Nicaragua: New Well at San Jacinto Geothermal Project to be Connected in Late October

Polaris Infrastructure Announces 2016 Second Quarter Results (News Release)

San Jacinto project (Courtesy Polaris Energy)

Toronto-based Polaris Infrastructure Inc.,  has reported its financial and operating results for the quarter ended June 30, 2016. Included is an update on operations at the San Jacinto project.

Drilling of the third and final new production well at the San Jacinto project, SJ 9-4, was completed on July 21, 2016, approximately one week ahead of schedule. As contemplated in the original drilling plan, a total loss of drilling fluids was experienced, indicating a zone of high permeability and the well was completed at a depth of 1,525 meters measured depth.

While it is too early to estimate incremental MW contribution, the well has reached over 260°C and was able to successfully flow on its own in a discharge test performed last week, creating optimism with respect to the extent of incremental power generation. We expect to have SJ 9-4 connected to the San Jacinto power plant in late October 2016.

Full News Release.........

Global: Geothermal Energy Photo Contest is Open for Entries

The Geothermal Resources Council 2016 Amateur Photo Contest

The deadline for submissions is September 16, 2016.

1st Place 2015: Drill Casings for New Geothermal Well by Cari Covell,
Reykjavik University - Iceland School of Energy, Reykjavik, Iceland

The Geothermal Resources Council (GRC) has announced this year’s Amateur Photo Contest. The purpose of the contest is to showcase quality photography featuring geothermal energy around the world.

The winners will be announced at the GRC Annual Member Meeting and Awards Luncheon, the climax to the 40th GRC Annual Meeting & GEA GEOEXPO+ being held in Sacramento, California, USA from October 23-26. The theme for this year’s meeting is “Geothermal Energy, Here and Now: Sustainable, Clean, Flexible”.

The first place winner will receive $150, second place - $100, and third place - $75. Honorable Mention photos will receive certificates. The award checks will be drawn on a US bank.

Photographs on any subject related to geothermal energy can be submitted such as geothermal energy production, EGS, Direct Use and geothermal heat pumps. These can include photos of well testing, drilling, operation of geothermal equipment, newly developed equipment, or plant operation, construction of a geothermal plant or plant site, and geological areas or surface manifestations (holding potential for geothermal exploration or development).

More information on the GRC Amateur Photo Contest, including a submission form, can be found on the GRC website. The deadline for submissions is September 16, 2016.

GRC Photo Contest Submission Form......

USA, Idaho: US Geothermal Has Three Drilling Rigs Active to Add 96 MW

US Geothermal's CEO Dennis Gilles on Q2 2016 Results - Earnings Call Transcript (Seeking Alpha)

In these past few months, we've begun drilling and we have three drill rigs operating to advance some of our 96 megawatts of advanced development projects. We are also pleased to have been selected by the United States Department of Energy for a $1.5 million grant to advance our resource investigation for two of our advanced development projects, our Crescent Valley and our San Emidio2 projects.

Read More.........

Indonesia: PT PLN (Persero) Wants to Buy In to Pertamina Geothermal Energy

PLN Eyeing 50% Stake in Pertamina Geothermal (Tempo.co)

State-owned power company PT PLN (Persero) has expressed interest in acquiring 50-percent stake in Pertamina Geothermal Energy (PGE). PLN president director Sofyan Basir said the plan has been approved by the Ministry of State-Owned Enterprises.

"We have met with the SOE Minister and the president director of Pertamina," he said yesterday.

According to Sofyan, though a joint-shareholding together with Pertamina, PGE can be more expansive in the geothermal sector, which is in line with the government's target to develop geothermal energy to provide 500 MW of electricity each year.

Sofyan said the acquisition of PGE will also cut the cost for supplying geothermal energy, because PLN will no longer have to make power purchase agreements with PGE.

Read More.........

Indonesia: Potential 29,000 MW Geothermal Energy Could be Utilized

Govt ready to support geothermal power (The Jakarta Post)

(Courtesy CIA.gov)

The Indonesian government is seeking to maximize the utilization of geothermal energy, which currently accounts for only 5 percent of the country’s energy generation.

The potential for geothermal energy currently amounts to around 29,000 megawatts (MW), of which only 1,494 MW is actually utilized.

The government is preparing a number of policies to encourage and boost geothermal exploration, to reach a target of 7,156 MW from renewable energy, about 23 percent of the total potential. An investment of up to US$5 million per megawatt is needed to achieve this target.

Read More........

Indonesia: Geothermal Feed-in Tariff Mechanism Being Prepared

Govt prepares feed-in tariff mechanism to boost geothermal energy (The Jakarta Post)

(Courtesy CIA.gov)

The Indonesian government is preparing a feed-in tariff mechanism to assist geothermal developers in a bid to boost the development of the geothermal energy sector in the country, a minister has said.

The Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry's geothermal director Yunus Saefulhak said the feed-in tariff mechanism was better economically in facilitating geothermal developers as this new tariff regime adopted a fixed-price system. In a fixed-price system, energy suppliers do not have to negotiate with state-owned electricity firm PLN as the power-off taker.

He further said the feed-in tariff mechanism aimed to assist power plants with capacities ranging between 5 to 220 Megawatts (MW) and accommodate tariff variables.

Yunus said the ministry, along with a consortium of researchers consisting of Arup, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and geothermal engineers, was currently studying the feed-in tariff scheme.

Read More.......

USA, California: Imperial Irrigation District Wins a Round in Battle for more Geothermal Energy Grid Connection

Judge allows lawsuit over power grid access to proceed (The San Diego Union-Tribune)

A federal judge in San Diego has declined to throw out a lawsuit alleging that the state power grid operator wrongly denied the Imperial Irrigation District (IID) access to transmission lines.

In a ruling Monday, U.S. District Court Judge Anthony J. Battaglia said attorneys for the Imperial County water and power district convinced him that the California Independent System Operator, or CAISO, may have abused its authority.

