Canada: Geothermal Energy Can be Produced from Abandoned Oil & Gas Wells

‘Orphan’ wells could generate clean energy (Lethbridge Herald)

Katie Huang speaks about Albertas
abandoned wells and geothermal energy during
Thursday's SACPA session.
Herald photo by Tijana Martin @TMartinHerald

There are still questions to answer. But Alberta could generate clean electrical energy – and reduce its “orphan” well issues – by adopting new geothermal technology.

Provinces and states near Alberta are already taking a lead, a Lethbridge audience learned Thursday. But with so many abandoned gas and oil wells across the province, it’s time our province turned some of those environmental liabilities into emission-free assets.

Nations around the Pacific Rim – and as far north as Iceland – have been tapping into geothermal energy for generations, explained geologist Katie Huang. Speaking for Canada’s fledgling geothermal industry, she said this nation has been slow off the mark.

Read More........

Indonesia: Government Says PGE/PLN Meger Would Boost Geothermal Energy Production

PLN, Pertamina synergy to boost geothermal development: Govt (Jakarta Post)

The government plans to appoint a state-run energy firm to focus on geothermal development in a bid to meet the energy mix target, saying that the acquisition of Pertamina subsidiary Pertamina Geothermal Energy (PGE) by state utility firm PLN would make this dream come true.

Although reluctant to call it an “acquisition”, the Small and Medium Enterprises Ministry’s deputy for energy, logistics, regional and tourism development, Edwin Hidayat Abdullah, said the synergy between PLN and state-owned oil and gas company Pertamina would increase efficiency and eliminate duplication of investment between state-run energy firms.

He said the synergy would allow PGE to speed up geothermal development to meet the 7.2-gigawatt (GW) target of installed electricity by 2025, or 23 percent of the total energy mix. Currently, installed capacity of geothermal power plants is only 1.5 GW.

Read More........

All you Need to Know About the Geothermal Energy Event of the Year

GRC Annual Meeting & GEA GeoExpo+

Final Program now available - Download now (PDF)

GRC Annual Meeting & GEA GeoExpo+ - Final Program from Geothermal Resources Council

Geothermal Workshops at the GRC Annual Meeting & GEA GeoExpo+

Four Workshops at Geothermal Resources Council Annual Meeting

Four workshops at the GRC Annual Meeting & GEA GeoExpo+ in Sacramento, California. 

The Geothermal Resources Council (GRC) has announced more details of events at the biggest geothermal conference of the year at the Sacramento Convention Center, Sacramento, California, USA.

In addition to the main event of the GRC Annual Meeting & GEA GeoExpo+ taking place October 23-26, 2016, there will be two workshops before the conference and two during the geothermal energy event of the year.

Two geothermal workshops will be held over two days on Friday and Saturday, October 21 and 22, before the start of the main event.

The Conceptual Models of Geothermal Systems workshop will focus on building geothermal resource conceptual models as the basis for well targeting and resource capacity assessments at all stages of exploration and development.

The Reservoir Stimulation: Recent Field Practices, Monitoring Techniques and Theoretical/Laboratory Investigations workshop will provide a platform for in-depth review and discussion of recent Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS) field experiences and will provide attendees with an understanding of recent advances in monitoring technologies and theoretical, laboratory and numerical modeling pertaining to reservoir stimulation.

On Sunday, October 23 a Best Practices in Operation and Maintenance workshop will allow attendees to share lessons learned in geothermal O&M that can help improve the bottom line of every operating plant, and potentially make new plants more competitive with natural gas, wind and solar alternatives.

On Wednesday, October 26 a 2 hour Geothermal 101 workshop will give California legislators,  energy regulators and their staff, educators, students and the general public an overview of the many benefits of geothermal energy.

The GRC Workshop presentations will be given by experts from private industry, national laboratories and universities, and should prove valuable for anyone interested in learning about the latest exciting developments in geothermal energy.

More Information........               

Sign-Up with GRC Annual Meeting Registration.......

Global: Geothermal Energy Photo Contest

GRC Geothermal Photo Contest 2016

All 90 entries in the geothermal energy photo contest. All the entries will be on show at the GRC Annual Meeting & GEA GeoExpo+ from October 23-26 at the Sacramento Convention Center, California, USA.

GRC Annual Meeting & GEA GeoExpo+ - Exhibitor at Geothermal Energy Event Launches New Cooling Tower

New Marley NC Everest Cooling Tower Technology from SPX Cooling (News Release)


SPX Cooling Technologies, Inc., a full-line, full-service industry leader in the design and manufacture of evaporative and air-cooled heat exchangers, announces the new Marley NC Everest Cooling Tower, a pre-assembled, crossflow evaporative cooling system that offers a viable alternative to field-erected towers.

The NC Everest provides the highest cooling capacity available in a pre-assembled cooling tower and reduces pump energy up to 20 percent.
NC Everest typically delivers with 60 percent shorter lead time and installs in about 20 percent of the time than field-erected towers to get operations up and running faster. The design and field assembly process reduces on-site labor and work duration for a safer work environment. NC Everest provides more site placement options and typically uses up to 10 percent less plan area than field-erected towers.

SPX Cooling Technologies, Inc. will be exhibiting at the GRC Annual Meeting & GEA GeoExpo+, October 23-26 at the Sacramento Convention Center, California, USA.

Read More........

Indonesia: 525 MW of Geothermal Energy Projects On Offer

MEMR launches new geothermal power tenders (blplaw.com)

Green power developers in Indonesia have the opportunity to participate in 8 greenfield geothermal tender pre-qualifications to be launched by the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (MEMR) during the remainder of 2016.

