Europe: Geothermal News from EGEC

The EGEC Newsletter December 2016 - The Voice of Geothermal in Europe

The December issue of the EGEC Newsletter is now available.
Click here to download it. In this issue:

Editorial

• A word from the EGEC President: Clean Energy Package, SET Plan Conference 2016, European Geothermal Innovation Award

Policy

• EGEC Reaction to post-2020 EU Energy Package
• EGEC webinar on new EU energy package: Presentation available for members
• The Netherlands plan banning connection to gas grid for new buildings

News

• A Memorandum of Understanding to intensify energy cooperation between the EU and the EBRD
• Italy: Government issues guidelines for the use of medium and high enthalpy geothermal resources
• Enel wins Platts “Industry Leadership Award – Power” 2016
• University diploma in Management of Geothermal Projects at the University of Strasbourg

Projects

• FROnT: New online tools for consumers
• ETIP Deep Geothermal: Next meeting and General Assembly

Germany: Abstract Deadline for European Geothermal PhD Day is 15th January

European Geothermal PhD Day (EGPD)

1-3 March 2017, International Geothermal Centre (GZB), Bochum, Germany

The European Geothermal PhD Day (EGPD) aims to provide the growing number of young geothermal scientists with an informal platform to share knowledge, stimulate collaboration and offer career and networking opportunities.

Participants at any stage of their PhD studies, who are interested in presenting their work and getting feedback from fellow PhD students or who would like to explore future directions in their research and careers are welcome to join the 8th EGPD.

More information........

Iceland: Good Article and Photos of Geothermal Deep Drilling Project (IDDP)

The most extreme geothermal plant in the world (BBC - Future Now)

Iceland is known for its geothermal power – but to make the most of this natural resource, you need to go deep. BBC Future Now visits the hottest geothermal well ever made

Iceland is dotted with geothermal power plants, each consisting of multiple wells - but to make the most of the underground heat, you need to go deep (Credit: Chris Baraniuk)

Read More.........

Global: Seasons Greetings!

Happy Holidays!

(Picture by Karl Urbank, The Geysers, U.S.A)

Wishing you joy, laughter, and a prosperous new year!

-Steve, Estela, Ian, Anh, Brian, and Chi-Meng
(Geothermal Resources Council, GRC)

Commonwealth of Dominica: Government to Fund Geothermal Power Company

Government To Inject USD 15m Into Geothermal Company (Government of Dominica)

The Government of Dominica, after taking a decision to run the geothermal project as a company solely owned by the government and people of Dominica, has committed to investing US$ 15M into the geothermal company with funds from the Citizenship by Investment Programme.

This information was revealed to community leaders of the Roseau Valley, last week, by Chairman of the Geothermal Negotiating Team, Ambassador His Excellency, Dr. Vince Henderson.

Read More........

USA, California: Earlybird Registration for Geothermal Workshop Ends December 31

2017 Stanford Geothermal Workshop

Discounted earlybird registration ends on Saturday 31st December 2016

February 13-14, 2017
Frances C. Arrillaga Alumni Center, Stanford, California

Walk-in Registration and a continental breakfast begin at 7:30am on the first day. You can avoid the long lines to register by doing so in advance.

If you have already registered, thank you. If not, registration and secure online payment can be made at http://pangea.stanford.edu/ERE/db/GeoConf/.

Registration before Saturday 31st December 2016 is discounted to $640, normal registration after Saturday 31st December 2016 and before Sunday 5th February 2017 is $690. Late (after Sunday 5th February 2017) or on-site registration will be $790. Student registration is $150, but only until Sunday 5th February 2017. After Sunday 5th February 2017 student registration will be at the full rate of $790. You can also print out the registration page and fax it to Stanford Geothermal Workshop at +1(650)725-2099.

More information........          

Visit the preliminary workshop program at: http://pangea.stanford.edu/ERE/db/GeoConf/Schedule.php

Germany: State Aid to be Granted to Geothermal Energy Projects Without Going Through Auction Procedure

State aid: Commission approves auction scheme for electricity from renewable sources in Germany (European Commission)

The European Commission has found amendments to the German renewable energy scheme to be in line with EU state aid rules. As of 2017 support will mainly be granted through auctions.This will promote the steady deployment of renewable energy whilst maintaining competition in the German energy market.

Other technologies supported under the EEG 2017 (hydropower, geothermal and installations using sewage gas) will continue to be eligible for feed-in tariffs (for installations up to 100 kW) and market premiums defined in the EEG 2017 in line with the Commission's 2014 Guidelines on state aid for environmental protection and energy. This is because there are not enough potential projects for those technologies to enable the organisation of competitive bidding processes.

Read More.......

Netherlands: Research Vacancy to Study Reservoir Models of the Los Humeros Geothermal Field

Post-doctoral research position in reservoir compartmentalisation and stress heterogeneity by satellite radar interferometry (InSAR) (3 yrs)

Utrecht University, Department of Earth Sciences

Application deadline is January 31, 2017

The project title is ’Reservoir compartmentalisation and stress heterogeneity: inferences from InSAR (Interferometry by Synthetic Aperture Radar) time-series data processing for surface displacements, subsidence inversion to reservoir geometry and advanced stress models '. The project is EU-funded within the framework of GEMex: Cooperation in Geothermal energy research Europe-Mexico for development of Enhanced Geothermal Systems and Superhot Geothermal Systems (a Horizon 2020 project).