“The Court finds IID has sufficiently alleged monopolistic conduct that threatens competition,” he wrote. “Specifically, by depriving IID of its expanded (capacity), generators of renewable energy … who cannot interconnect directly with the CAISO grid cannot compete with other generators for the business of load serving entities located in or through the CAISO grid.”

Imperial County is home to one of the largest reservoirs of geothermal energy in the world. If tapped more fully, California could meet or exceed its mandate to generate at least half of all electricity from renewable sources by 2030, Kelley said.

Read More........

New Zealand: Geothermalist Rosalind Archer is ‘Energy Engineer of the Year’

Professor Rosalind Archer Wins Major Award

Rosalind Archer, Professor / Department Head, University of Auckland has won a major award in New Zealand.

Professor Archer has research interests in reservoir engineering in geothermal and petroleum reservoirs.  Rosalind holds the Mighty River Power Chair in Geothermal Reservoir Engineering.

‘Energy Engineer of the Year’ goes to Rosalind Archer @rozKiwi for contributions to energy research #EnergyAwardsNZ pic.twitter.com/HwzKTc9oYq

— Deloitte New Zealand (@DeloitteNZ) August 10, 2016

USA: Congratulations to Carnegie Mellon University - Winner of Geothermal Design Challenge 2016

Congratulations to the Geothermal Design Challenge 2016 winning teams! (CAES)

Earlier this Spring, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Geothermal Technologies Office, in partnership with the Center for Advanced Energy Studies (CAES) and Idaho National Laboratory (INL) launched a competition for high school and university students to design an infographic that illustrates the value and potential of geothermal energy.

More than 100 teams from across the United States, comprised of 2-3 students each, submitted their infographics on March 1, and the top eleven were chosen in June from a committee of engineers, energy experts, and creative professionals.

Three teams chosen as official winners by The U.S. Dept. of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) will receive receive $2,500 each. The grand prize winner, Infinity and Below from Carnegie Mellon University, will receive a trip to the Geothermal Resource Council’s 40th Annual Meeting on Oct 23-26 in Sacramento, CA. to present their infographic.

• Grand Prize Winner - Infinity and Below
  Tiffany Lai, Susie Lee, Marisa Lu of Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA
  
• University 1st Place Winner - YalEnergy Rockstars
  Dana Patterson, Christopher Paolini, Daniel Shapiro of Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut.
  
• High School 1st Place Winner - Team Roosevelt
  Edward Belsoi, Rokhaya Niang, Hunter Whaples of Eleanor Roosevelt High School, Eastvale, CA

USA: Geothermal Energy Favors Well in Federal Energy Study

Levelized Cost and Levelized Avoided Cost of New Generation
Resources in the Annual Energy Outlook 2016 (EIA)

This paper presents average values of levelized costs for generating technologies entering service in 2018, 2022, and 2040 as represented in the National Energy Modeling System (NEMS) for the Annual Energy Outlook 2016 (AEO2016) Reference case.

As the best, least-cost resources are exploited, development will be forced into less favorable areas, potentially resulting in higher development costs, higher costs to access transmission, or access to lower-performing resources. Changes in the value of generation are a function of load growth.

However, renewables such as wind and solar that may show strong daily or seasonal generation patterns may see significant reductions in the value of their generation as these specific generation periods become more saturated with generation and new generation must compete with lower-cost options on the dispatch merit order.

Read the full paper........

New Zealand: Maori Tribes Celebrate Geothermal Energy Ownership

Indigenous Peoples Steaming Ahead (United Nations Social Development Network)

The nation of New Zealand was founded in 1840 when the Treaty of Waitangi was signed by indigenous Maori tribes and the British Government.

New Zealand is rich in opportunity for development of natural resources, including geothermal resources. In the 1990s a government-led drive to redress historic breaches by the Crown of the Treaty resulted in many native Maori tribes gaining greater control of their lands and other resources. 

However Tauhara North No.2 Trust chose another pathway and was formed privately by members of the Ngati Tahu Tribal Trust to manage their land, comprising 326 hectares of farmland overlying the Rotokawa Geothermal System.  

As well as farming, the Trust entered into a geothermal energy development with Mighty River Power Ltd (now Mercury Ltd), to build a power station on trust land.

Read More........

Indonesia: PT Pertamina Geothermal Energy (PGE) to Be Controlled by PLN (Persero)

PLN plans to acquire PGE to boost geothermal development (Jakarta Post)

State electricity company PLN (Persero) is set to acquire a stake in state energy giant Pertamina in PT Pertamina Geothermal Energy (PGE) as part of efforts to speed up geothermal power supply to the electricity firm.

Pertamina currently holds a 100 percent stake in PGE. Pertamina president director Dwi Soetjipto said the company was currently conducting due diligence on the acquisition, highlighting its willingness to sell some of its stake in PLN for the greater good of the nation.

It is expected that the acquisition will help accelerate the development of geothermal power plants in Indonesia.

Read More.......

Pakistan: "Nature has Gifted Pakistan with Enormous Renewable and Environment Friendly Energy Resources Such as .... Geothermal."

Dar presents bill to establish council of renewable energy (Daily Times)

(Courtesy CIA.gov)

A bill to provide Pakistan Council of Renewable Energy Technologies’ establishment was introduced in the National Assembly on Wednesday.

Finance Minister Ishaq Dar on behalf of Minister for Science and Technology Rana Tanveer Hussain introduced the Pakistan Council of Renewable Energy Technologies Bill, 2016 in the House.

The speaker referred the bill to the concerned Standing Committee for detailed deliberation. The Statements of Objects and Reasons of the bill say ‘nature has gifted Pakistan with enormous renewable and environment friendly energy resources such as solar, biomass, biogas, hydro, wind and geothermal.’

Read More........