As we understand, the tenders will involve a combined PPA capacity of 525-MW, and are spread over a variety of provinces. Certain tenderers may have a “right to match”, after conducting preliminary site surveys on behalf of PT PLN (Persero).

Ceiling feed-in tariffs may range from US$ 0.15 to US$ 0.226. The relevant projects are listed below for ease of reference. Further information may be obtained from the Directorate for Geothermal at EBTKE.

Read More.......

Indonesia: Foreign Investors Interested in North Sulawesi Geothermal Energy Project

Kuwait, Saudi investors evince interest in geothermal projects in Gorontalo (Antara News)

Kuwaiti investor Rajan Ethirajan of the Al Subol General Trading, along with Arab investor Jiju Thundiyil John, have expressed an interest to invest in the geothermal power plants in Gorontalo.

The head of Gorontalo Regional Development Board (Bappeda), Budianto Sidiki, said on Wednesday that they expressed an interest soon after Gorontalos Governor Rusli Habibie detailed the regions potential at the opening of an event titled, Indonesia Middle East Update 2016.

Data with the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources shows a significant geothermal potential in the Bone Bolango sub-district, Gorontalo. It can produce up to 110 megawatt of electricity supply in Gorontalo and 20 megawatt in the Gorontalo sub-district.

Read More.......

Finance: Geothermal Energy Development Might Accelerate Due to Climate Change Concerns - Report

World Energy Resources 2016 (World Energy Council)

In 2015, total power output totaled 75 TWh, the same number being also valid for total heat output from geothermal energy (excluding ground heat pumps). World geothermal heat use (direct & storage) reached 563 PJs in 2014.

Global investment in 2015 was US$2 billion, a 23% setback from 2014. During the period 2010-2014, around US$20 billion were invested in geothermal energy by 49 countries for both direct use and electric power.

Geothermal energy currently finds itself burdened by higher installation costs and longer development periods, relative to solar and wind. As a result, in many countries, geothermal energy projects have been and are reliant on government incentives in order to compete against both natural gas and other renewable generation.

The pace of geothermal development has been conditioned by legal frameworks and particularly by conservation legislation. However, the pace of development might accelerate due to climate change concerns and the increasing need to decarbonise the energy sector.

Download the Full Report (PDF)........

USA: Tax Credits for Geothermal Energy Could be Revisited After Election

Obama readies clean energy 'end-game' (Washington Examiner)

The White House is devising an "end-game" strategy to pass a suite of clean energy tax subsidies that were swept to the wayside in last December's omnibus spending bill deal, said a top White House official.

Brian Deese, one of President Obama's top advisers, told an energy conference Tuesday that the White House is working on a clean energy "end-game" with its allies in Congress to see tax credits for a variety of alternative energy resources passed after the November elections in the lame-duck session of Congress.

"We are quite aware of the incremental extensions that weren't included last time," Deese said on a panel during the Tuesday event held by Columbia University. "We have been working closely with our congressional allies and we want to see those get done."

The tax credits were not attached to last year's spending bill, although the measure did include a landmark deal extending wind and solar subsidies for five years with an incremental phase out. The orphaned clean energy subsidies that were left out of the deal are for things like hydrogen fuel cells, renewable fuel infrastructure, geothermal and other alternative energy resources.

Read More........

Kenya: Geothermal Energy Provides 47% of Electricity

Thermal energy production drops (ESI Africa)

In East Africa, the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics' (KNBS) latest data reporting the decline in electricity generated from thermal energy resources has been welcomed as good news.

According to the Standard Media, the generation capacity has dropped by 10% to 855.5 million kWh by August this year compared to a similar period last year, whereby thermal sources generated 951.9 million kWh.

It is said that the fall has seen the share of thermal sources in the overall energy generation basket dive from 16% to 13%.

Diesel-fired electricity is reported to be three times more expensive than geothermal costing Sh7 per unit ($0.069) and seven times higher than hydropower at Sh3 ($0.029).

The KNBS data stated that geothermal remained the top source of energy, accounting for 47% of total production in the period under review.

In addition to the good news from the data was the revelation that indicated hydropower coming in second with a 40% increase.

Read More.......

Japan: Geothermal Power System Uses Injected River Water

New geothermal power generator set for trial run (NHK)

A Japanese venture firm and researchers at a university in Japan say they have developed a new system that harnesses geothermal power. They say a trial run of the system will start later this week.

Tokyo-based Japan New Energy and Kyoto University jointly created the technology.

Members of the project team say it does not require the usual process of pumping up hot springs or underground steam. The new generator uses river water that's sent into pipes deep underground where it's heated, then brought back up to the surface to generate electricity.

The officials say the trial run will start in Oita prefecture, in southwestern Japan. They aim to put it into commercial use in 2 years' time.

Read More........

Kenya: KenGen Seeks to Boost Geothermal Energy Production

KenGen starts geothermal study to produce more untapped power (The Star)

KenGen MD Albert Mugo.
Photo/Enos Teche.

KenGen has begun a geothermal development study with a view to producing more power. MD Albert Mugo said Kenya has the potential to produce 10,000 MW geothermal energy in 23 sites.

“So far we have only tapped 650 MW of geothermal energy and we are working with other partners so we can increase geothermal power,” he said.

Mugo said the cost of geothermal exploration had for years remained the biggest impediment.

Read More........