The objective of this post-doctoral research project is to assess the field compartments in reservoir models of the Los Humeros field (west TMVB, Mexico) constrained by geodetic data (INSAR and GPS).

More information.........

Germany: Geothermal Energy Production Up 12% in 2016

Clean power grows in Germany (Re News)

Renewables expected to account for 32% of country’s power in 2016

(Courtesy CIA.gov)

Renewable energy is expected to account for 32% of Germany’s electricity consumption in 2016 on track for the government’s target of 35% by 2020, according to new research.

The Centre for Solar Energy and Hydrogen Research Baden-Wurttemberg and the German Association of Energy and Water Industries expect some 191bn kilowatt hours (kWh) of green power will have been produced by the end of the year. In 2015, 187bn kWh made up 31.5% of the country’s electricity production, the organisations said.

Geothermal installations exported 200 million kWh, up 12%, according to the research.

Read More.......

USA: DOE Nuclear Waste Project Could Also Survey Geothermal Data

DOE’s Next Test Site for Storing Spent Fuel Promises No Nuclear Waste (Morning Consult)

The Department of Energy on Monday announced it has chosen four companies to develop proposals for test sites to explore storing nuclear waste thousands of feet underground.

The eventual test project will not involve any nuclear waste, but one of the primary purposes is to learn about the possibilities of storing spent fuel three miles underground, according to Andrew Griffith, deputy assistant secretary for spent fuel and waste disposition who spoke with reporters on a conference call Monday. 

The field test could also provide data about geothermal energy, rock formations, drilling techniques and underground temperatures.

Read More.........

Latin America: "GDF Gives Geothermal a Fighting Chance in Today’s Highly Competitive Environment"

Chris McCormick, Geothermal Development Facility for Latin America (New Energy Events)

This week, New Energy Events spoke with Chris McCormick, the Chief Investment Officer of the Geothermal Development Facility for Latin America , to better understand the details surrounding the new fund, and how he expects the GDF will impact the development of geothermal projects across Latin America and the Caribbean.

The US$50m fund, established by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), via KfW, is structured to address the roadblock issues associated with the early phase development of geothermal projects. McCormick anticipates applications to the fund from both private developers and public sector entities.

In an era of falling solar and wind prices, progress for geothermal has slowed. McCormick suggests, however, that the GDF reduces the risk on the equity portion of a project thus making geothermal more competitive with other forms of renewable energy. In short he believes that the GDF gives geothermal a fighting chance in today’s highly competitive environment.

Read More........

Global: The Geothermal Energy Calendar for 2017

Geothermal Energy - Calendar of Events (GRC)

4th Expo Geothermal12-14 January, Istanbul Expo Center – Yeşilköy, Istanbul, Turkey
www.powernextfair.com/fuar/4.%20Expo%20Geothermal/2/detail

Stanford Geothermal Workshop13-15 February, Stanford, California, USA
https://pangea.stanford.edu/researchgroups/geothermal/stanford-geothermal-workshop

GeoTHERM - Expo & Congress14-16 February, Offenburg, Germany
www.geotherm-germany.com/

8th European Geothermal PhD Day1-3 March, Bochum, Germany
www.geothermie-zentrum.de/egpd2017.html

ICVGE 2017: 9th International Conference on Volcanology and Geothermal Energy
11-12 March, Dubai, UAE
http://waset.org/conference/2017/03/dubai/ICVGE

Imperial Valley Renewable Energy Summit
15-17 March, Holtville, California, USA
http://ivres.ivedc.com/

Workshop: High-Temperature and Corrosion in Drilling and Production: Exploring Geothermal and Oil and Gas Synergies
(Society of Petroleum Engineers & Geothermal Resources Council)
21-22 March, Courtyard Marriott Mission Valley, San Diego, California, USA
www.spe.org/events/en/2017/workshop/17jsnd/about.html

6th ITB International Geothermal Workshop22-23 March, Bandung, Indonesia
http://geothermal.itb.ac.id/workshop2017/

24th Annual Congress of the Mexican Geothermal Association (AGM)28-30 March, Morelia, Michoacán, Mexico
www.geotermia.org.mx/geotermia/?page_id=1131

Euroheat & Power Congress 14-17 May, Glasgow, United Kingdom
www.ehpcongress.org/

GeoEnergi 201722-23 May, Bergen, Norway
http://cmr.no/courses-and-events/10688/geoenergi-2017/

IGC Turkey 2017 23-24 May, Izmir, Turkey
http://igc-turkey.com

Clean Power for the South Pacific Conference 2017 7-11 August, Vanua Levu, Fiji
www.geothermalcities.com/en/

Praxisforum Geothermie11-12 September, Munich, Germany
www.praxisforum-geothermie.bayern/en

DGK 2017 - Der Geothermiekongress 201712-14 September, Munich, Germany
www.geothermie.de

41st GRC Annual Meeting & Expo1-4 October, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
https://geothermal.org/meet-new.html

The GRC Geothermal Calendar........