Iceland: Drilling of 5,000 Meter Well at Reykjanes Geothermal Plant Will Commence this Month

Alterra Power Announces Results for the Quarter Ended June 30, 2016 (News Release)

Alterra Power Corp. has reported its financial and operating results for the three and six months ended June 30, 2016.

Highlights for the quarter and subsequent period include:

• Deep drilling project at HS Orka: The last major contract was signed for a 5,000 meter deep drilling program at the Reykjanes plant in Iceland. The rig has been deployed to site and drilling will commence in August.
• Distributions: The company received distributions during the quarter from equity investments of $3.6 million from Shannon and Blue Lagoon hf (plus a separate $0.3 million return of capital from Shannon).
• Adjusted EBITDA and revenue: Consolidated revenue increased by 2% to $13.8 million and net interest revenue increased by 5% to $18.5 million, respectively. 

Read More.......

Indonesia: "7,000 MW Geothermal by 2025 is Ambitious"

Innovations needed to achieve 7,000 MW geothermal power target: Association (The Jakarta Post)

(Courtesy CIA.gov)

The Indonesian Geothermal Association (INAGA) has said innovative breakthroughs are needed to speed up developments in the geothermal industry to achieve the country’s target of geothermal power plants producing 7,000 megawatts (MW) by 2025.

INAGA chairman Abadi Purnomo acknowledged that the 7,000 MW geothermal power plant target was quite ambitious because Indonesia’s current total geothermal capacity stood at only 1,493.5 MW. Hence, there was a shortfall of 5,500 MW, which must be obtained within 10 years, or 550 MW per year, he went on.

Read More.......

GRC Annual Meeting & GEA GEOEXPO+: Golf Tourney Registration Now Open

Register for Annual Charity Golf Tournament at Geothermal Resources Council Annual Meeting (News Release)

Popular networking event for the geothermal energy industry in Sacramento, California. 

Just before the start of the GRC Annual Meeting & GEA GEOEXPO+, the GRC Annual Charity Golf Tournament will take place October 23 at the William Land Golf Course just three miles from the conference site. Registration for the tournament is now open.

This year the proceeds from the tournament will go to the GRC Scholarship Fund. 

The William Land Golf Course is Sacramento’s oldest golf treasure. In 1911 William Land left $250,000 “to purchase a public park within a suitable distance of Sacramento to be used as a recreation spot for children and a pleasure ground for the poor.” William Land Park was established on its present site in the 1920’s and the golf course was built in 1924.

More details of the tournament can be found on the GRC website at www.geothermal.org. Download the GRC Annual Charity Golf Tournament Flyer and fill out a registration form which can be mailed or faxed to the GRC office. Online registration will open in the coming months.

USA, Idaho: Progress Report from U.S. Geothermal

U.S. Geothermal Inc. Reports First Six Months 2016 Results and Reaffirms 2016 Guidance (News Release)

U.S. Geothermal Inc. announced today its financial and operating results for the six months ending June 30, 2016, reaffirmed guidance for 2016, and highlighted notable achievements for the three months ending June 30, 2016.

Development Projects Update

• Received draft Generator Interconnection Agreement from Nevada Energy for the 10 MW San Emidio II expansion, increasing San Emidio interconnection allowed from 16 MW to 19.9 MW.
• Drilled second production leg on well RRG-2 at Raft River which could add up to 3 MW to project generation.
• Drilling started on production size well at El Ceibillo in Guatemala to test resource.
• Deepened two existing temperature gradient wells into observation wells for reservoir testing at San Emidio II encountering resource that is 40°F hotter than existing resource.
• Selected by the Department of Energy for a $1.5 million grant for Crescent Valley and San Emidio to advance the resource evaluation through identification and validation of new subsurface signals with planned drill testing of results.

“Our power plants and well fields continue to perform admirably. Excluding a forced outage at San Emidio and a production pump breakdown at Raft River, our generation would have been 3% greater than the same period last year” said Dennis Gilles, Chief Executive Officer. “Unfortunately our Net Income was also negatively impacted by onetime expenses associated with financial advisory and marketing services engaged to enhance our share valuation.” 

Read More........

GRC Annual Meeting and GEA GEOEXPO+ - Register Now

Register now for the geothermal event of the year

Don't miss out on the early bird discount and register for the largest annual geothermal conference in the world, the GRC Annual Meeting and GEA GEOEXPO+.

There are several ways to register for the GRC Annual Meeting:

Register Online (preferred method)*:

• Connect directly to our Registration Website
• Log on with your GRC Member ID and Password or create one if you are not in our database.
• Click on " Register Myself" 
• Select your registration options! 

Group Registrations:

• Contact Anh Lay by email: alay@geothermal.org or phone: (530) 758-2360 ext. 100 

Download the Registration Form, fill it out and email, fax, or mail it to us:
Registration Form (PDF) 

• Email your form to alay@geothermal.org
• Fax your form to: (530) 758-2839

*Please Note: For online registrations, you will need your login id and password or you can create one if you are not in our database. If you do not know your login id or password, please contact the GRC office by phone at (530) 758-2360 ext 100 or by email at alay@geothermal.org.

• Annual Meeting Preliminary Program
• Annual Meeting Registration Form

California: Plans for Expanded Western Imbalance Market Put On Hold

California Gov. Brown puts CAISO expansion on hold (Utility Dive)

California Gov. Jerry Brown has hit pause on his state's attempt to integrate PacifiCorp's operations into its markets and then possibly expand further, informing the governors of Utah, Wyoming, Idaho, Oregon, Washington that plans for a regional market is on hold for now, the Los Angeles Times reports.

It is not necessarily a lengthy delay however; Brown said in a letter to the other governors that he anticipates having a proposal for them to consider by January.

While there are benefits to a regional market, many have worried it could set California back from progress made on greenhouse gas emissions, and the state would also lose the total control over its markets it currently enjoys.