Switzerland: Geothermal Energy Research Position in Zurich Available

PhD position in geophysical monitoring of fractured rock for geothermal reservoirs (Geoscience Jobs)

Exploration and Environmental Geophysics (EEG) group at ETH Zurich

The position is within the area of monitoring fractured rock using Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) techniques. Both single-hole reflection imaging and crosswell GPR fullwaveform inversion will be developed to characterize fractures in crystalline rock using saline tracers. The project includes theoretical and computational developments, as well as field experiments.

For further information on the project, please contact Dr. J. Doetsch by email: joseph.doetsch@erdw.ethz.ch (no applications) and visit our website www.eeg.ethz.ch

We look forward to your online application until October 31, 2016 including a CV, a motivation letter and the names and addresses of three referees. Please send it to: ETH Zurich, Ms. Maja Bügler, Human Resources, CH-8092 Zurich.

The selection process starts immediately and will continue until the position is filled. The application can be submitted online at https://apply.refline.ch/845721/4929/pub/1/index.html

USA: Get Help in Geothermal Energy R&D from the National Labs

Third Round of SBV Pilot Open for Requests (GTO)

The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) is proud to announce the third round of the Small Business Vouchers (SBV) Pilot. The DOE began accepting Requests for Assistance (RFA) on Monday, October 10th after a formal announcement at the SXSW Eco’s Energy Startup Showcase.

DOE's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) is putting the world-class resources of the national labs at your fingertips with the SBV Pilot. In the first two rounds, 76 small businesses received vouchers for approximately $15 million in technical assistance from national labs to help bring the next generation of clean-energy technologies to market. The SBV pilot gives our nation’s clean-tech small businesses the opportunity to take their innovative products to the next level. By supporting their growth, the U.S. helps these companies make a more meaningful impact on the economy and clean-energy sector.

Over rounds three and four, $12 million is available for vouchers across EERE’s clean-energy sectors. EERE’s Geothermal Technologies Office (GTO) has nearly $800 thousand available to support vouchers in all of its mission areas of EGS, Hydrothermal, Low Temperature, and Systems Analysis. Companies have until November 10 to submit RFAs for round three; round four is expected to be announced early in 2017.

Businesses interested in SBV funding must be U.S.-based and U.S.-owned, with no more than 500 full-time employees worldwide. Individual vouchers range from $50,000 to $300,000 per small business and can be used to perform collaborative research or access to lab instrumentation or facilities. Companies selected must also provide a 20 percent cost share for completing voucher work. EERE welcomes the opportunity to collaborate with small businesses that have little to no experience working with a DOE national laboratory.

GTO will be on-hand at the GRC Annual Meeting & GEA GeoExpo+ in Sacramento, CA, October 23-26, to answer questions. For more information please contact Josh Mengers at joshua.mengers@ee.doe.gov.

To learn more about the process to submit a RFA please visit www.SBV.org.

USA, California: City of Sonoma Chooses Geothermal Energy for its Electricity Needs

Sonoma goes greener with new ‘EverGreen’ utility plan (Sonoma Index-Tribune)

Taking a small step into the energy future, the City of Sonoma voted last week to become the first jurisdiction in Sonoma County, and perhaps the North Bay, to adopt the zero-emissions EverGreen plan from Sonoma Clean Power.

The optional premium plan, which uses 100 percent local renewable power sources for providing kilowatts to the city’s 42 electrical accounts, will cost the city more money than the standard CleanStart program – which uses 36 percent renewable energy – but supporters believe that it may help the city meet one of its current term goals of advancing Climate Action 2020, a countywide plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. And perhaps provide a boost in bragging rights.

Sonoma Clean Power (SCP), the regional alternative utility formed in 2014 under the state’s Community Choice Aggregation law, declares that the EverGreen plan is comprised of 100 percent local renewable resources, entirely geothermal energy from the Calpine Geysers facility in northern Sonoma County. SCP plans to add the delivery of locally-generated solar power to the mix next year.

Read More........

Indonesia: UK and World Bank to Finance 50 MW Waisano Geothermal Power Plant

Gov't to Develop Geothermal Energy in Flores Island (Metro TV News)

The Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry will develop geothermal energy in Flores Island in East Nusa Tenggara.

The ministry's geothermal director Yunus Saefulhak said Indonesia will cooperate with the the United Kingdom (UK) and the World Bank.

He explained Flores island has many potential geothermal hot spots. The island has at least 1,900 MW of geothermal energy potential.

However, the island only has two geothermal power plants. A 10 MW power plant in Ulumbu, Manggarai and a 2.5 MW power plant in Malaloko, Ende.

"We will cooperate with the World Bank to build a 50 MW power plant in Waisano," he stated.

Read More........

Kenya: Suswa Farmer Condenses Water Supply from Geothermal Steam

DIY Steam Harvesting in Rural Kenya (Planet Experts)

Joseph Saitabao saw perennial water where no one else did. He saw it around Mount Suswa, Kenya, where no one lived during the dry season due to the lack of water. During the rainy season, people would get by on rooftop water harvested in tanks, or runoff captured in ephemeral ponds they built. But when tanks and ponds dried up people would leave until the rains returned. Joseph, however, saw untapped water in the form of steam arising from natural vents in the earth.

He got the idea for how to harvest this water by observing a geothermal plant while he was looking for work in another area with steam vents near Hell’s Gate National Park, 100 kilometers away. Undeterred by his lack of formal education, Joseph taught himself how to harvest that steam through innovation and experimentation.

