. “My last job was working on a goldmine in Papua New Guinea which had a geothermal system associated with it, so not only were we exploiting the geothermal system to make electricity, but we were cooling it down so we could mine.”

Roy Johnstone worked as a Geothermal Scientist - Project Manager with Lihir Gold Limited from 2005-2008 and Senior Geothermal Scientist at Parsons Brinckerhoff NZ from 1993-2008.

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Australia: Another Aussie Company Exits Geothermal

Black Rock Mining cashes out non-core asset (Proactive Investors Australia)

Australian company Black Rock Mining, has completed the divestment of its remaining 28% share in Central European Geothermal Energy Private Company based in Budapest, for HUF50 million (Hungarian forint), which equates to about A$240,000.

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Mexico: Interview with David Alejandro Rocha Ruiz of Sener (In Spanish)

Geothermal News Report

The Geothermal News Report (GNR) is a weekly podcast wrapping up the top stories in the geothermal industry.

GNR interviews David Alejandro Rocha Ruiz from SENER (Mexico’s Ministry of Energy, Mexico) discussing the new regulations regarding geothermal development which begin in Mexico in 2016, generation gap, and contact information for Mexican geothermal investors. Recorded September 2015 at the GRC Annual Meeting & GEA Expo in Reno, Nevada.



(AUDIO 10:50 Minutes)

New Zealand: Top Energy Scholarship Awarded to Geothermal Engineer

Geothermal engineer awarded Todd postgraduate energy scholarship (Universities New Zealand - Te Pōkai Tara)

Katie McLean

Katie McLean a geothermal reservoir engineer from Taupo has been awarded the prestigious 2016 Todd Foundation Postgraduate Scholarship in Energy Research.

The scholarship, which recognizes the work of Sir Bryan Todd, supports students undertaking doctoral energy research which has relevance and value to New Zealand.  Sir Bryan played a major role in the creation of the Todd Foundation and was instrumental in the development of the New Zealand oil and gas industry.

Katie is currently completing a Master of Engineering in geothermal well testing in the Department of Engineering Science at the University of Auckland, on a part-time basis.  She is employed as a geothermal reservoir engineer for Contact Energy in Taupo and cares for her two year old daughter.

The scholarship will enable Katie to extend her project into a PhD (doctorate) commencing in February next year.  She will receive $50K over four years.

Her research aims to improve methods of well testing specifically for geothermal wells, with a particular focus on pressure transient analysis.

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USA, Idaho: GRC Member Leads Snake River Geothermal Consortium FORGE Bid

Idaho Vying To Be Nation’s Geothermal Research Hot Spot (INL)

GRC member Rob Podgorney (left) out in the field

GRC member Rob Podgorney is not making any secret of his ambition. A sign on his door at the Center for Advanced Energy Studies reads, “How are you going to change the world?”

As the geothermal energy chief of Idaho National Laboratory’s Energy Systems and Technologies Division, Podgorney believes there is a massive amount of energy to be tapped roughly two miles beneath Idaho’s Snake River Plain. He leads the Snake River Geothermal Consortium, one of five groups pursuing the development of Enhanced Geothermal Systems for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.

Put simply, what the consortium seeks to do is pump water into the rock about 8,000 to 12,000 feet deep, fracture the rock and capture heat, then bring heated, pressurized water back to the surface to generate energy. Phase 1 studies for the Frontier Observatory for Research in Geothermal Energy (FORGE) are underway, thanks to $400,000 that DOE awarded to INL in April. Podgorney believes the consortium has a good chance of making the cut and being one of three participants selected for Phase 2, which involves up to $29 million in funding.

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Europe: Nominations Open for Geothermal Innovation Award

The European Geothermal Innovation Award (EGEC)

The European Geothermal Innovation Award is given to companies which have made an outstanding contribution towards the field of geothermal energy in the form of innovative products, scientific research or project initiatives, announced the European Geothermal Energy Council (EGEC).

A jury of five assesses submissions on grounds of originality, innovation, reliability, reduction of emissions and improvements in energy output.

Endorsed nominations and the award winner will be recognized for their outstanding work and impact on a growing and dynamic industry. The award will be an opportunity for industry peers to acknowledge excellence, and for the most exciting ideas to be widely publicized.

