The deep geothermal European Technology and Innovation Platform (ETIP) invites interested parties to submit an Expression of Interest to become member of the ETIP’s Steering Committee for the period 2017-2020.
The deep geothermal ETIP was launched in March 2016. Since then, a provisional Steering Committee of the deep geothermal ETIP manages the technology platform and its working groups.
The Geothermal ETIP 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.
March 7, 2017, 10AM-4 PM, Washington DC, United States Energy Association - Ronald Reagan & International Trade Center
The Geothermal Energy Association (GEA) has annually provided leadership within the geothermal energy community and a platform for constructive dialogue and in-depth discussion on issues ranging from finance, market development, and policy to GHG emissions, new technology driving change and key markets to look out for. In light of the latest developments, the Association's International Geothermal Forum is a recent spinoff from the traditional US & International Showcase.
For one day, the Forum will gather roughly fifty (50) top energy, finance, policy, government, ministry, and engineering experts to provide in-depth discussion and insight into the future of the geothermal market in the US and abroad.
Occupancy for this event is limited to 55 participants.
Registration opens this Thursday, January 19!
Cost for attendance is $25 for GEA members and $75 for Non-GEA Members, pre-registration required.
Reykjavik law firm BBA, publishes a guide to legal frameworks in geothermal energy
The handbook is intended to provide an insight into the legal frameworks governing exploration, exploitation and production of electricity from geothermal resources, in countries where geothermal capacity is being harnessed or is available for harnessing.
The hope is that the handbook will increase transparency and awareness of some of the rights and obligations governing applications for licenses for geothermal development and will serve as a first step in an eventual international cooperation for the purposes of creating industry standards in this field.
The Geothermal Transparency Guide features chapters on Iceland, Canada, Chile, Ethiopia, France, Germany, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Mexico, New Zealand, Philippines, USA and Vietnam.
Geothermal energy potential of southwestern of Saudi Arabia explored for possible power generation
Saudi Arabia is eyeing geothermal power — that is, energy from the earth by harvesting steam from volcanic vents — as part of its strategic energy plan that also includes massive use of solar energy and wind farms, a senior official told a conference here.
Saudi Energy Minister Khalid Al Falih, speaking at the on-going World Future Energy Summit in the UAE capital, said that his country will generate an addition 10 gigawatts of power from a combination of solar, wind and geothermal power projects to be installed by 2023.
This doesn’t come as a surprise: Recent studies site potential geothermal sites in Al Khouba area, in the south-western province of Jizan, for example.
In California’s southeastern desert, where an abundance of clean energy boils just beneath the surface, two start-up firms aim to build the nation’s largest geothermal power plant and mining operation.
Controlled Thermal Resources and Alger Alternative Energy, founded by Simbol's former vice president of businesses development, Tracy Sizemore, plan to tap the Imperial Valley’s geothermal resources to bring a 250 MW power plant online as early as 2020 that would be able to generate nearly six times the electricity as similar facilities in the area. In addition, the mining operation would begin extracting lithium carbonate — used for battery production — as well as manganese, zinc and other minerals in 2019.
The two companies say they have resolved the economic challenges by planning bigger operations and designing processes to minimize the adverse effect of the salt.
“We’re taking advantages of economies of scale” to produce power cheaply enough to lure utilities and other buyers, said James Turner, business development manager for Controlled Thermal Resources, which is building the power plant. “We’ve chosen to base our financial modeling with no government subsidies at all.”
In addition, CTR will receive royalties from Alger Alternative Energy’s sale of the minerals it extracts from the operation, which will bolster the power plant operation’s bottom line. One of the primary minerals is the resource used in making lithium-ion batteries, which are becoming increasingly popular in energy storage for cars, homes and utility power plants.
Alger Alternative estimates there are 100 million metric tons of recoverable lithium around the Salton Sea. Experts estimate that lithium-ion battery demand could reach 300,000 metric tons a year by 2020, so the company sees a growing market for the product.