There will be a GRC Fieldtrip to the headquarters of CAISO from the GRC Annual Meeting & GEA Geothermal Energy Expo, October 23-26, Sacramento, California.

Read More........

Global: IRENA’s Strategy for Adding Geothermal Energy to Global Renewable Energy Atlas

Geothermal strategy for the Global Renewable Energy Atlas (IRENA)

The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) is working with the geothermal community (a network of institutes, experts and the private sector) to extend the services of the Global Atlas for Renewable Energy to cover geothermal energy.

This geothermal component of the Global Atlas is envisaged as: a tool to aid political discussions on the subject; an entry point for investors conducting preliminary search on prospective geothermal markets; and a tool to support potentially massive future efforts by the geothermal community to compare and harmonize assessment protocols and reporting codes.

IRENA’s strategy report explains the current spatial-data infrastructure of the Global Renewable Energy Atlas, the strategy for expanding this to cover geothermal energy, possible partnership structures, and the work plan foreseen for achieving the goal of a Global Atlas that includes a focus on geothermal energy.

Read More........

Global: Submit Proposals for Geothermal Market Activities by August 31

Global Geothermal Alliance Issues Call for Proposals in Action Areas (Renewable Energy World)

The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) recently issued a call for proposals for geothermal market activities that are seeking implementation support from the Global Geothermal Alliance (GGA).

Launched during the 21st Conference of Parties in Paris last December, the GGA is made up of a coalition of countries and development and industry partners. The GGA seeks to achieve a 500 percent increase in global installed capacity for geothermal power generation and a 200 percent increase in geothermal heating by 2030.

Proposed activities must fall under one of the GGA’s action areas, which include:

• Resource and market assessments
• Needs and obstacles assessments
• Enabling frameworks
• The global geothermal network — experts promoting geothermal energy’s role in supporting decarbonization strategies

IRENA has invited GGA member countries and partners to submit their proposals by August 31.

Read More........

Canada: Developing Geothermal Resources from Abandoned Oil Well

Crude oil to carrots: Geothermal makeover eyed for Alberta’s old wells (The Globe and Mail)

(Courtesy Leduc #1 Energy Discovery Center)

Disused oil and gas wells dotting Canada’s energy heartland may bear fruit for Alberta’s farmers under a proposal to use waste heat from the idle facilities to allow crops to grow, even in the country’s harsh winter conditions.

Provincial legislator Shaye Anderson wants the Alberta government to allow an old well to be converted to geothermal energy to heat an 8,000-square-foot greenhouse. Currently the wells can only be used for extracting hydrocarbons.

The Living Energy Project pilot could help tackle the issue of Alberta’s 78,000 disused wells and provide jobs for thousands of unemployed oil field services workers, laid off as a result of the two-year slump in global crude prices.

Read More.......

Indonesia: Drilling Rigs On the Way to 240 MW Sorik Merapi Geothermal Power Project

KS Orka mobilizes two drilling rigs for the 240 MW Sorik Merapi project (News Release)

(Courtesy KS Orka)

KS Orka Renewables Pte Ltd of Singapore has secured the necessary regulatory consents to acquire 100% ownership of OTP Geothermal Pte Ltd (OTP) and develop the 240 MW Sorik Merapi Geothermal Power Project in North Sumatra, Indonesia.

KS Orka has already mobilized the first drilling rig for the project by issuing a Notice To Proceed to the drilling contractor Dati Parker. KS Orka plans to mobilize a second rig within two weeks for the project. The KS Orka team aims for bringing the first pilot power plant into operation in 2017.

Read More.......

Djibouti: Toshiba to Help Develop Geothermal Energy Resources

Toshiba and Djibouti's ODDEG Conclude Memorandum of Understanding on Geothermal Power Generation Business (News Release)

Toshiba Corporation has concluded a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Office Djiboutien de Développement de l'Energie Géothermique (ODDEG), the government organization responsible for developing Djibouti's geothermal power capabilities, that envisages a comprehensive collaboration in the geothermal power generation business.

Under the terms of the MOU, ODDEG and Toshiba will cultivate Djibouti's extensive geothermal resources and provide training for personnel working in plants.

Many sites in Djibouti are suitable for geothermal power generation, and current plans envisage constructing geothermal power stations with a base capacity of about 50 megawatt. The MOU provides Toshiba with the opportunity to work with ODDEG to develop a highly promising, low CO2 renewable source that will contribute to a green Djibouti, and to supply geothermal power generation equipment in the future.

Read More.......

Philippines: EDC to Develop Transmission Connection for 31 MW Bac-Man 3 Geothermal Project

Bac-Man power line (The Standard)

The Philippines Energy Regulatory Commission approved the application of Energy Development Corp. to develop a dedicated point-to-point facility to connect the 31 MW Bac-Man 3 geothermal project to the Luzon grid.

ERC said in a decision the facilities would be constructed in accordance with the system impact study and facility study requirements so as not to result in the degradation of National Grid Corp.’s transmission system.

ERC directed National Grid to operate and maintain the dedicated transmission facility costing P130 million subject to application charges.

ERC said it decided to allow the National Grid operate the facility “in the absence of a definite assurance that the subject facilities will be operated without any adverse effects to the reliability of the grid.”

Read More.......

USA, Oregon: GRC Student Studying at Newberry Geothermal Energy

NEWGEN FORGE Laboratory – A Resource for Graduate Education and Research (Newberry Geothermal Energy)

by GRC Student Member, Esteban Bowles-Martinez, Ph.D. student working with Dr. Adam Schultz in the College of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences at Oregon State University in Corvallis, Oregon.

The internal structure of Newberry Volcano is revealed in slices through a preliminary 3D electrical resistivity model. Warm colors indicate where the earth is conductive, blue resistive. 