Canada: GRC Member Wants You to Complete a Geothermal Energy Survey

Contribution of Geothermal Power Projects to Sustainable Development

Thank you for supporting the evaluation of proposed framework, specifically developed to assess and guide the contribution of geothermal power projects to sustainable development in a local and regional setting. This short survey will help to identify what aspects of the framework best describe the expectation of the industry and its stakeholders about a project's contributions to sustainable development. The entire survey should take between 10-15 minutes of your time.

Thanks in advance, Nastaran Arianpoo, PhD Candidate, University of British Columbia, Mining Engineering Department, Vancouver, Canada.

Start the Survey.........

Arctic: Geothermal Energy Could be a Solution for Northern Countries

Replacing Fossil Fuels With Clean Geothermal Energy (Solar Thermal Magazine)

Courtesy Global Affairs Canada

In the northern environments of the world moving from fossil fuels to renewable energy is sometime harder to accomplish. In many northern villages and towns the sun rarely shines and gray is often the color of the sky which makes solar energy considerably less effective and more expensive.

Wind power may be an option be it a very variable one. In this northern locations there can very little in the way of vegetation such as fast growing trees which could be used for biomass generation. So what is left for companies and communities in the cold north?

Many northern countries are adopting clean geothermal energy.

Read More........

Iceland: Turbine and Generator for the Þeistareykir Power Station Delivered

Hverfill og rafall komnir á Þeistareyki - Turbine and generator come to Þeistareykir (Landsvirkjun)

Turbine and generator for the Þeistareykir Power Station arrive at Húsavík, Iceland

Ein þyngsta vagnlest sem farið hefur um þjóðvegi landsins fór frá Húsavík að Þeistareykjum í vikunni, með hverfil og rafal fyrir fyrstu vélasamstæðu Þeistareykjavirkjunar. Heildarþyngd vagnlestarinnar með aðstoðardráttarbílum var um 220 tonn, en fyrra met, 196 tonn, var sett í flutningum aflspenna í Fljótsdalsstöð á sínum tíma.

One of the heaviest truck loads rolled through the country roads from Húsavík to Þeistareykir last week, with a turbine and a generator for the Þeistareykir Power Station. The total weight of the transport was about 220 tons, the previous record, 196 tons, was placed in transport power transformers in Fljótsdalsstöð at the time.

Lestu meira........                 Read More........

USA, Nevada: Five Ormat Geothermal Power Plants Transferred to Limited Liability Company

Ormat Technologies, Inc. Announces Closing of Partnership Transaction (News Release)

Storm and Drill Rig, by Piyush Bakane, Reno, Nevada. Taken during the Don A Campbell-2 drilling operation, at Ormat's Don A Campbell geothermal project, July 2015 GRC PHOTO CONTEST

Ormat Technologies, Inc. today announced that Ormat Nevada Inc. (Ormat Nevada), and ORPD LLC (ORPD), through OrLeaf LLC, a jointly established new subsidiary, entered into a partnership transaction with a financial investor that will allow us to efficiently monetize the federal tax incentives relating to five geothermal power plants located in eastern Nevada.

The transaction involves the McGinness Hills geothermal power plant complex, and the Tuscarora and Jersey Valley geothermal power plants which, prior to the transaction, were wholly owned by Ormat Nevada, as well as the Don A. Campbell phase 2 geothermal power plant which, prior to the transaction, was part of the ORPD portfolio jointly owned 63.25% by Ormat Nevada and 36.75% by Northleaf Geothermal Holdings LLC, an affiliate of Northleaf Capital Partners.

As part of the transaction, the five geothermal power plants were transferred to a newly established limited liability company, and the investor purchased membership interests in the company for an initial purchase price of $62.1 million and for which it will pay additional installments that are expected to amount to approximately $21 million through 2022. Ormat Nevada's share of the initial cash proceeds is $55.2 million.

Read More........

Costa Rica: Geothermal Energy Provided 1/8 of Electricity in 2016

Costa Rica to end year with mostly renewable electricity sources (The Tico Times)

The state-run Costa Rican Electricity Institute (ICE) reported that most of the electricity so far this year came from renewable sources.

The agency said in a statement that on Tuesday, the country surpassed 250 days using only renewable power sources. During 2016, 98.12 percent of Costa Rica’s energy was generated from renewable sources.

Costa Rica uses five renewable sources to produce electricity: hydro, geothermal, wind, biomass and solar. ICE now considers fossil fuels a backup energy generation source. During the dry season, the National Electric System takes advantage of a greater availability of wind and biomass to guarantee sustainable renewable generation.

Read More........

St. Kitts and Nevis: Estimated Generation Potential of 18 to 37 MW for St. Kitts Geothermal Prospect

Minister Liburd Underscores Importance Of Renewable Energy In Human, Economic And Sustainable Development Of St. Kitts And Nevis (The St. Kitts-Nevis Observer)

In his 2017 Budget Address on December 09, Minister of Energy, Honourable Ian Patches Liburd, said that in the area of geothermal energy, the government has made positive strides in respect to its development in St. Kitts.