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Iran: 55 MW Geothermal Power Plant by September 2017

Iran's Geothermal Power Plant Launch Slated for 2017 (Financial Tribune)

Iran Hopes that its first geothermal plant would help uplift steam-related industries such as greenhouses, fish farming and tourism in the Ardebil region

Iran expects to start producing electricity from the heat of the earth less than a year from now as it takes steps to slowly move away from fossil fuel power stations that account for more than 80% of its installed power capacity.

Hamid Chitchian, the energy minister, said the country's first geothermal power plant in Meshgin Shahr, Ardebil Province near the Azerbaijan border in the northwest, will be launched by September 2017, IRNA reported.

The 55 MW plant is also billed as the first geothermal power station in the Middle East.

Read More.......

Kenya: Private Sector to be Given Land Concessions to Explore for Geothermal Energy

Kenya seeking further investment for geothermal energy sector (Coastweek)

(Courtesy CIA.gov)

Kenya is seeking to promote private investment into the geothermal energy sector through review of policies, an official said Thursday.

Principal Secretary for Energy and Petroleum, Joseph Njoroge, told journalists that under the new regulations, private sector will be given land concessions to explore for geothermal steam.

“The aim is to enable private sector to complement government exploration efforts so as increase amount of geothermal electricity production in the country,” Njoroge said during the Kenya Renewable Energy Conference.

Read More.......

USA, Nevada: Geothermal Lease Sale after GRC Annual Meeting & GEA GeoExpo+

Nevada's Geothermal Competitive Lease Sale (BLM)

October 26, 2016, 1pm, Sheraton Grand Hotel, Sacramento, California

The Nevada State Office of the BLM is holding a competitive sale of Federal lands in the State of Nevada for geothermal leasing on October 26, 2016 in Sacramento, California as part of a multi-state geothermal lease sale.

The Nevada portion of the sale will include a total of 23 parcels for auction, located in the Battle Mountain, Carson City, Elko and Winnemucca Districts containing 47,016.15 acres.

Sale Notice (PDF).........

GRC Annual Meeting & GEA GeoExpo+

Two Weeks to the Geothermal Event of the Year!

GRC Annual Meeting & GEA GeoExpo+ features:

GRC Workshops:

• Conceptual Models of Geothermal Systems (2-days)
• Reservoir Stimulation (2-days)
• Best Practices in Operations & Maintenance (1-day)
• Geothermal 101 (1-hour special workshop open to the public)

GRC Fieldtrips:

• CAISO: Managing the Golden State’s Electrical Grid (½ Day – Pre-meeting)
• Recharging The Geysers (2 Days – Pre-meeting)
• Recharging The Geysers (1 Day – Pre-meeting)
• EGS in The Geysers (1 Day – Post-meeting)

Other Events:

• GRC Opening Session
• GRC/GEA Opening Reception 
• GEA GeoExpo+
• GRC International Luncheon 
• GRC International Session
• GRC Technical Sessions
• GRC Student Networking
• GRC Mixer
• GRC Poster Session and GEA Expo Networking Reception
• GRC Membership Meeting & Awards Luncheon

Register Now!........

Major Names in the International Community and Regional and National Politics to Speak at Geothermal Event

Speakers Announced for Geothermal Resources Council Annual Meeting

Major names in the international geothermal community and regional and national politics will address the geothermal energy industry at the GRC Annual Meeting in Sacramento, California, USA.

The Geothermal Resources Council (GRC) has announced more details of events at the world’s largest annual geothermal conference, the GRC Annual Meeting & GEA Geo Expo+, held this year at the Sacramento Convention Center in Sacramento, California, October 23-26.

The speakers at the Opening Session of the GRC Annual Meeting on Monday morning, October 24 includes major names in the international geothermal community and regional and national politics:

• John A. McKinsey, LeClairRyan
• Paul Brophy, President Geothermal Resources Council; 
• Dr. Susan G. Hamm, Director, Geothermal Technologies Office, U.S. Department of Energy; 
• Jan Smutny-Jones, CEO, Independent Energy Association; 
• Jim Kluesener, Vice President - Geothermal, Calpine Corporation; 
• Dennis Gilles, CEO, US Geothermal, Inc.; 
• Randy Keller, Director of Development, CalEnergy; 
• The Honorable Eduardo Garcia, California 56th Assembly District; 
• Andrew Palmateer, Director, U.S. Energy Association; 
• Bob Sullivan, Executive Vice President – Business Development, Ormat;
• Mike Long, Senior Project Manager, POWER Engineers; 
• Pierre Audinot, PhD, Clean Energy Program Leader, World Bank; 
• Gabriel Negatu, Regional Resource Center Director, African Development Corporation; 
• Gurbuz Gonul, Senior Program Officer, International Renewable Energy Agency; 
• V. John White, CEO, Center for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Technologies; 
• Kevin Kelly, General Manager, Imperial Irrigation District;
• Rhonda Mills, Representative, Western States Issues, Geothermal Energy Association; 
• The Honorable Mike McGuire, California State Senate, 2nd District; 
• Rhonda Mills, Representative, Western States Issues, Geothermal Energy Association; 
• Micah Mitrosky, Environmental Organizer, IBEW Local 569;
• Randy Keller, Director of Delvepment, CalEnergy 
• Steve Ponder, Executive Director, Geothermal Resources Council. 

Entry to the GRC Opening Session is free to the public.

Event App for GRC Annual Meeting & GEA GeoExpo+

Geothermal Energy Event - We've Got an App for That!