• 9th November - Nominations Open
• 31st December - Closing date for nominations
• Mid-January 2016 - Five shortlisted candidates will be announced as ‘endorsed nominations’
• 25 February 2016 - Overall winner announced during the award ceremony at GeoTHERM Offenburg

More Information........

Indonesia: 110 MW Geothermal Project Offered in South Sumatra

Government Auctions 110 MW Lake Ranau Geothermal Block (Berita Satu)

The Indonesian government has re-opened a tender to develop 110 megawatts (MW) of potential geothermal capacity near Lake Ranau on the border of South Sumatra and Lampung.

Geothermal Director of the Directorate General of Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation (EBTKE), Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) Saifulhak Yunus said that the Ranau Lake auction block has been on offer since the end of November.

The Lake Ranau geothermal working area is ​​8,561 hectares with an estimated reservoir temperature of 200 degrees Celsius. Reserves of 210 MW are possible but only 55 MW are slated for initial development at a benchmark price of US $ 14.6 cents per kilowatt hour (kWh). The project is targeted to come on stream in 2022.

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USA, Colorado: Interest In Geothermal Heating Up

Company prepares to explore near Waunita (Gunnison Country Times)

The potential for geothermal development in the vicinity of Waunita Hot Springs east of Gunnison, Colorado is nothing new. Interest in tapping the resource for power generation extends back more than five decades. Most recently, public attention turned to the area about six year ago when two large swaths of federal lands were nominated for geothermal exploration. 

In September 2014, the BLM completed an environmental assessment for the nominated leases and issued a Finding of No Significant Impact.

The BLM concluded, “A long-lived surface expression (Waunita Hot Springs), shallow heat source (tertiary igneous activity related to Tomichi Dome), proximity to transportation and electrical corridors and encouraging data from early work all suggest the area to be an ideal candidate for further research and possibly exploration and development of the geothermal resource.”

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USA, Texas: Geothermal Conference Reaches Out to the Oil & Gas Industry

Geothermal Energy in Oil and Gas Fields - Conference & Workshop (SMU)

April 25-26, 2016 SMU Campus, Dallas, Texas, USA

The Southern Methodist University (SMU) Geothermal Lab invites you to submit an abstract for our upcoming workshop and conference, Power Plays: Geothermal Energy in Oil and Gas Fields, April 25-26, 2016 on the SMU Campus in Dallas, Texas. The event includes:

• Half-day Workshop, April 25, 2016
• Evening Networking Reception and Poster Session, April 25, 2016
• Conference with oral presentations and panel discussions, April 26, 2016

The conference goal is to advance understanding of energy production, helping companies successfully produce clean energy while extending the life of an oil and gas field.

Topics include:

• Desalination
• Well Conversion
• Induced Seismicity
• Heat Extraction Technology
• Thermal Conductivity Analysis
• Enhanced Deep Earth Permeability 
• Low-temperature Mineral Recovery
• Onshore and Offshore Thermal Maturation
• Power Generation from Flare Gas and Well Water
• Sustainability of Heat Extraction from Decommissioned Petroleum Wells

We invite you to submit an abstract for the poster session or a 15 minute oral presentation. We are also accepting suggestions and abstracts for panel discussions. Submit your 1-2 page abstract to geothermal@smu.edu by February 5, 2016. 

Abstract guidelines.........            More Information........

Science & Technology: National Geographic Channel to Include Geothermal in Energy Innovation Episode

Energy on the Edge (National Geographic Channel)

Sunday, December 6 - 9/8 central

This weeks episode includes a segment on the Iceland Deep Drilling Project and a study on creating man-made lava.

An interactive website has a lot more information........

Reliance on fossil fuels is leading us into a global energy crisis. If we act now, developments in energy production could avert disaster and usher in a new era of clean, safe energy.

Science & Technology: Drilling Hopes to Reach Earth's Mantle by 2020

Scientists Plan To Drill Beneath The Earth's Crust For The First Time (IFL Science)

We have never, ever drilled into the mantle that lies just beneath Earth’s crust. This month, however, scientists are hoping to set the wheels in motion to change all that.