“I am happy to report that an independent assessment of the geothermal source prospects on St. Kitts was completed by Geothermal Resource Group Inc. (GRG), a global leader in geothermal resource exploration, development and resource assessment,” said Minister Liburd. “This resource assessment, which was conducted in accordance with the geothermal reporting code AEGA 2010 has found that the Brimstone Hill prospect represents an inferred geothermal resource with an estimated generation potential of 18 to 37 megawatts based on the results of geologic, geochemical and geophysical exploration results conducted and documented by Teranov.”

The energy minister said that the GRG assessment has also provided recommendations for improving the interpretation of existing data sets. GRG has further stated that “with its additional work, we think that the confidence in the assessment can be greatly improved. Subsequently, exploratory boreholes will be required to measure temperature, pressure and other resource parameters to more firmly establish the potential of this commercial resource.”

Read More.........

Philippines: Mabini Geothermal Project Drilling Reaches 660 Meters

Drilling at Mabini Geothermal expansion continues (Manila Bulletin)

The consortium, composed of Basic Energy Corp. and Phinma Energy, formerly Trans-Asia Oil and Energy Development Corporation, said the drilling at the Mabini Geothermal Project is still ongoing.

“As of December 5, 2016, a casing (3-1/2”) inch string has been successfully installed at a depth of 660 meters. The next steps shall consist of rig and equipment maintenance prior to resumption of drilling operations,” Basic Energy told Philippine Stock Exchange on Friday.

“The consortium shall pursue core drilling operations until the target depth of 1500 meters is reached,” it added.

Read More........

USA, Colorado: Direct Use of Geothermal Waters to Grow Fruit and Veggies at New Greenhouse

Geothermal Greenhouse to Host Open House Tomorrow (Pagosa Daily Post)

The Geothermal Greenhouse Partnership (GGP) is pleased to announce a special Open House at the new greenhouse dome in Centennial Park, tomorrow, Saturday, December 17 from 10am-2pm - to commemorate the transformation of a workshop into a beautiful garden.

The GGP is also hosting tours at the Education Growing Dome every Tuesday and Saturday, from 10am-2pm, through December 31. The Education Growing Dome is located at the GGP site in Centennial Park, off 5th Street on the San Juan River, in downtown Pagosa Springs.

Read More.......

Science & Technology: Report on the Iceland Deep Drilling Project

How do you drill into a 500°C volcano? (BBC News)

(Video 1:34 minutes)

Scientists in Iceland are drilling in to a volcano to harness the energy from beneath the Earth. The hole will be 5km deep and is expected to hit temperatures between 400°C (752F) and 1000°C. Rebecca Morelle reports. 

Finance: Geothermal Energy Favors Well in Levelized Cost Of Energy Analysis

Lazard Releases Annual Levelized Cost Of Energy And Levelized Cost Of Storage Analyses (News Release)

Lazard Ltd has released its annual in-depth studies comparing the costs of energy from various generation technologies and of energy storage technologies

for different applications.

The cost of generating energy from renewable sources other than solar, such as onshore wind, geothermal, and biomass, declined only at the margins from last year, reflecting both the maturing of technology in those areas and a relatively low level of investment. The median cost of generating energy from offshore wind generation declined approximately 22%, but remains substantially more

expensive than onshore wind facilities, especially in the U.S.

Read More.........

USA: News from the Heat Pump Industry

Heat Exchange Industry News (Geothermal Exchange Organization)

The latest GEO Industry News is now available from the Geothermal Exchange Organization (GEO).

Headlines and features in this month’s edition include:

• Congressional Inaction Puts Geo Jobs in Peril
• VGHPA Pushes for Virginia Geothermal Tax Credit Legislation
• New York Governor Cuomo Vetoes Geothermal Tax Credit Bill
• Exhibit Space Available for IGSHPA 2017 Conference and Expo!

The Geothermal Exchange Organization, a 501(c)(6) non-profit trade association based in Springfield, Illinois, USA that advocates the environmental, energy efficiency and economic benefits of geothermal heat pump systems for heating and cooling applications in residential, commercial, and institutional buildings in the USA.

GEO Industry News (PDF)

USA: Enel Green Power North America and GE Form Joint Venture

Enel Group and GE Energy Financial Services Turn U.S. Partnership EGPNA Rep Into Joint Venture (News Release)

Enel S.p.A., through its US-based renewables subsidiary Enel Green Power North America, Inc. (EGPNA), has signed and closed an agreement with GE unit GE Energy Financial Services, under which EGPNA sold a 1% stake in EGPNA Renewable Energy Partners, LLC (EGPNA REP) to GE Energy Financial Services, for about 10 million US dollars.

As a result of the transaction, EGPNA has reduced its stake in EGPNA REP to 50% from 51% and GE Energy Financial Services increased its stake to 50% from 49%. The two companies also revised their Limited Liability Company agreement, converting EGPNA REP into an equally owned joint venture.

Francesco Venturini, Enel’s Head of Global Renewable Energies, stated: “This transaction reinforces the key pillars of Enel’s global growth strategy, while also strengthening our position in the North American market. Through the joint venture we’ve just created, the US has become the first country where we are carrying out our new industrial growth strategy driven by a less capital intensive ‘Build, Sell and Operate’ model, which will ultimately help us accelerate the development of our large global pipeline.”