One of the skills I’ve gained as a graduate student studying geophysics at Oregon State University (OSU) is the ability to visualize miles of solid rock and model the internal structure of volcanoes. This is not easy to do when (aside from a limited number of deep wells) we’re only able to access the earth’s surface. To create an image of the subsurface, we take a variety of surface measurements at hundreds of locations and create a model of the subsurface that reproduces the signals we measured. We assess the performance of the model by comparing synthetic data calculated from the model with observed data. We can use data collected from deep boreholes to directly assess model predictions.

At the Newberry Volcano, we are very fortunate to have an enormous amount of data to constrain our models. There are over 40 years of extensive geophysical and geological surveys, information from four deep wells and numerous boreholes around the Newberry Geothermal Energy (NEWGEN) area. This extensive set of data allows us to create an accurate representation of the subsurface.

Read More.......

A technical paper and poster "Constraining Subsurface Model Resolution at Newberry Volcano Using A Weighted Spatial Analysis", by Mark-Moser, MacKenzie & Cameron, Emily & Rose, Kelly & Romeo, Lucy & Schultz, Jeremy & Schultz, Adam, will be presented at the GRC Annual Meeting in Sacramento, California, October 23-26.

USA, Nevada: Two Deepened Wells Extend Size of San Emidio Phase II Geothermal Reservoir

Drilling Extends Known Boundary of San Emidio Resource (News Release)

U.S. Geothermal Inc. has announced that it has deepened two wells at the San Emidio project. Both wells intersected high temperature geothermal fluid and high permeability.

In a follow up to the five well temperature gradient drilling program completed last year, two wells were deepened based on their high thermal gradient and bottom hole temperature.

Well 17-21, intersected the geothermal resource at 1,766 feet and has a measured flowing temperature of 319°F. Well 25-21 intersected the geothermal resource at 2,206 feet and has a measured flowing temperature of 322°F. Both wells flow under artesian pressure.

Both wells will undergo further testing to obtain data to be used to optimize the numerical reservoir model.

Read More........

USA, New Mexico: Navajo Geothermal Greenhouse Project Set to Launch

Stewardship and Sustainability: Navajo Nation Works on Geothermal Greenhouse (Indian Country Today Media Network)

The Navajo Nation could soon see a geothermal greenhouse, thanks to a newly minted agreement with a Colorado university.

The Navajo Transitional Energy Company (NTEC) was formed in 2013 to help manage the Navajo Mine near Farmington, New Mexico, after the Navajo Nation bought the mine from the international coal company BHP in late 2012. As part of its mission, NTEC has committed to spending 10 percent of its profits in pursuit of renewable energy opportunities in order to diversify the Navajo Nation’s energy portfolio.

The geothermal project will be the first real fruit of this goal. NTEC has entered into plans to start a pilot project to explore and develop geothermal resources in Tohatchi, New Mexico, north of Gallup.

Read More......

Malaysia: 30 MW Tawau Geothermal Power Plant In Operation by June 2018

Malaysia’s first geothermal power plant to open in Tawau (The Star Online)

Sabah will be soon be home to Malaysia’s first geothermal power plant, to be developed by Tawau Green Energy Sdn Bhd (TGE) at a proposed site in Apas Kiri, Tawau.

Set to export 30 MW to the Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd (SESB) grid under the Feed-In-Tariff (FIT) scheme, the geothermal energy technology is considered as both very green with extremely low carbon footprints and has very high availability and reliability rate as clearly demonstrated in other operating plants worldwide.

Read More......

Science & Technology: Use of H2S and CO2 from Geothermal Emissions to Make Renewable Fuel

Using hydrogen sulfide and CO2 to drive production of renewable fuels and chemicals (JBEI)

(Courtesy JBEI)

The following article may be of interest to the geothermal industry as some H2S and CO2 is co-produced with geothermal steam.

Berkeley Lab scientists at the Joint BioEnergy Institute (JBEI) have demonstrated a promising biological approach to convert nuisance chemicals in municipal wastewater (sewage) treatment plants into renewable fuels or chemicals.

Hydrogen sulfide (which is responsible for the odor of rotten eggs) is a malodorous and corrosive chemical that is problematic in municipal wastewater treatment plants and is typically removed by relatively expensive chemical treatment.

JBEI scientists have engineered a common soil bacterium, Thiobacillus denitrificans, which naturally consumes hydrogen sulfide and nitrate (another problem chemical), and fixes CO2 (a greenhouse gas), to simultaneously overproduce fatty acids; these can be further converted to biofuels or value-added chemicals.

(Thanks to GRC Member Marcelo Lippmann, Staff Scientist (retired) at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory for the submission.)

Read More........

GRC Annual Meeting & GEA Geothermal Energy Expo: Geothermal Photo Contest

The Geothermal Resources Council 2016 Amateur Photo Contest

The 37th Amateur Geothermal Photo Contest winners will be announced at the GRC Annual Meeting in Sacramento, California, USA.  

1st Place 2015: Drill Casings for New Geothermal Well by Cari Covell,
Reykjavik University - Iceland School of Energy, Reykjavik, Iceland

The Geothermal Resources Council (GRC) is pleased to announce this year’s Amateur Photo Contest. The purpose of the contest is to showcase quality photography featuring geothermal energy around the world.

The winners will be announced at the GRC Annual Member Meeting and Awards Luncheon, the climax to the 40th GRC Annual Meeting & GEA Geothermal Energy Expo being held in Sacramento, California, USA from October 23-26. The theme for this year’s meeting is “Geothermal Energy, Here and Now: Sustainable, Clean, Flexible”.

The first place winner will receive $150, second place - $100, and third place - $75. Honorable Mention photos will receive certificates. The award checks will be drawn on a US bank.

Photographs on any subject related to geothermal energy can be submitted such as geothermal energy production, EGS, Direct Use and geothermal heat pumps. These can include photos of well testing, drilling, operation of geothermal equipment, newly developed equipment, or plant operation, construction of a geothermal plant or plant site, and geological areas or surface manifestations (holding potential for geothermal exploration or development).