Right now a drilling ship called the JOIDES Resolution (Joint Oceanographic Institutions for Deep Earth Sampling) is on its way to the Atlantis Bank on the South West Indian Ridge of the Indian Ocean. Here, the ship will attempt to drill 1.5 kilometers (0.9 miles) into Earth’s crust in a campaign known as the Slow Spreading Ridge Moho project, or SloMo.

The mission, co-led by Professor Chris Macleod from Cardiff University in Wales, United Kingdom, and Henry Dick from the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution in Massachusetts, USA, is just the precursor to a much more grandiose task, though. In the 2020s, the team plans to use another drilling ship – the Chikyu – to become the first to ever break into Earth’s mantle.

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Ethiopia: Reykjavík Geothermal Awarded $1 Million for Exploration at Tulu-Moye Geothermal Prospect

AUC signs grant agreement with Reykjavik Geothermal (AUC)

The African Union Commission (AUC), through its’ Department of Infrastructure and Energy, and Reykjavik Geothermal ehf signed a Grant Contract for financial support - totaling USD1,314,000, to conduct surface study activities at the Reykjavík Geothermal ehf owned Tulu-Moye geothermal prospect located in Ethiopia.

The Grant Contract was signed by the AUC Commissioner for Infrastructure and Energy, Dr. Elham M. A. Ibrahim, and Mr. Jón Örn Jónsson, on behalf of Reykjavik Geothermal ehf, at the AUC headquarters.

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Science & Technology: New Process Uses High Voltage for Deep Geothermal Drilling

Drilling like lightning (IDW)

95% of the geothermal water resources in Germany are situated in crystalline rock. Existing drilling methods, however, are only able to advance slowly though this hard rock and the drill bits wear out quickly. The BINE Projektinfo brochure “Electric impulses fragment hard rock” (13/2015) presents an alternative drilling procedure. Here, a high-voltage impulse fragments the rock. This method causes little wear to the drill bits and enables up to 30% lower drilling costs.

When drilling with the electric impulse process (EIP), two electrodes are positioned below ground on the rock layer. Through them, 400-kV impulses are shot into the rock. In the impulse’s breakdown channel, the pressure and temperature within the rock increase and the rock breaks up. The resulting drill cuttings are removed by a non-conductive drilling fluid. The EIP drill bit has been successfully tested on a test stand under wellbore-like conditions. The aim of the ongoing follow-up project is to develop a complete drilling system and to test it in a real borehole.

Scientists at Dresden University of Technology are developing the EIP drilling system in collaboration with industrial partners. Drilling work can account for up to 90% of the investment costs in geothermal projects. Each technical improvement and cost reduction in the drilling process therefore brings new geological heat reservoirs within economic reach.

More information about the BINE Projektinfo can be found in the brochure “Electric impulses fragment hard rock”

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Climate Change: Geothermal Energy has Advantages in Greenhouse Gas Mitigation - Report

UN Report Led by F&ES Professor Takes Global View Of ‘Green Energy Choices’ (Yale F&ES)

Finding the right mix of green energy technologies for generating electricity will be crucial in reducing the global impact of pollution for the next generation, according to a United Nations report led by Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies (F&ES) Professor Edgar Hertwich.

Without such efforts by policy makers worldwide, the report warns, greenhouse gas emissions may double by the year 2050. The report is being released as leaders from nearly 200 countries gather in Paris to discuss a possible agreement on limiting carbon emissions.

“Green Energy Choices: The Benefits, Risks, and Trade-Offs of Low-Carbon Technologies for Electricity Production,” is a comprehensive comparison of the greenhouse gas mitigation potential for a number of alternative energy methods — including wind, solar, geothermal, and hydro. The International Resource Panel produced the report for the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).

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Climate Change: Global Geothermal Alliance will Formally Launch On December 7, Energy Day at COP21

Harnessing The Earth’s Heat For Climate Action (IRENA)

Tapping into the earth’s heat to produce geothermal energy offers the world enormous benefits. Proven resources exist in nearly 90 countries, but 90% of it still remains underground. For this reason, IRENA hosted a high-level workshop during COP21 to discuss the promise of this promising source of renewable energy, and ways of overcoming the barriers which hold it back.