Read More.......

USA, Utah: Geothermal Day Trip from 2017 GRC Annual Meeting & Expo

Go Warm-Water Scuba Diving...in the Heart of Utah (iExplore)

Geothermal curiosity is less than 50 Miles from Salt Lake City, the location for the 2017 GRC Annual Meeting & Expo

(Courtesy Homestead Resort)

Landlocked Utah is also home to the only warm-water scuba diving locale in the continental U.S. The ubiquitous mound of earth that conceals the location is so commonplace it would be easy to drive right by without realizing you’re treading near something quite special: an underground geothermal spring that’s been forming slowly over the last 10,000 years.

For millennia, snow from the Wasatch Mountains melted and seeped down about two miles below the Earth’s surface where it was heated up. The supercharged water made its way back up through cracks and fissures, picked up minerals along the way, and deposited them on the surface. This process eventually formed the volcano-shaped crater now known as Homestead Crater. Above the water a 55-foot tall beehive shaped dome rises up with a small hole that lets in just a small beam of light from the outside world.

Read More........

Canada: Borealis Geopower Looking for Investors in Valemount Geothermal Project

High Temperature Geothermal Energy Investment Opportunity (News Release)

Canoe Reach Energy Inc. (CRE), a privately held B.C. based company focused on developing geothermal projects throughout B.C.'s Valemount (Robson Valley) Region, is launching a $1.8 million capital raise to develop, market and operate a GeoHeat Park.

Director Alison Thompson states, "We are raising capital for drilling and initial development of the reservoir. Accredited investors can participate in an alternate energy investment that is PIMBY (Please In My Backyard). This is possibly the first energy project, and almost certainly the only current energy project in the province that does not have any public discontent associated with it."

Read More.......

Japan: Domestic Geothermal Power Output Capacity will Triple by 2030

Japan goes full steam ahead with geothermal power (Nikkei Asian Review)

Fifty years ago, Japan's first geothermal power plant went online. Now with the world hungrier than ever for renewable energy, the country's decades of experience in the field is presenting a big export opportunity.

This is one reason Japanese companies find themselves in the middle of a rainforest in the Indonesian province of North Sumatra, about an eight-hour drive from the provincial capital of Medan.

The Agency for Natural Resources and Energy estimates that in 2030, domestic geothermal power output capacity will reach 1.4 million kW, almost triple the amount today. Although that will amount to a mere 1% of the power produced in the country -- up from the current 0.3% -- it will be a meaningful step forward.

Hopes are growing for Japanese companies to tap not only Southeast Asia but also Latin America. Japanese players are also helping Africa exploit its geothermal resources.

Read More.........

Finance: Developing Nations Added 69.8 GW of New Wind, Solar, Geothermal, and Other Renewable Power Generating Capacity in 2015

With New Pledges and New Projects, Developing Countries Take Clean Energy Lead Globally (News Release)

Key group of emerging nations builds 18% more renewable capacity than wealthier countries and four in five have now set national clean energy targets.

Developing countries have made unprecedented pledges to consume more clean energy tomorrow even as they are leading the way today with record new wind and solar project completions, the latest edition of Climatescope concludes.

Climatescope, the clean energy country competitiveness index and online tool supported by the UK and US governments offers a compelling portrait of clean energy activity in 58 emerging markets in Africa, Asia and Latin America and the Caribbean. The group includes major developing nations China, India, Egypt, Pakistan, Brazil, Chile, Mexico, Kenya, Tanzania and South Africa, as well as dozens of others. 

These countries are not waiting to get started on adding renewable capacity, however. Between them, they added 69.8 gigawatts of new wind, solar, geothermal, and other renewable power generating capacity in 2015 – the same as total installed capacity in Australia today. 

Read More.......

Iceland: Deep Drilling Geothermal Project to Reach 5 km and 500°C in "Next Couple of Weeks"

World's hottest borehole nearly complete (BBC News)

Courtesy Alison Francis

Geologists say they are close to creating the hottest borehole in the world. They are drilling into the heart of a volcano in the south-west of Iceland.

They have told the BBC that they should reach 5 km down, where temperatures are expected to exceed 500°C, in the next couple of weeks.

When the drill gets to 5 km, the team expects to find molten rock mixed with water. But with the extreme heat and immense pressure found at this depth, the water becomes what is known as "supercritical steam".

It is neither a liquid nor a gas, but it holds far more energy than either. And it is this supercritical steam that the team wants to bring back up to the surface to convert into electricity.

"We hope that this will open new doors for the geothermal industry globally to step into an era of more production," said Asgeir Margeirsson, CEO of the Iceland Deep Drilling Project (IDDP), a collaboration between scientists, industry and the Icelandic government.

Read More.......

Eastern Caribbean: New Zealand Government to Support Geothermal Energy Development in Region

New Zealand and CDB affirm partnership on geothermal energy (govt.nz)

The Government of New Zealand and the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) have formally confirmed their ongoing partnership in support of geothermal energy development in the Eastern Caribbean.