The GRC are again providing a Mobile app for the GRC Annual Meeting & GEA GeoExpo+. It is now available to download to an iPhone, Android or Windows Smartphone, tablet or laptop computer giving event attendees better access to information and networking.

The mobile app also allows the GRC to post more information online and avoid print costs.

We strongly encourage you to download the mobile guide to enhance your experience at the GRC Annual Meeting & GEA GeoExpo+. You'll be able to plan your day with a personalized schedule and browse exhibitors, maps and general show info. You can browse all the essential information even without internet access.

After a simple download and installation the app can be personalized with your own schedule and notes on activities. When you sign-in to the app you will be able to interact with other attendees and build an on-site network. Attendees will also be able to post their own photos and comments to the app for all to see on the "activity stream".

Scan the QR Code

The App is a work in progress, updates are loaded as information becomes available and your feedback is encouraged as you get familiar with it. All questions and feedback can be sent to Ian Crawford at icrawford@geothermal.org.

Download the app now!.......

USA: $9 Million Available For National Labs to Research Enhanced Geothermal Systems

The FY17 EGS Lab Call Has Landed!

Geothermal Technologies Office (GTO) announces the FY17 EGS Lab Call with the $9M, multi-year EGS Collab Initiative.

This FY17 Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS) Lab Call is focused on GTO’s vision for longer-term, transformational enhanced geothermal systems. The purpose of this Lab Call is to act as the bridge between laboratory scale stimulation/rock mechanics studies and the large field scale of the future Frontier Observatory for Research in Geothermal Energy (FORGE) site. The objective of this Lab Call is to establish a collaborative experimental and model comparison initiative, the EGS Collab.

The EGS Collab is envisioned as a small-scale field site where the subsurface modeling and research community will establish validations against controlled, small-scale, in-situ experiments focused on rock fracture behavior and permeability enhancement. The EGS Collab will provide the opportunity for reservoir model prediction and validation, in coordination with in depth analysis of geophysical and other fracture characterization data with an ultimate goal of understanding the basic relationship between stress, seismicity and permeability enhancement. Identification and quantification of other parameters impacting permeability, as well as understanding how these parameters change throughout the three EGS development phases, is expected and critical to achieving commercial viability of EGS.

This initiative will address critical and fundamental barriers to EGS advancement by facilitating direct collaboration between the geothermal reservoir modeling community, experimentalists, and geophysicists in developing and implementing well-field characterization and development, monitoring, and stimulation methods.

National Laboratories are invited to submit their proposals by November 30, 2016.

Kenya: Chinese Company to Conduct Directional Drilling of 16 Wells at Menengai Geothermal Project

GDC Contracts Great Wall For Directional Drilling (Oil News Kenya)

Geothermal Development Company (GDC) has contracted with the Chinese company Great Wall Drilling Company Limited to drill directional geothermal wells in Menengai.

A brief signing ceremony was held between the GDC MD & CEO, Eng. Johnson P. Ole Nchoe and Great Wall’s director, Mr. Wei Yong Chen. “GDC is pleased to once again partner with Great Wall; under this contract Great wall will drill 16 directional wells in Menengai,” noted the MD.

Directional drilling will supplement vertical drilling that is currently being predominantly done in the Menengai field.

Through directional drilling, it will be possible to drill several wells on one well pad, thus saving money that would have gone into preparing additional well pads as well as saving time associated with rig move.

Read More........

Climate Change: Historic 1st Meeting of the Parties to the Paris Agreement on Climate Change

COP22 (22nd Conference of Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change)

7-18 November, 2016, Marrakech, Morocco

The agenda for the historic 1st meeting of the Parties to the Paris Agreement (CMA1), will include: the strengthening of national climate action roadmaps or “Nationally Determined Contributions” (NDCs) to lower greenhouse gas emissions, reaching a US $100 billion climate finance roadmap, and improving capacity building measures and transfer of technology to help the most vulnerable countries (Small Island Developing States, Least Developed Countries, African countries) adapt to the impacts of climate change.

More information........

Science & Technology: Scottish Geothermal Pioneer Explains Geothermal Hydraulic Stimulation

How hydraulic-stimulation for geothermal energy is different from fracking for shale gas (Scottish Energy News)

David Townsend

By David Townsend, founder and managing director of TownRock Energy

Concerns raised recently around the development of Scotland’s geothermal resources being hindered by the moratorium on fracking are valid but overstated.

Firstly, the moratorium on fracking is specific to shale gas exploration, and so does not apply to the development of a geothermal resource. Fracking is a term used exclusively in the oil and gas industry.

A similar process is sometimes applied in the development of a geothermal resource to enhance permeability, but the term most commonly used to refer to this process is hydraulic stimulation. However subtle distinctions of vocabulary are unlikely to differentiate the processes in the media and public eye.

Read More.......

Kenya: KenGen Receives Funds for 70 MW Olkaria I Unit 6 Geothermal Plant Expansion

KenGen secures Sh14b for Olkaria I expansion (citizentv.co.ke)

Olkaria I (Courtesy: Toshiba Corp.)

The Kenya Electricity Generation Company, KenGen, has secured Sh14 billion from the European Investment Bank (EIB) for expansion of geothermal exploration.

The funds will finance the expansion of the Olkaria I plant unit six which will generate 70 megawatts. This will push up the plants total capacity up to 210 megawatts.

The power producer is also set to commence construction of the Olkaria VI plant in December through a public private partnership arrangement. The plant once complete will generate 140 megawatts of electricity.

Read More.......