On December 7, Energy Day at COP21, the Global Geothermal Alliance (GGA) will formally launch. The GGA will address investment challenges and help create the conditions for a rapid expansion of this key renewable resource. Its aim will be to break through existing barriers and achieve a 500% increase in global installed capacity for geothermal power generation, and a 200% increase in geothermal heating by 2030.

In development for two years, the GGA has attracted more than 40 countries and institutional partners. Its ambition will be nothing short of ensuring hundreds of millions of people are able to benefit from this clean and reliable source of renewable energy.

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USA: GTO Funding Opportunity to Recover Critical Materials from Geothermal Brine

EERE Announces Up to $4 Million for Critical Materials Recovery from Geothermal Fluids (EERE/GTO)

Critical materials like rare-earth elements and lithium play a vital role in many clean-energy technologies, including solar panels, wind turbines, electric vehicles, and energy-saving lighting. The Energy Department is pursuing a range of research and development efforts to secure and diversify the supply of critical materials, identify substitute materials, and develop better ways to recycle these materials.  One exciting area of this research is examining how to recover critical materials from fluids or “brine” produced from the Earth’s subsurface by geothermal and other energy or mining projects.

The United States imports many critical materials we need to expand our clean energy economy. Some of them may be found in the fluids produced by geothermal power operations or prospective geothermal projects. To explore this potential, today our Geothermal Technologies Office released a funding opportunity announcement titled “Mineral Recovery Phase II: Geothermal Concepts and Approaches to Validate Extraction Technologies.” The Department will provide up to $4 million for approximately three research projects to assess the occurrence of rare earths and other valuable materials dissolved in geothermal or other high-temperature fluids and validate methods for extracting them.

• Concept Paper Submission Deadline: 1/6/2016 5:00 PM ET
• Full Application Submission Deadline: 2/29/2016 5:00 PM ET

A webinar for this FOA will be held on Tuesday, December 8, 2015 at 2:00 PM MST. Click the link below to register.

https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/4894436799571452417

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Free Excerpt from the GRC Bulletin - the Premier Geothermal Energy Magazine

The Latest News from the Leading Geothermal Energy Magazine (GRC)

A free article from the GRC Bulletin - Volume 44, No. 6 - November/December 2015

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 provided 3 pages from the latest issue for free. However, the full issue is 52 pages!

In this issue, there is a report on the 39th GRC Annual Meeting & GEA Expo, including a report on the Opening Session, the Annual Charity Golf Tournament and the GRC Fieldtrip to Mammoth Lakes, and 15 pages of geothermal news from around the world.

Join the GRC or subscribe to get the complete issue.

France: Minister Voices Support for Global Geothermal Alliance

Ségolène Royal supports the global geothermal alliance to accelerate the transition towards a low carbon economy (Ministry for Ecology, Sustainable Development and Energy)

"Geothermal energy is not developed enough, whereas it is one of the concrete and accessible solutions that can be implemented right now to enter a low-carbon economy."

 Ségolène Royal, the Minister for Ecology,
Sustainable Development and Energy

This morning, representatives from Iceland and the Comoros, as well as the Director-General of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) attended a high-level meeting on the development of geothermal energy.

As a member of the Global Geothermal Alliance, France supports this initiative. Ségolène Royal, the Minister for Ecology, Sustainable Development and Energy, says that geothermal energy is not developed enough, whereas it is one of the concrete and accessible solutions that can be implemented right now to enter a low-carbon economy.

In order to fast-track the development of geothermal energy, Ségolène Royal support the following actions:

• Define clear objectives and the right regulatory framework. The countries of the Global Geothermal Alliance agreed on ambitious targets for 2030 in order to multiply by 5 the supply of electricity and multiply by 2 the production of heat from geothermal power.
• Mobilize funding. This particularly involves developing innovative solutions to manage the geological risk. France is a leader in this field with the creation of the “GEODEEP” guarantee fund in 2015.
• Develop technological cooperation. On this occasion, the Minister welcomed the cooperation agreements that were signed recently between the French and the Icelandic business clusters. She pointed to the experience of France in supplying heating networks using geothermal resources, especially in the Paris region where about 200,000 households are heated geothermally.