More information on the GRC Amateur Photo Contest, including a submission form, can be found on the GRC website. The deadline for submissions is September 16, 2016.

GRC Photo Contest Submission Form......

GRC Annual Meeting & GEA GEOEXPO+ - An Overview

Register now for the geothermal energy event of the year.
 

GRC Annual Meeting & GEA GEOEXPO+ - Flyer from Geothermal Resources Council

GRC Annual Meeting & GEA GEOEXPO+: Updated Preliminary Program

The Preliminary Program  for the GRC Annual Meeting & GEA GEOEXPO+ has been updated. Registration is now open.

GRC Annual Meeting & GEA GEOEXPO+ - Preliminary Program from Geothermal Resources Council

Indonesia: GRC Geothermal Workshop in Jakarta

INAGA Pre Conference Workshop - Presented by the GRC

August 8-9, 2016, Jakarta, Indonesia

Practical Strategies for Exploration Drilling and Resource Evaluation

• Dennis Kaspereit, Vice President of Resource Management Geothermal Resource Group
• Ann Robertson-Tait, Senior Geologist and Business Development Manager GeothermEx, Inc.

Join us for a 2-day workshop focusing on early drilling in greenfield project areas, including strategies for managing risks and how to obtain the best information for understanding and evaluating a geothermal resource. Real-world experiences of successes and challenges during the early drilling phase will be shared by instructors and participants.

A special two-day GRC Workshop is to be held before the 4th Indonesia International Geothermal Convention and Exhibition (IIGCE) 2016, to be held from 10-12 August 2016 at the Jakarta Convention Center (JCC).

Day 1: Reaching Feasibility – Planning the Drilling Program

• 8:00- 8:30 Safety briefing and introductions (name, affiliation / company, area of specialization, reason for attending the workshop)
• 8:30-9:30 Key elements of successful geothermal projects
• 9:30-9:45 Break
• 9:45-10:15 Permitting, site logistics and access
• 10:15-11:15 Geology, Geochemistry and Geophysics – why, where, when and how much
• 11:15-12:00 Developing the preliminary conceptual model - a rationale for choosing well sites and targets
• 12:00-13:30 Lunch and Prayer
• 13:30-14:30 Constraints on well location and targeting – the art of compromise in a drilling campaign
• 14:30-15:30 Data collection program during drilling
• 15:30 15:45 Break
• 15:45-16:15 Expecting the unexpected – keeping your options open
• 16:15-16:45 Open discussion and quiz
• 16:45 -17:00 Wrap-up and plan for Day 2

Day 2: Reaching Feasibility - Executing the Drilling Program

• 8:00- 8:30 Deciding when, why, and what size well to drill
• 8:30-9:30 Gradient, core holes and slim holes: uses and limits
• 9:30-9:45 Break
• 9:45-10:30 Various well types and sizes
• 10:30-11:15 Well testing techniques and analysis
• 11:15-12:00 Wellbore simulation and up-sizing flow rates
• 12:00-13:30 Lunch and Prayer
• 13:30-15:00 Drilling risks and mitigation
• 15:00-15:30 Air drilling and well control
• 15:30-15:45 Break
• 15:45-16:45 Post drilling analysis techniques
• 16:45 -17:15 Open discussion and quiz
• 17:15-17:30 Workshop close

Register.......

Science & Technology: Award for Hybrid CSP/Geothermal Power Technology

Hyperlight Energy awarded DOE Sunshot award for novel CSP technology (solarserver.com)

(Courtesy Hyperlight Energy)

Hyperlight Energy of La Jolla, California, a developer and manufacturer of Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) technology, has announced that it was selected by the U. S. Department of Energy’s SunShot Initiative to receive a USD 1.5 million award to develop a pilot CSP production line in San Diego, CA.

The CSP industry produces high quality thermal energy that can be used to generate steam for geothermal power plant operations, enhanced oil recovery (EOR) or other industrial needs.

CSP can be coupled to low cost thermal energy storage, which enables the flexibility to boost plant output when the sun goes down. Hyperlight captures these inherent CSP advantages, but uses the lowest cost materials of construction of any CSP product yet deployed, the company emphasizes.

“CSP is poised for a renaissance. CSP has the potential to provide the best fit for large scale energy storage to support the grid during peak demand, even when the sun goes down,” says John D. H. King, Hyperlight Energy’s CEO.

“With geothermal hybridization paired to thermal energy storage, we can provide increased capacity to existing power generating assets, and with solar EOR, we can help meet low carbon fuel standards in a way no other renewable energy technology can. Hyperlight is coming at just the right time, we’re on track to be the low cost leader in both these markets.”

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Canada: Vancouver Suburb Gets Award for Geothermal District Heating Project

City of Richmond receives award for geothermal project (News Release)

The City of Richmond, a suburb of Vancouver in British Columbia, released a statement to announce an award for its West Cambie geothermal energy project, as well as to provide an update on the project

The City of Richmond’s Alexandra District Energy Utility (ADEU) has earned the City a prestigious, highest-honor award for being an exemplary district energy system, providing high-level performance and advancing the goals of the entire district energy industry.

Early on, the City of Richmond recognized the benefits of district energy systems, identifying these benefits as key strategic initiatives to reduce community greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions while also reducing long-term costs.

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Indonesia: Regencies Ask Government to Manage Geothermal Power Project

Gov't Called on to Manage East Java's Geothermal Sources (Tempo.co)

Agus Supriyanto, head of the Bojonegoro Energy and Mineral Resources Agency in East Java, said that the Bojonegoro Regency administration had asked the central government to manage geothermal energy sources in Mount Puru and Mount Pandan.

Agus explained that the central government involvement is necessary since Mount Puru and Mount Pandan are located in three regencies, namely Bojo Negoro, Nganjuk and Madiun.

Agus explained that the geothermal energy sources have a huge potential to generate electricity. Therefore, the Bojonegoro administration has planned to coordinate with Nganjuk and Madiun administrations.