Canada: Provincial Government Looks to Convert Abandoned Oil & Gas Wells to Geothermal Energy

Alberta Government Eyes Geothermal Fix to Abandoned Well Crisis (Alberta Oil)

AB considers converting disused wells to geothermal energy systems. Oil firm to coproduce oil and geothermal heat in Saskatchewan - two firsts for Canada.

Alberta Energy may promote the conversion of disused oil and gas wells into geothermal systems as a partial solution to the province’s abandoned well crisis.

“Using abandoned wells for geothermal is a complex issue that requires further input and consultation from a broad range of stakeholders,” says Alberta energy minister Marg McCuaig-Boyd. “I have asked government staff to consider this option as we move forward with our climate plan and also in our considerations of the entire liability management system.” A government official says the province aims to have policies in place before April, which may include tax and carbon credits.

Read More........

Global: International Reporting Standard for Geothermal Resources is Now Available

Globally-applicable reporting standard is now effective (IGA)

A harmonized standard for reporting geothermal resources has become operational.

Krafla power station under the stars, Iceland by Bastien Poux (2016 GRC Photo Contest)

Geothermal energy’s potential as a viable energy option with global scale has been constrained to date by a lack of clear global assessment guidelines and standards. 

Now, however, a globally-applicable, harmonized standard for reporting geothermal resources has become operational. At its 25th session on 30 September 2016, the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) Committee on Sustainable Energy approved the Specifications for Application of the United Nations Framework for Fossil Energy and Mineral Reserves and Resources 2009 (UNFC) to Geothermal Energy Resources.

Read More........

USA: NREL Map of Geothermal Energy in the United States of America

Interactive map of geothermal resources in the United States (AGI)

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory's Geothermal Prospector provides a huge amount of information about geothermal energy in the United States. The interactive map includes:

• Known geothermal resource areas and exploration regions
• State geothermal maps
• Geothermal potential for enhanced geothermal systems (EGS)
• Low-temperature geothermal resources
• Identified hydrothermal sites
• Great Basin hot spring and well analyses
• Geological map of the United States, including detailed maps for some states
• FORGE project sites
• Geothermal infrastructure - plants in operation and development, transmission infrastructure, and wells
• Geothermal leasing information
• Solar power information for those interested in hybrid solar-geothermal plants.

Read More........

Climate Change: Paris Agreement on Climate Change Approved

European Union ratifies Paris climate change agreement (UPI)

Ratification by the EU was the last hurdle before enactment.

The European Parliament, the European Union's executive arm, ratified the Paris Agreement on climate change Tuesday, triggering global approval of the accord.

The 28-nation bloc approved the pact, the most sweeping effort to combat global pollution, at a session in Strasbourg, France. The vote indicates the threshold for ratification -- approval by at least 55 parties accounting for 55 percent of global emissions -- was reached. The EU, which seeks to be regarded as a leader in the fight against climate change, came under pressure to endorse the plan, codified in 2015, after the United States, China and India did so.

Read More.......

Science & Technology: Geothermal Tech Can Help Oil & Gas Industry Remain Relevant

Examining the Technological Overlap Between Oil, Gas and Geothermal (Miniplanet)

The nation' first-ever commercial enterprise to co-produce electricity from geothermal resources at an oil and gas well has been successfully launched in North Dakota. (Courtesy Will Gosnold)

The intersection of the oil and gas and geothermal industries is one that is rich in unexpected ways, be it in drilling technologies or the new frontier of co-production of both fossil fuels and geothermal power from the same well. The revolutionary drilling technology oil and gas companies employ while creating critically-deep wells has migrated over to geothermal, allowing new, difficult to access renewable resources to be harnessed.

Meanwhile, in Canada and the U.S., the potential of geothermal energy coproduction at scores of previously existing oil and gas drilling sites is a hot topic — a potential way for oil and gas companies to diversify their energy portfolios and invest in clean baseload energy.

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GRC Annual Meeting: A Few Spaces Left on Enhanced Geothermal Systems Fieldtrip

8 Seats Available For The "EGS At The Geysers" Tour!

Must Sign up by October 10th

To reserve a seat, please contact Anh Lay at alay@geothermal.org with your payment info.

(Courtesy Calpine)

EGS at The Geysers

• 1-Day Northwest Geysers Enhanced Geothermal System (EGS) Tour 
• Thursday, October 27, Depart 8am returning to Sacramento by 5:30pm.
• Led by: John Avery and Julio Garcia
• Cost: $185

This is a one day comprehensive, technical tour of the Northwest Geysers and will visit Calpine’s EGS field demonstration project located in The Geysers field.

The deep temperatures in this part of the field are the hottest seen at The Geysers to date and it has been difficult to develop and produce due to high concentrations of noncondensible and corrosive gases. As part of a DOE-sponsored EGS field demonstration, Calpine reopened and deepened two wells that were drilled in the 1980’s and capped and abandoned in 1999.

By injecting recycled water, Calpine is increasing permeability in the rock, increasing steam production, and has seen a reduction in the concentrations of naturally occurring noncondensible gases. The results of this EGS project to date are very encouraging with important implications at The Geysers as well as other geothermal sites around the world that are dealing with similar problems.

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USA, California: Two Weeks to Submit Abstracts for Geothermal Workshop

2017 Stanford Geothermal Workshop

February 13-14, 2017

Frances C. Arrillaga Alumni Center, Stanford, California

Abstract submission is now open for the 2017 Stanford Geothermal Workshop. Abstract submissions will close on Tuesday 18th October 2016.

Submit an abstract.....

Author instructions and a listing of the main themes..........