On December 12, 2016, New Zealand High Commissioner, Her Excellency Mrs Jan Henderson met with President of CDB, Dr William Warren Smith, to discuss progress on  the implementation of the CDB GeoSMART Initiative, which has been receiving technical support from the Government of New Zealand.

The GeoSMART Initiative was developed by CDB to provide appropriate and responsive financing to accelerate sustainable geothermal development in the Eastern Caribbean. Through a Letter of Intent, New Zealand confirmed its support for the Initiative through the provision of specialist drilling, geoscience and engineering advisory services.

Read More........

USA, California: Feds Support Development of Renewable Energy in Western States

Secretary Jewell Announces Milestones to Spur Renewable Energy and Transmission in the West (News Release)

As part of President Obama’s Climate Action Plan to cut carbon pollution and create clean energy jobs, U.S. Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell today announced new steps with Western states to encourage the development of renewable power, efficiently deliver that electricity to market, and meet growing consumer demands for clean energy. 

Under a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) Secretary Jewell signed with California Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr., the Interior Department and state agencies will work collaboratively on expanded and streamlined efforts to encourage the timely and responsible development of renewable energy projects on federal and state lands and offshore waters. 

Read More........

Europe: Four Weeks Left to Make Your Nomination for European Geothermal Innovation Award

Nominations closing soon for the European Geothermal Innovation Award 2017 (EGEC)

The European Geothermal Innovation Award is awarded annually to companies which have made an outstanding contribution towards the field of geothermal energy in the form of innovative products, scientific research or project initiatives.

It is the seal of excellence applied to the most intelligent and important ideas in research and industry which will play a key role in the future development of geothermal energy. Nominations will be assessed on grounds of originality, innovation, reliability, reduction of emissions, and improvements in energy output.

The award is organised jointly by the European Geothermal Energy Council and Messe Offenburg, organizers of the GeoTHERM fair and congress.

Read More........

United Kingdom: Financier Urges Support for Undersea Cable from Iceland

Geothermal Power: the Solution to U.K.'s Energy Needs? (Bloomberg)

Edi Truell, founder of Disruptive Capital, discusses his plan to help the U.K. meet its energy needs by providing the country with geothermal power through an underwater cable from Iceland. He speaks to Bloomberg's Anna Edwards on "Bloomberg Daybreak: Europe."

Read More........

India: Geothermal Energy Used for Heating, Cooling, Cooking and Bathing in Gujarat

Dholera Swaminarayan Mandir becomes first in India to use geothermal energy for cooking and air conditioning (Desh Gujarat)

Gandhinagar: Assembly hall of Swaminarayan Mandir in Dholera town has become India’s first air conditioned hall powered by geothermal energy, said Gujarat government here.

Dholera is one of places in Gujarat that has natural hot water spring. Thanks to research by Gandhinagar based Pandit Deendayal Petroleum University’s Center for Excellence for Geothermal Energy, Swaminarayan Mandir at Dholera now utilizes geothermal energy for cooking and air conditioning needs. 50 degree Celsius hot water sourced from the ground is also used for bath.

Read More........

Philippines: Cost and Supply of Geothermal Energy is Stable - EDC President

EDC urges gov’t to support geothermal development (Manila Bulletin)

Energy Development Corporation (EDC) is encouraging government to support the development of more geothermal projects; because geothermal is not only a clean, renewable and indigenous energy source but its cost, as well as supply, is stable.

EDC President and COO Richard B. Tantoco explained the country cannot depend on coal-fired power plants for stable prices because – contrary to popular perception – coal is no longer a cheap power plant fuel, he noted.

Tantoco explained that EDC’s focus on developing geothermal and other renewable energy sources reflects the company’s recognition of the need to lessen the build-up in the atmosphere of more carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases that are blamed for global warming and climate change.

The use of geothermal  energy also helps the government save on foreign exchange that otherwise would pay for imported fuel sources like coal.

Read More........

Latin America: Background to the Geothermal Development Facility for Latin America

GDF Latin America – Financing: Interview With Jozsef Szamosfalvi (Geothermal News Report)

Jozsef Szamosfalvi

GDF for Latin America has announced the opening of it’s first round of Expressions of Interest (EOI). In an interview with Geothermal News Report, Mr. Szamosfalvi, Managing Director of Interlink Capital Strategies, reviews the different types of financing, including advance payments, requirements, structures and other important details that every prospective applicant should know. Recorded live at the GRC Annual Meeting & GeoExpo+ in Sacramento, California (USA).

For more information and to register for the EOI Pre Sign-Up today, visit:

www.gdflac.com/expression-of-interest/      (English)
www.gdflac.com/expresion-de-interes/        (Spanish)

Global: Six New Members Join the Geothermal Resources Council Board of Directors

Geothermal Resources Council Announces New Board of Directors (News Release)

Six new members join the GRC Board of Directors

The Geothermal Resources Council (GRC) is governed by a Board of Directors, elected by the general membership to 2-year terms. To provide continuity, half of the Board is elected every year. All GRC members are eligible for election to the Board of Directors.

The global GRC membership took part in the ballot in November, and the result was that six new members of the Board were elected: Bridget Ayling, Tim Conant, Warren T. Dewhurst, Dan Hoyer, Jon Trujillo, and Jeff Witter. 