Xped Limited has announced the completion of the Conditional Sale and Purchase Agreement (CSPA) with Singapore based KS Orka Renewables Pte Ltd.
As announced on 2nd August 2016, the company advised it had entered the CSPA with KS Orka to acquire the company's 45% shareholding in PT Sokoria Geothermal Indonesia (SGI).
Completion of the CSPA has now been satisfied following the recent approvals granted by PT PLN (Persero) for the change of shareholding interest to KS Orka under the Power Purchase Agreement and approvals from BKPM (the Investment Coordinating Board of the Republic of Indonesia), and the extension of the exploration period under the IPB held by SGI for one year.
State-owned energy giant Pertamina has allocated US$54 billion in investment for the upstream industry between 2016 and 2025, aiming for a 185 percent increase in oil, gas and geothermal production.
In 2025, Pertamina aims to produce oil, gas and geothermal energy of around 1.91 million barrels of oil equivalents per day (boepd), a significant jump from 0.67 million boepd in November last year.
The UAE today announced a landmark new $50 million fund for renewable energy projects in Caribbean island countries.
Launched by Reem Al Hashimy, Minister of State for International Cooperation, the UAE-Caribbean Renewable Energy Fund represents one of the largest single investment in the region's clean energy sector, as well as a significant deepening of bilateral relationships between the UAE and Caribbean countries.
Grant funding is provided by the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (ADFD), with the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs managing the initiative and Masdar, Abu Dhabi’s renewable energy company, leading implementation.
The new fund will seek to conclude project agreements with several countries per year. Designed for flexibility, it can support renewable energy projects both as a minority or full financier, as well as engage with both the public and private sectors. With Masdar as the technical lead, all sources of renewable energy can be considered, including solar, wind, geothermal and waste-to-energy.
The report states 5,768 are employed in the geothermal energy industry in the U.S.
The U.S. Department of Energy today released the agency’s second annual analysis of how changes in America’s energy profile are affecting national employment in key sectors of the economy.
By administering a new supplemental survey to over 30,000 energy sector employers, the Department’s 2017 U.S. Energy and Employment Report (USEER) tracked dramatic growth in several key sectors of the U.S. economy in 2016.
Mexico’s geothermal sector is poised for growth with a new regulatory and investment framework now in place. The new framework will greatly aid with permitting for site studies and a concession system for exploration and development of geothermal resources.
Join the Institute of the Americas (IOA), the US Department of Energy (DOE), the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), the US Commercial Service, Mexico’s Ministry of Energy (SENER) and Federal Electric Commission (CFE) for an overview of a recent NREL report on the sector, as well as an outlook and insights into the geothermal sector in Mexico from key market participants and government officials. More Information........
This report from the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), prepared in collaboration with regional researchers, aims to support South East European governments in preparing long-term renewable energy strategies.
The geothermal energy potential of the region is primarily characterised by a relatively low-enthalpy resource base, which is more appropriate for non-power
applications. Binary plants that allow cooler geothermal reservoirs to be used for electricity generation are the only feasible option, which offer a potential of
up to 690 megawatts (MW) at an average LCOE of EUR 86/MWh in the medium cost of capital scenario.
This renewable could be deployed mainly in Romania and, to a lesser extent, in Bulgaria, Croatia and Slovenia. In the rest of SEE, the geothermal electricity potential is often marginal and uncertain.
Here in northern California we have had a wet start to the year. Over 7 inches of rain has fallen since New Year's Day! There are widespread floods and the reservoirs are filling up. The long drought, at least in the north, could be over.
This poor weather affected electricity generation especially wind and solar. When the wind doesn't blow and the sun doesn't shine these renewable energy providers suffer.
However, geothermal energy was still plugging away, supplying a constant supply of clean, dependable, renewable energy 24/7, 365 days a year.