The goals of the conference are to bring together engineers, scientists and managers involved in geothermal reservoir studies and developments; provide a forum for the exchange of ideas on the exploration, development and use of geothermal resources; and to enable prompt and open reporting of progress.

Science & Technology: Downhole Hammer that Endures the Heat in Geothermal Drilling

New High-Temperature Downhole Hammer Designed for Geothermal Drilling (Engineering.com)

A collaboration between Sandia National Laboratories and industrial manufacturer Atlas Copco has resulted in just such a technology: a new type of downhole hammer that can endure the heat required for geothermal drilling.

Downhole hammers employ a rapid hammering action, much like a jackhammer, in order to cut through rock. They have been used in the oil, gas, and mining industries since the 1950s, but because of their use of oil-based lubricants and plastic parts, the conventional design is unsuitable for the high temperatures of geothermal drilling.

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USA, Oregon: Geothermal Energy Group Meets For Lunch in Portland

GRC Section Luncheon Meeting Invitation

14 October, 12 pm, Portland, Oregon

The Pacific Northwest Section of the Geothermal Resources Council will be holding a luncheon meeting at Noon on Friday, October 14, 2016 at:

Alexis Greek Restaurant
215 West Burnside at 2nd Ave.
Portland, OR 97209

USA, California: Energy Commission Announces $3.5 Million for Geothermal Energy R&D

Notice of Proposed Awards (NOPA) - Improving Performance and Cost Effectiveness of Small Hydro, Geothermal and Wind Energy Technologies (News Release)

On June 15, 2016, the California Energy Commission (Energy Commission) released a competitive solicitation to fund innovative research and development for in-conduit hydropower, geothermal and wind technologies that will result in improving the performance and cost effectiveness of renewable energy sources.

Up to $8.5 million in Electric Program Investment Charge (EPIC) funding is available to fund applications in:

• Group 1: Expanding California’s Use of In-Conduit Hydrokinetic Power.
• Group 2: Improving the Cost-Effectiveness and Operational Flexibility of Geothermal Energy Production.
• Group 3: Upgrading California’s Aging Wind Turbines.

The three winners of funds in the Group 2 geothermal category, ranked in order, are:

1. Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
   High-Resolution Micro-Earthquake Imaging of Flow Paths Using a Dense Seismic Network and Fast-Turnaround, Automated Processing. ($1,672,639)
2. SRI International
   Recovery of Lithium from Geothermal Brines ($873,387) 
3. Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
   Coupled Reservoir-Wellbore Thermal-Hydrological-Mechanical-Chemical Modeling ($999,032) 

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USA, New York: Discussion on Geothermal Energy at Cornell

Roundtable explores potential of geothermal energy (Cornell Chronicle)

17 October, 4:30pm, 155 Olin Hall, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 

“The Potential of Geothermal Energy: Lessons from Iceland” will feature a keynote address by Thorleikur Johannesson, an engineer with more than 20 years of experience designing and operating geothermal facilities in Iceland, where underground heat generates more than one-fourth of all electricity and provides nearly 90 percent of the heat for buildings and houses.

Johannesson will be joined by Kyu-Jung Whang, Cornell vice president for infrastructure, properties and planning, and Edwin A. (Todd) Cowen, professor of civil and environmental engineering. Moderators will be Hirokazu Miyazaki, director of the Einaudi Center, and Jefferson W. Tester, the Croll Professor of Sustainable Energy Systems in the School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering and director of the Cornell Energy Institute.

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Turkey: 12 MW Saraykoy 2 Geothermal ORC Unit Meets Targets

Saraykoy 2 Geothermal ORC Unit Receives Acceptance By The Turkish Ministry Of Energy (News Release)

Italian company Exergy has announced that on 30th September 2016 Sarayköy 2 geothermal ORC unit in Denizli Province, installed for the client GreenEco Enerji has received acceptance by the Turkish Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources confirming that the plant meets the required performance targets.

This plant is the second of two 12 MW units that Exergy has provided to the client. The first unit started up in February has been in  successful  operation since.

Exergy S.p.A. will be exhibiting at the 40th GRC Annual Meeting & GEA GeoExpo+, October 23-26, Sacramento, California, USA.

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Philippines: Local Town to Hold Another Public Meeting on 60 MW Expansion of Palinpinon Geothermal Plant

Mayor to hold another forum on 60 MW geothermal project (Visayan Daily Star)

Southern Negros Geothermal Production Field (SNGPF) (Courtesy EDC)

Mayor Edgar Teves of Valencia, Negros Oriental, is proposing another public hearing on a larger scale on the proposed 60-megawatt geothermal power expansion project at the existing Energy Development Corporation (EDC) Palinpinon geothermal plant.

Southern Negros Geothermal Production (SNGP)-EDC senior manager Vicente Omandam said the proposed expansion project is within the 5,163 hectares existing development area and that the expansion is in terms of capacity, from 222.5 megawatts to 280.5 megawatts.

He said the application for additional 60-megawatt of power was a result of studies and projections that in late 2018 there will be a shortage of reliable base load power.

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Global: Free Article from the GRC Bulletin - The Voice of the Geothermal Community

The Latest News from the Geothermal Resources Council (GRC)

A free article from the GRC Bulletin - Volume 45, No. 5 - September/October 2016

The Geothermal Resources Council (GRC) has made available the latest GRC Bulletin, a 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 4 pages from the latest issue for free. However, the full issue is 56 pages!