Agus revealed that the three regional governments would hold a meeting to submit a proposal related to development of a geothermal power plant to the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry.

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Finance: Geothermal Energy Grew by 2.3% a Year Between 1990 and 2015

Renewable energy continuing to increase market share (IEA)

World production of renewable energy grew 2.6% between 2013 and 2014, reaching 1,894 Mtoe by the end of the year. This represents around 1/7th (13.8%) of the total Primary Energy Supply (TPES) of 13,700 Mtoe.

Since 1990, energy from renewable sources has grown at an average annual rate of 2.2%, higher than the 1.9% growth rate of TPES.

Between 1990 and 2015 geothermal grew by 2.3% a year.

Renewables Information 2016                Read More........

Ethiopia: Government Supports Geothermal Energy Development

Geothermal Energy Heats Up With Royalty Payment Exemption (AllAfrica.com)

(Courtesy CIA.gov)

The newly approved bill on geothermal resources exempts royalty payments for companies engaged in thermal resource development and exploration in the country. Last week, Parliament, which was dissolved on July, 8, 2016, was summoned for an urgent session and unanimously approved a number of bills, including the "Geothermal Resources Development Proclamation 2016".

Before the new proclamation was approved by legislators, geothermal resources were considered as any other extractable mineral resource, with no consideration to the peculiar characteristics of this energy source. It was governed by legislation designed for other minerals. Investment in geothermal resource development was subjected to Mining Proclamation No.52/1993 and administered by the then Ministry of Mines and Energy (MoME). However, geothermal resource is unique, as it is a renewable source of energy.

"Royalty payments remain binding for non-renewable energy resource developers, but not for renewable ones," said Sahele Tamiru, director of energy study and development follow-up at the Ministry of Water, Irrigation and Energy (MoWIE).

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USA, Nevada: Ormat Reports Successful Quarter

Ormat Technologies Reports a Double-Digit Growth in Revenues, Net Income, and Adjusted EBITDA in the Second Quarter (News Release)

Ormat Technologies, Inc. today announced financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2016.

Second Quarter Highlights and Recent Developments:

• Total revenues of $159.9 million, up 13.8% compared to the second quarter of 2015;
• Electricity generation increased 10.8% to 1.3 million MWh;
• Secured $36.0 million Supply & EPC Contracts for a geothermal power plant in New Zealand;
• Completed construction of the Veyo Recovered Energy Generation Project in Southern Utah for UAMPS; and
• Closed the acquisition of the Bouillante Geothermal Power Plant on the Island of Guadeloupe.

Ormat Technologies will be exhibiting at the 40th GRC Annual Meeting & GEA GEOEXPO+, October 23-26 in Sacramento, California, USA.

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Mexico: 112 MW Geothermal Installed in 2015

Renewables comprised 15% of Mexico’s electricity generation in 2015 (pv magazine)

Mexico’s Secretariat of Energy (SENER) has presented the Report on the advance of clean energy 2015, which highlights that in the last year renewables represented 15.4% of the electricity mix in Mexico.

Under the label of “clean energy”, the report looks at renewables but also nuclear technology and efficient cogeneration, which together represented 20.3% of generation.

The report notes that in the last year more than 900 MW of renewable energy was installed: around 768 MW of wind power, 112 MW of geothermal and 56 MW of solar PV. Distributed solar entirely made up the new PV capacity.

Mexican legislation has set a goal of 25% clean energy in electricity generation in  2018, 30% in 2021 and 35% in 2024.

The 8th annual GRC International Luncheon will be held at the 40th GRC Annual Meeting on Monday, October 24. The focus will be on Mexico with presentations by Emillio Camacho – California Energy Commission and Magaly Flores-Armenta - CFE.

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USA, California: Questions Remain for Expanding Energy Imbalance Market

Will an expanded power grid help California fight climate change? (Sac Bee)

In three years, California’s largest utilities could be slashing their use of fossil fuels by swapping homegrown solar energy for Rocky Mountain wind power in a sprawling Western electricity grid.

Or a newly expanded grid could provide a profitable market to revive out-of-state coal plants that would otherwise face a harder time complying with California’s aggressive greenhouse-gas-reduction efforts.

Those contrasting scenarios are driving debate as the state’s energy and air-quality regulators finish studies on a proposal to merge the grid for California’s biggest power companies – Pacific Gas and Electric Co., San Diego Gas and Electric, and Southern California Edison – with another privately run entity that serves 1.8 million customers across the West. The combined grid would serve about 32 million customers.

There will be a GRC Fieldtrip to the headquarters of CAISO from the GRC Annual Meeting & GEA Geothermal Energy Expo, October 23-26, Sacramento, California.

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North America: Renewables to Provide 29% of Electricity by 2025

Renewables share of North America electricity mix expected to rise (EIA)

Based on results from EIA's Annual Energy Outlook 2016 (AEO2016) Reference case and International Energy Outlook 2016, EIA projects that the North American share of energy generation from renewable and nuclear energy sources will grow from 38% in 2015 to 45% in 2025. 

This projection assumes the Clean Power Plan (CPP) is upheld and takes effect in the United States. A recent agreement among Canada, Mexico, and the United States established a goal of 50% of electricity generation from clean energy sources by 2025.

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USA: IRS Defines Physical Work Test for Geothermal Projects

IRS Notice Expands the Safe Harbor for Claiming Production Tax Credits (Renewable Energy World)

Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Notice 2016-31, released initially in May 2016, clarifies and expands previous IRS guidance on satisfying the “beginning of construction” requirement for renewable energy facilities to qualify for production tax credits (PTC), reflecting the extensions of the PTC under the Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes Act of 2015 (PATH Act).

The Notice reiterates that the physical work test focuses on the nature of the work performed, not the amount or the cost. If the work performed is of a significant nature, there is no fixed minimum amount of work, or monetary or percentage threshold required to satisfy the physical work test. The Notice also provides non-exclusive examples to illustrate physical work of a significant nature for various types of renewable energy facilities.