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USA, Nevada: Ormat Promises to Fight Climate Change

Ormat Joins the American Business Act on Climate Pledge (News Release)

Ormat Technologies, Inc. announced today it has joined the American Business Act on Climate Pledge, joining more than 140 companies from across the American economy that are standing with the Obama Administration to demonstrate an ongoing commitment to climate action and to voice support for a strong outcome to the COP21 Paris climate negotiations. 

We pledge to:

• Continue to develop and build clean, renewable, and reliable generation facilities through sound investment and long term operation.
• Continue to implement clean technologies, conserve water and reduce carbon footprint at our manufacturing facilities
• Commercialize and deploy new clean technologies, such as flexible geothermal generation and energy storage, to allow for the further reduction of fossil-fuel based generation.
• Produce over 4.5 million MWh of clean and renewable energy annually, offsetting over 4.7 million tons of CO2 from coal fired power plants.
• Promote the importance of renewable energy and climate change through education at the local, state, and federal levels by sharing our experiences and opening our doors for those who wish to understand what we do as a clean energy company

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Nicaragua: Volcano Explodes Near Momotombo Geothermal Power Plant

Momotombo volcano (Nicaragua): small explosive eruptions this morning, first eruption in 110 years (Volcano Discovery)

A series of at least 4 small explosions occurred at the volcano this morning, at 07:49, 08:17, 08:42, and 08:55 local time. The eruptions, in particular the last and largest one, produced steam and ash plumes that rose up to approx. 1 km from the summit.

Light ash fall was observed in the community of El Papalonal and near the 22 MW Momotombo geothermal plant to the SW of the volcano owned by Empresa Nicaraguense de Electricidad (ENEL).



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Italy: A Geothermal Hike

“Le Biancane” Nature Park in Monterotondo Marittimo (Around Tuscany)

“Le Biancane” Nature Park, south of Larderello in Tuscany, represents one of the many sites where geothermal activity have heavily modified the landscape. Here energy lies in the entrails of the earth and vapour emissions rise from the ground. Because of these geological and climatic characteristics, an atypical flora has developed in this area.

The name biancane comes from the white colour of the rocks that characterizes the entire landscape: the hydrogen sulphide emissions, in fact, erupt from geysers in the ground and turn the limestone into gypsum. The steam that comes out of the fractures of the rocks has a temperature of about 100°C and is constituted for 95% by water vapour; the hydrogen sulphide is the responsible for the characteristic smell of rotten eggs.

The town of Monterotondo Marittimo and Enel Green Power have decided to enhance this natural heritage by creating a path between the geothermal activity and the “historical-industrial” area exploited by man.

Visitors can explore the area on a short designated trail that begins a few metres from the town centre. The park can be visited free of charge all year-round and guided visits are organized throughout the year. For more info head to the tourist centre in Via del Poggiarello or visit the park’s official website (in Italian).

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Indonesia: New Geothermal Legislation By the End of the Month

Regulation on Geothermal Energy Imminent (English Hukumonline)

(Courtesy CIA.gov)

Rida Mulyana, Director General of Energy Conservation and Renewable Energy at the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources stated that Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Regulation No. 17 of 2014 on the application of geothermal rates based on a feed in tariff scheme was one of the best in the world.

In addition to issuing the tariff-scheme regulation, Mr. Mulyana also promised to complete the drafting of a government regulation (Rancangan Peraturan Pemerintah – “RPP”) relating to geothermal energy as soon as possible. The new regulation, which is based on Law No. 21 of 2014 on Geothermal Energy, has now entered its final drafting phase.

Mr. Mulyana is positive that the RPP on Geothermal Energy will be ratified by the end of this year and is well aware that the new regulation has been keenly awaited by many parties. Indeed, not only businessmen but also local governments, who stand to benefit from any new investments, are awaiting the introduction of the new RPP.

“The new Geothermal Law has been drafted with reference to two of the three currently existing RPP, including the RPP on bonus production, and the new law is highly anticipated by its future beneficiaries. Hopefully, it will become a PP before the end of 2015,” Mr. Mulyana added.