From left to right, top to bottom: Bridget Ayling, Tim Conant, Warren T. Dewhurst, Dan Hoyer, Jon Trujillo, and Jeff Witter

They join eight other members who have been re-elected to the Board of Directors: Richard Campbell, Louis Capuano III, Louis Capuano Jr., James Lovekin, Leland (Roy) Mink, Joe Moore, Shigeto Yamada, and Kate Young.

Photos of the new Board of Directors can be seen on the GRC Website at www.geothermal.org/BOD.html

USA: Ex Texas Governor Selected to be Energy Chief

Major Garrett: Donald Trump chooses Rick Perry to be energy secretary (CBS News)

Donald Trump has selected Rick Perry to be energy secretary, according to two sources directly involved in the transition and selection process.

He had been summoned to Trump Tower for a meeting Monday to discuss the position after having been contacted over the weekend. The meeting was only finalized on Sunday.

Perry has been tapped to lead an agency he has suggested should be shut down. Although when Perry ran for the 2012 GOP nomination, during a debate, he famously forgot the name one of the three agencies he had pledged to eliminate.

Later in the debate, Perry remembered, “It was the Department of Energy that I was reaching for before.”

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GRC Geothermal News Resource is Followed by 3,700 Around the World

GRC Twitter Feed Reaches 3,700 Followers!

The Twitter feed of the Geothermal Resources Council has reached the milestone of 3,700 Followers!

Launched in June 2011, The Geothermal Resources Council (GRC) has posted nearly 12,300 Tweets, short 140-character messages, on the GRC Twitter website attracting over 3,700 followers and in turn following the news and information from over 2,540 sources.

As the oldest information and education association in the global geothermal energy community, the GRC is the trusted source for the latest geothermal energy news.

Get the latest Geothermal Energy news on your desktop computer or mobile device: https://twitter.com/GRC2001

Thanks for all our followers in the global geothermal community for your continued support.

New Zealand: Taupo Students Learn About Geothermal Energy

Taupo-nui-a-Tia College students present geothermal learnings to GNS Science (Waikato Times)

Hannah Golebiowski, Rhane Mercado, GNS geothermal geologist Fiona Sanders, Olivia Neill and Olivia Hilton (left to right) in front of a diagram indicating the soil temperatures across a geothermal area, as recorded by TNT College students.

There is often method in madness, as a class of Taupo-nui-a-Tia College students learned this year.

The Year 10 students measured the temperature of the soil at a geothermal site at Crown Park multiple times throughout the school year. 

Measurements were taken at different depths along a given line near fumole hot gas vents. One group also measured the carbon dioxide levels being emitted from fumoles.

The pupils presented their findings to geologists at GNS Science on Friday, along with corresponding graphs showing the air temperature and rainfall when measurements were taken.

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Philippines: Planting Program Goes Beyond Need to Recharge Negros’ Geothermal Reservoir

EDC marks first year of greening project by planting millionth tree (InterAksyon)

BINHI Tree For The Future is the story of EDC’s search and rescue of 96 of the most endangered species of Philippine trees. Present during the unveiling is DENR Sec. Gina Lopez  (center) together with (L-R) EDC President Richard B. Tantoco, EDC Chairman Federico R. Lopez, Lopez Group Chairman Emeritus Oscar M. Lopez and Technical author Prof. Pat Malabrigo of UPLB. 

The Energy Development Corp. marked the first year of a 10-year greening project in Negros Oriental by planting its millionth three, a red lauan (shorea negrosensis) at Silliman University in Dumaguete City Monday.

EDC’s “10M in 10,” undertaken with 89 partners, intends to plant a million trees a year, for a total of 10 million over a decade and is part of the energy firm’s BINHI Tree for the Future program, which has been credited for identifying and rescuing 96 of the country’s endangered indigenous tree species.

The ceremony for the planting of the red lauan, a species endemic to the country and included in the “red list” of threatened species of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, was led by EDC geothermal business unit head Jay Joel Soriano.

He said 10M in 10 goes beyond the need to plant trees to recharge Negros’ geothermal reservoir. “We are doing this because it is the right thing to do,” he said.

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USA, Nevada: German Company Re-finances 20 MW Don A. Campbell Phase I Geothermal Plant

Munich Re makes geo move (Re News)

Refinancing planned for a 20 MW plant in Nevada

Munich Re asset manager MEAG is refinancing the 20 MW Don A. Campbell Phase I geothermal plant in Nevada. The plant, which went into operation in 2014, is owned by companies belonging to Ormat Technologies and Northleaf Capital Partners, MEAG said.

It has a 20-year power supply contract with Southern California Public Power Authority. MEAG managing director Holger Kerzel said: “This is our first renewable energy investment in geothermal power.

“It further diversifies our portfolio and helps us generate sustainable, calculable cash-flows that make a valuable contribution to covering Munich Re’s liabilities.”

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Kenya: Video on Geothermal Energy Development at Olkaria

Kenya's underground power (CNN)

Kenya is a leader in geothermal power in Sub-saharan Africa, and a new 140 MW plant is set to begin operations in 2018.