For geothermal facilities, it could mean physical activities that are undertaken at a project site after a valid discovery. Physical work of a significant nature does not include preliminary activities, such as planning and designing, securing financing, exploring, researching, conducting geologic mapping and modeling, and obtaining permits and licenses.

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Indonesia: 30 MW Sokoria Geothermal Project Sold to KS Orka

Xped, Bakrie find buyer for 30-MW geothermal project in Indonesia (SeeNews Renewables)

Xped Ltd and PT Bakrie Power Corp have signed a deal to sell a combined 95% interest in the 30-MW Sokoria geothermal project in Indonesia to Singapore-based KS Orka Renewables Pte Ltd.

Under the terms of the agreement, Australia-based Xped will sell its entire 45% stake in the project company, PT Sokoria Geothermal Indonesia, and Bakrie will reduce its interest to 3% from 53%. Xped said it will initially receive a nominal payment of USD 1.00 and be entitled to get up to an additional USD 947,368 (EUR 846,400), subject to certain conditions being met.

The buyer has agreed to lend up to USD 1.5 million for working capital to expedite the project and meet regulatory deadlines.

Xped, previously known as Raya Group Ltd, is selling its interest in the project to focus on its new Internet of Things (IoT) technology business, it said.

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GRC Annual Meeting & GEA GEOEXPO+ - Register for Golf Tourney Now!

Register for Annual Charity Golf Tournament at Geothermal Resources Council Annual Meeting (News Release)

Popular networking event for the geothermal energy industry in Sacramento, California. 

Just before the start of the GRC Annual Meeting & GEA GEOEXPO+, the GRC Annual Charity Golf Tournament will take place October 23 at the William Land Golf Course just three miles from the conference site. Registration for the tournament is now open.

This year the proceeds from the tournament will go to the GRC Scholarship Fund. 

The William Land Golf Course is Sacramento’s oldest golf treasure. In 1911 William Land left $250,000 “to purchase a public park within a suitable distance of Sacramento to be used as a recreation spot for children and a pleasure ground for the poor.” William Land Park was established on its present site in the 1920’s and the golf course was built in 1924.

More details of the tournament can be found on the GRC website at www.geothermal.org. Download the GRC Annual Charity Golf Tournament Flyer and fill out a registration form which can be mailed or faxed to the GRC office. Online registration is also available.

New Zealand: Mighty River Power is Now Officially Mercury

Mercury rules out more power stations (RNZ)

Mercury is the new name for Mighty River Power, which operates geothermal plants and dams on the Waikato River. It has adopted the name of its retail arm and ditched Mighty River Power, which was deemed too multi-syllabic and had insufficient marketing zing.

One of New Zealand energy's big four, Mercury, thinks it is unlikely to have to build any new power stations for several years. Instead it is increasing output from its existing electricity generating systems.

The comments match others who have said for several years that New Zealand has enough electricity to make any new power stations economically risky.

Instead, Mercury is working on a quieter way of increasing its supply of electricity than building entirely new power plants. It is doing this by raising the productivity of power plants that already exist.

"One of our geothermal power stations, Kawerau, was originally built for 90 megawatts and at full capacity would now produce 103 to 104," said chief executive Fraser Whineray. "That is north of a 10 percent increase."

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USA, Nevada: Ormat to Re-Finance Debt at Lower Interest Rate

Ormat to raise $250m dollars for loan recycling (Globes)

Isaac Angel, CEO of Ormat is slated to speak at the GRC Annual Meeting

Ormat Technologies Inc, managed by CEO Isaac Angel and controlled by the FIMI Opportunity Funds, is acting to raise hundreds of millions of dollars in non-tradeable debt from Israel's financial institutions in order to recycle a loan under improved conditions.

According to market sources, local underwriting entities are currently discussing two raise options with the financial institutions a private loan or an issue of a series of non- tradeable bonds.

The raise is aimed at recycling an existing debt in a $250 million bond series offered by Ormat to financial institutions in 2010-2011 with a 7% interest, which is to be repaid in early August 2017. In the current offering, the interest would probably be only 3%-5%.

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Science & Technology: Another Project to Fix CO2 Using Geothermal Energy

Calgary team guns for Carbon X Prize (Calgary Sun)

Team CleanCarbon Energy is the Calgary-based company gunning for the $20 million Carbon X Prize, a contest challenging teams to develop breakthrough technologies that convert the most CO2 into products with the highest net value, making it a recycling Holy Grail.

Made up of engineers, designers, and venture capitalists in Calgary’s oil and gas industry, Team CleanCarbon have developed carbon converting technologies with a laboratory team at the Olds College Centre for Innovation (OCCI).

Using plant material and geothermal energy in the Earth’s subsurface, the company’s two technologies – the Downhole Flexfuel Gasifier and the DualCycle Geo-bioreactor – convert carbon dioxide into biomass used produce sustainable fuels, power and chemicals.

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GRC Announces Winners of Geothermal Scholarship

Geothermal Resources Council Announces Scholarship Winners

$15,000 in Scholarship Awards will be presented at the 2016 GRC Annual Meeting

Last year's Student Scholarship Winners

The Geothermal Resources Council (GRC) 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 40th GRC Annual Meeting, to be held in Sacramento, California, USA, from October 23–26.

The winner of the GRC Student Project Award ($4,500) is Joshua Blackstock (University of Arkansas).

The three winners of the GRC Graduate Scholarship Awards ($2,500 each) are Erin Camp (Cornell University), Jeff Cullen (University of Texas at Austin) and Gudni Rosenkjaer (University of British Columbia).

Finally, the two winners of the GRC Undergraduate Scholarship Awards ($1,500 each) are Chantel Jensen (University of California, Davis) and Jon Golla (University of Puget Sound).

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