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Kenya: Olkaria Geothermal Power Project Wins International Award

Olkaria Geothermal Expansion Project, Rift Valley Province, Kenya (POWER magazine)

POWER magazine today officially announced winners of its 2015 Top Plants in the renewable generation category. The Olkaria Geothermal Expansion Project was one of the six winners.

Olkaria I  (Courtesy: Toshiba Corp.)

The Olkaria geothermal field has since been divided into seven portions for ease of development and management. Olkaria I now hosts a KenGen power plant with three 15 MW turbogenerators that were commissioned between 1981 and 1985. That field was expanded this February by 140 MW with the addition of two new 70 MW units. KenGen says the increase of steam in the field was due to drilling wells of 3,000 m, deeper than earlier wells that were drilled to between 900 m and 2,200 m.

Olkaria II hosts a 2003-commissioned 70 MW power plant and a 2010-commissioned 35 MW unit (for a total installed capacity of 105 MW). Olkaria III hosts a 110 MW power plant owned by OrPower 4, operating Organic Rankine Cycle binary plant turbines. At Olkaria IV, where a potential of more than 350 MW has been shown as a result of drilling over the last decade, another 140 MW power plant was completed and commissioned in 2014.

Plans under way include building a sixth 70 MW unit at Olkaria I, the two-unit, 140 MW Olkaria V project, and the two-unit, 140 MW Olkaria VI project.

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USA, Oregon: Bankrupt Geothermal Energy Company Blames Cheap Natural Gas

Klamath Basin Geopower cites energy crash as bankruptcy cause (Herald and News)

A local geothermal company has credited a drop in energy prices as its reason for filing Chapter 7 bankruptcy last week.

GRC member Bill Honjas, president and CEO of Klamath Basin Geopower (KBG), said Monday the availability of cheap fossil fuels such as natural gas, hindered his company's ability to gather financing. The firm filed for bankruptcy Nov. 24 in federal court in Reno, Nev.

“Events just weren't in our favor,” said Honjas. “Mostly it was the crash in energy prices.”

Honjas said he remains optimistic about the future of geothermal electricity in the Klamath Basin and said, if the energy market should pick up again, he envisions investors supporting projects similar to KBG's.

“The Basin has a fantastic geothermal resource, and we've shown that,” he said. “We believe that, at some point, this resource will be developed after energy prices rebound.”

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Africa: New AU Renewable Energy Fund Plans 1500 MW Geothermal by 2020

African Union Introduces $20 Billion Renewable Energy Plan (Bloomberg)

The African Union (AU), an alliance of 54 countries, announced a plan to mobilize $20 billion to develop at least 10 gigawatts of renewable energy on the continent by the end of the decade.

The African Renewable Energy Initiative was announced Tuesday at the United Nations climate summit in Paris. It will be hosted by the Abidjan, Ivory Coast-based African Development Bank, which will also act as a trustee, according to Alex Rugamba, director of energy, environment and climate change at the AfDB.

“We have enormous natural resources for clean energy in Africa,” Akinwumi Adesina, president of the African Development Bank, said in an Oct. 25 interview. “We have the potential to deploy 11 terawatts of solar energy, 350 gigawatts of hydro, 110 gigawatts of wind and 15 gigawatts of geothermal.”

The initiative is likely to develop geothermal projects in East Africa’s Rift Valley, wind in North Africa such as in Egypt and hydropower across the continent, Rugamba said. It doesn’t have an established pipeline yet.

France pledged to give more than €2 billion ($2.1 billion) over the next four years to the African Renewable Energy Initiative, French President Francois Hollande said Tuesday. Germany says it is mobilizing €3 billion, also up until 2020.

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Turkey: 3 MW ORC Geothermal Power Plant to be Operational by Mid 2016

Turkish delight for Turboden (reNews)

Turboden, a Mitsubishi Heavy Industries company, has set up its Turkish arm in Ankara and completed the construction of its first Turkish-made turbine.

Turboden Turkey ORC Turbo Jeneratör Sanayi Anonim Sirketi delivered the 3 MW unit to Afjet on 24 November and will be installed in parallel with a 100 MW geothermal district heating project.

The plant will be fully operational by the end of second quarter 2016, generating electric power from a low enthalpy geothermal source.

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