USA, Idaho: U.S. Geothermal Aims for 304 MW by 2021

U.S. Geothermal Management Delivers 16 Consecutive Quarters of Profit and is Executing on Tenfold Growth Plan (Emerging Growth LLC)

U.S. Geothermal, Inc. management has delivered 16 consecutive quarters of positive cash flow and has also embarked on a 5-year plan to increase power output from 45 MW to over 200 MW with a tenfold projected increase in market cap from under $100 million to $1 billion by 2021.

Total current operations combined with projects under development equal 141 MW by the end of 2019, and if the projects under exploration are developed, U.S. Geothermal has the potential to substantially exceed their 216 MW goal by 2021 with up to 304 MW.

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Germany: Deep Geothermal Energy Group Meets at GeoTherm

ETIP Deep Geothermal Meeting & General Assembly

16th February 2017, 9am - 1pm, GeoTHERM Offenburg - Exhibition Center Offenburg

The ETIP on Deep Geothermal is an open stakeholder group, including representatives from industry, academia, research centres, and sectoral associations, covering the entire deep geothermal energy exploration, production and utilization value chain. Its primary objective is overall cost reduction, including social, environmental and technological costs, and to enable deep geothermal technology, in particular EGS, to proliferate and move from the current European R&D and pilot-sites to other European countries and different geological situations.

Membership is free. For more information and to join the platform and its working groups, please click here.

USA, Utah: Lithium Extraction from Geothermal Brines from Abandoned Oil & Gas Wells

Lithium Brine Bulk Sampling in Utah (Stockhouse)

Photo of an abandoned oil well with
pressure valve (source: Arman Zhenikeyev)

Today, Voltaic Minerals Corp. announced to have confirmed historic brine flow from 5 oil and gas production wells on its 100% controlled Green Energy Project in Utah, USA.

The company now intends to enter the brine system via existing production wells on the property in order to perform a bulk sampling program to confirm the presence of the lithium-bearing zone, at an average depth of 6250 feet and to obtain data (e.g. flow rates, temperature, metallurgy and mineral composition). The sampled brine will be processed with the "Selective Lithium Extraction" technique developed by Enertrex Corp.

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USA, California: Deadline to Submit Applications for Geothermal Energy Grants is January 20

Solicitations for Geothermal Energy Programs Geothermal Resource Development Account (GRDA)

Grant Funding Opportunity - GFO-16-505
Geothermal Grant and Loan Program (GRDA)

Date Released: November 14, 2016.
Deadline to submit Applications: January 20, 2017, by 5:00 p.m.

• Applications for this solicitation may be submitted electronically through the Grant Solicitation System
• How to Apply using the Grant Solicitation System (MP4 FIle)
• Solicitation Files. (MS Word and Excel files)

Pre-Application Workshop - November 29, 2016

• Presentation from Pre-Application Workshop
• Workshop WebEx Video Recording (MP4 File)

Finance: Billionaires Clean Energy Fund Takes Notice of Enhanced Geothermal Systems

The Breakthrough Energy Ventures Fund announced today, will provide funds to help deliver reliable, affordable, zero-carbon energy to the world. Among the innovations the group has listed on it's website is Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS):

"Earth’s vast reserves of deep geothermal heat—experts estimate total accessible reserves of more than 1,000 GW in the United States alone—present a huge opportunity to provide large amounts of zero-carbon baseload power if we can only find a way to cost-effectively tap into this energy.

However, while we know the energy is there, major scientific and technical obstacles to accessing and controlling the subsurface inexpensively have so far prevented the successful commercial development of this resource, including challenges associated with high deep drilling costs, forming and controlling complex fracture networks for water and heat flow, and efficiently converting low temperature heat into electricity.

The development of transformational new technologies to solve these challenges holds great promise to allow us to finally tap into this vast zero-carbon energy resource."

Europe: Commission Aid to be Granted to Geothermal Energy Projects Without Going Through Tender Procedure

State aid: Commission approves four support measures for renewable energy in France (News Release)

The European Commission has confirmed that four French support schemes for renewable energy are in line with EU State aid rules, concluding that the measures in question will help promote EU objectives in the field of energy and climate without unduly distorting competition.

The French authorities have notified to the Commission four different projects intended to boost electricity production from renewable sources by granting a feed-in tariff or a top-up payment, including installations using energy extracted from geothermal deposits.

With specific regard to installations using geothermal energy, the Commission has observed that the potential number of projects is too limited to organize a competitive tender. In such cases, the Guidelines allow for the aid to be granted without going through a tender procedure. The Commission has also concluded that subjecting geothermal plants to competitive bidding with other technologies could jeopardize the long-term potential of this technology in France.

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Kenya: Geothermal Development Company Board Member Passes

GDC board member Stephen Njiru dies in UK (Daily Nation)

Stephen Kimemia Njiru

A board member of Geothermal Development Company (GDC) Stephen Kimemia Njiru is dead.

Dr Njiru died in England, United Kingdom on Thursday where he was receiving treatment.

Until his death, Dr Njiru was the Chairman of the Legal and Regulatory Committee of the GDC Board of Directors and also a member of the Finance Committee of the Board.

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