In fact, yesterday in California, geothermal energy was the biggest provider of electricity to the CAISO grid, with over 24,000 MWh. Winds produced 13,066 MWh, solar energy (PV and thermal) peaked after midday and only supplied 16,161 MWh.
Geothermal energy was the number one renewable energy provider - and this is not the only day when it supports the economy here in California.
Wairakei in winter. By Duncan Foley. Pipe to Powerplant at Wairakei outlook taken July 27, 2012. GRC Photo Contest 2012.
In 2012, construction of the world’s first bioreactor was completed along the Waikato River in New Zealand.
The purpose of the bioreactor is to mitigate the environmental impact of the Wairakei Power Station that is situated on the river. The success of this bioreactor has made it a potential model for similar technology to be produced in the United States.
The Wairakei Power Station is a geothermal power station located in the North Island of New Zealand. The station is situated on the Waikato River, so it can utilize the river water to cool the geothermal fluid that is extracted in order to generate electricity. However, after usage in the cooling process, pollutants from the plant are introduced into the water. Releasing the polluted fluid back into the Waikato River is damaging to the natural river ecosystem, especially as a threat to local biodiversity.
In an effort to reverse the detrimental environmental impact of the plant, the Wairakei bioreactor was conceived. The bioreactor is made up of 378 km of underground pipes that house bacteria on their internal surface area.
Aujourd'hui, on vous explique tout sur la géothermie avec une visite de la centrale de géothermie profonde à côté de Strasbourg!! Nous sommes pour cela avec le directeur du laboratoire d'excellence sur la géothermie profonde !
Today, we explain everything about geothermal energy with a visit to the deep geothermal power station near Strasbourg!! We talk with the director of the laboratory of excellence on deep geothermal!
(Video 5:39 Minutes)
The LabEx G-EAU-THERMIE PROFONDE is a research program on deep geothermal energy founded by the French Ministry of Research and Education in the framework of the "Laboratories of Excellence" initiative.
White Arrow Ranch in Bliss, Idaho has hot springs that produce 1.5 million gallons of 170° Fahrenheit water daily—perfect for geothermally heating a greenhouse.
Technology is king at Laura Lee Farms. Geothermal energy heats the greenhouse. During the 50 days that it takes each seed to grow into harvestable food, sensors monitor temperature, humidity, and sunlight, keeping conditions ideal for plant growth and pest control. A computer monitors total dissolved salt in the feed water and injects more salt as necessary.
The project bond has also been touted as one of the best in Asia, getting the Best Renewable Deal of the Year by Alpha Southeast Asia, to be awarded on Jan 25, 2017 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
The P12.5-billion local currency, multi-tranche bond issuance, backed by the Asian Development Bank, was the first green bond issuance in Asia and the Pacific.
AboitizPower through its subsidiary AP Renewables, Inc. (APRI), used the issuance to finance the rehabilitation of the Tiwi-MakBan geothermal power facilities, which it bought from the government in 2009 and to partially fund its operating expenditures and future capital investments.
The two power plants, located in Batangas and Laguna (MakBan) as well as in Tiwi, Albay combine for 390 MW of clean renewable power for the Luzon grid.
The biggest category of investment in clean energy in 2016 was, as usual, asset finance of utility-scale renewable energy projects. This totalled $187.1bn last year, down 21% on 2015. The biggest seven financings were all in offshore wind in Europe, but there were also large deals in Chinese offshore wind, in solar thermal, solar PV, biomass and geothermal (the ENDE Laguna Colorada installation in Bolivia, at 100 MW and $612m).
Taking all categories of investment into account, solar was the leading sector once again, at $116bn, but this was 32% down on 2015 levels, due in large part to lower costs per MW. Wind saw $110.3bn invested, down 11%, while energy smart technologies attracted $41.6bn, up 29%, biomass was more or less level on 2015 at $6.7bn, and biofuels secured just $2.2bn, down 37%. Small hydro showed a 1% dip in investment to $3.4bn, while low-carbon services attracted $4.3bn, up 5%, geothermal $2.7bn, up 17%, and marine energy $194m, down 7%.