In this issue, there is an article on Investigating Flexible Generation at The Geysers geothermal field and an update on geothermal energy in California. In addition, there are also updates on the 40th GRC Annual Meeting & GEA GeoExpo+ and 20 pages of geothermal news from around the world.

Join the GRC or subscribe to get the complete issue.

Canada: Researcher Gets $150,000 to Study Geothermal Energy Potential on the Prairies

The Fantastic Four U of M Vanier Scholars (University of Manitoba)

In 2016, for the second year in a row, four University of Manitoba graduate students in a single year are recipients of Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships.

Kayla Moore

Included is Kayla Moore, who, for her her doctoral research in civil engineering will investigate the solute transport in saline aquifers and application to geothermal energy as a potential power source in the Canadian prairies.

These awards, considered the Canadian equivalent of the United Kingdom’s Rhodes Scholarships, help recruit and keep in Canada top doctoral students from across the country and around the world. Each recipient receives $150,000 over three years towards his or her research.

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Science & Technology: Producing Electricity from Geothermal Resources at an Oil and Gas Well

Oil and Gas Wells Prove Useful for Geothermal Energy Generation (National Driller)

The nation' first-ever commercial enterprise to co-produce electricity from geothermal resources at an oil and gas well has been successfully launched. (Courtesy Will Gosnold)

Hot fluid is a byproduct of many oil and gas wells across the country. At least 25 billion barrels of it are produced each year, according the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). The hot water has proved burdensome for many oil and gas producers historically, especially with respect to disposal. But research has demonstrated that the fluid itself is capable of producing energy, and it can actually help cut costs for energy producers instead of raising them.

Researchers at the University of North Dakota (UND), with support from the DOE Geothermal Technologies Office (GTO), helped launched the nation’s first commercial enterprise to co-produce electricity from geothermal resources at an oil and gas well earlier this year. UND researchers successfully bred geothermal power from hot water that flows naturally from petroleum wells in the Williston Sedimentary Basin in western North Dakota. The facility started generating electricity for the first time in April.

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Iceland: Geothermal Energy Will Help Reykjavík Become the First Carbon Neutral City in the World

Reykjavík: the geothermal city that aims to go carbon neutral (The Guardian)

Reykjavík used to be marketed as a place of “pure energy”, run on geothermal power – and now Iceland’s capital is trying to become the world’s first carbon neutral city.

Last month, Iceland became one of the first countries to ratify the Paris climate deal with a unilateral parliamentary vote, shortly after Reykjavik announced its aim to be carbon neutral by 2040.

It wants to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions from 2.8 tonnes per person in 2013 to zero – largely by changing the shape of the city to reverse urban sprawl and encouraging Icelanders out of their beloved cars to walk, cycle or use public transport.

The city already has a head-start thanks to its reliance on geothermal energy. The US, for example, has a greenhouse gas footprint of 16.5 tonnes per person.

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USA, Reno: Talk on Soda Lake Geothermal Project at NPGS Monthly Dinner

Nevada Petroleum & Geothermal Society - Monthly Dinner Meeting

Thursday, October 6, 2016, Ramada Reno Hotel, 1000 East 6th Street, Reno, NV 89512 

• Cocktail Reception 6:30, Skyline Bar, 14th Floor
• Dinner Served at 7:00 PM 

NPGS Members $20, Non-Members $23, Students $10

Speaker: Dick Benoit, Consulting Geothermal Geologist, Reno, NV
               
Topic: Geology and History of the Soda Lake Geothermal Project 1972 to 2016

Abstract: 
The Soda Lake geothermal field has one of the longer exploration and development histories in the Basin and Range Province. Multiple different owners and operators have had varying degrees of success in getting the field into production and working to maintain or expand the megawatt output. Its location, in the center of a large basin with production from unconsolidated to weakly consolidated rocks, has required post-drilling stimulation in most of the active wells to achieve commercial levels of permeability. While the field has undergone cooling at rates similar to other Nevada geothermal fields the cooling has been minimal to nonexistent for the past few years and the plant has been operating at a stable long-term output.

Dick Benoit has worked in the Nevada geothermal industry since 1974 and was one of the first geologists to explore the Soda Lake field, between 1974 and 1986, with Phillips Petroleum.  He was able to resume work at Soda Lake in 2009 with Magma Energy (U. S.) and managed an extensive effort to update the geologic understanding of the resource, which ended in 2012.  He was extensively involved in sitting the first two commercial wells and the most recent production well in the field.

Click here to RSVP for the Dinner Meeting by Oct 4......

If you find that you cannot attend, please email Vicki Ehni at vehni@aol.com or call at 775-720-6387. NPGS will be charged for all no shows. Thank you for your consideration.

Philippines: Tiwi-Makban Geothermal Plant to Power Luxury Resort in Cebu

AboitizPower to supply energy needs of 2 Cebu companies (Inquirer.net)

(Courtesy JPark Island Resort and Waterpark)

A major resort operator and a metal works company in Cebu have chosen Aboitiz Power’s renewable energy to power their continued growth.

JPark Island Resort and Waterpark and NKC (Nakanishi Metal Works Co. Ltd), both operating on Mactan Island, have signed power supply contracts with Aboitiz Power Corporation under the Retail Competition and Open Access (RCOA) regime, a statement from AboitizPower said.

JPark Island Resort president Justin Uy said the comapny chose AboitizPower to be its sole provider of electricity for two years. The resort’s total monthly demand is 2.5 megawatts (MW), which will be taken mainly from the Tiwi-Makban geothermal plants in Albay and Batangas and brought to Cebu via the Visayas grid.

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