The natural heat of deep aquifers will meet 82% of the heating needs.
Fully committed to the energy transition in its area, Bordeaux Métropole (comprising the city of Bordeaux and some of its suburbs) is taking another step forward in its Climate Plan with the creation of the Plaine Rive Droite geothermal heating network, which will serve the neighbourhoods of Brazza, Niel, Benauge and Garonne-Eiffel.
To best meet the city’s expectations, ENGIE subsidiaries ENGIE Cofely and Storengy joined forces to submit a single integrated tender for deep geothermal energy, combining ENGIE Cofely’s expertise in heating networks and Storengy’s expertise in subsurface exploration and development. In selecting ENGIE’s tender, Bordeaux Métropole has chosen a partner that is committed to the long-term success of all aspects of this ambitious project, which marks a revival of deep geothermal energy in France. The concession has been awarded to ENGIE for a 30-year period.
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.
The Indonesian Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry has scrapped plans to auction Ciremai Mountain geothermal working area in West Java. The government will appoint state-owned oil and gas company PT Pertamina to become the operator of the area. “They [local residents] at the vicinity of Ciremai Block suggested it be operated by Pertamina,” Energy Ministry Geothermal director Yunus Saefulhak told Tempo yesterday.
The ministry now is aiming to develop geothermal electricity in Ciremai with a capacity of 110 MW of a total capacity of 150 MW. The block covers an area of 38,560 hectares.
(Courtesy Big Sky Carbon Sequestration Partnership)
US researchers have taken another step closer to developing a scalable option to capture and store carbon dioxide (CO2) using a new technique that involves injecting liquefied gas into ancient lava flows.
Researchers at the Big Sky Carbon Sequestration Partnership (BSCSP), at the Wallula Basalt Pilot Project in Washington State, have turned liquefied carbon dioxide into solid rock by injecting the gas into basalt formations. This type of carbon capture and storage could help manage the amount of carbon in the atmosphere and in turn help to mitigate global warming, one of the most serious threats facing humanity in the 21st century.
Location of the Lithium resources owned by Dajin Resources in northern Nevada. Note the proximity to the Tesla Gigafactory. (Courtesy Dajin Resources)
Dajin Resources Corp. reports that it has completed its direct push drill sampling program at Gabbs Valley, Mineral County, Nevada, and has received laboratory analytical results. Six direct push holes were completed to depths ranging from 150 to 181 feet (45.7 to 55.2 metres), from which saline groundwater samples were taken. Salinities were highest in samples that were centrally located in the playa, ranging up to 49,000 mg/l of total dissolved solids.
U.S. Geothermal Inc. announced today that the estimate of the geothermal reservoir capacity associated with its San Emidio II project in Washoe County, Nevada, has increased from the earlier estimate of 10 net megawatts, to an estimated generation capacity of up to 47 net megawatts. This increased capacity is in addition to the current 10 megawatts being produced by the existing San Emidio I plant.
In early 2016, five 1,000 foot temperature gradient wells were drilled in the Southwest Zone and later in the year, two of those wells were deepened. Both wells intersected a high permeability, high temperature geothermal reservoir. Data from flow tests that took place in late 2016 on the two deepened wells were incorporated into a Probabilistic Power Density model developed by Geothermal Science Inc., an independent geothermal reservoir engineering company. Based on the flow rate and temperature produced by the two wells, and by measurement of pressure response across the wellfield, the model estimates that the area encompassed by the five wells drilled in 2016 (.18 square miles) has a 90% probability of 18.8 net megawatts of generation capacity as the Minimum. A larger area (1.4 square miles), defined by additional temperature gradient wells and geophysics, has a 50% probability of 47 net megawatts of generation capacity and was rated as the Most Likely outcome.
GEORG – Research Cluster Initiative is seeking a powerful project manager to participate in increased activities of the cluster on international research and development projects.
Responsibilities:
Operation and supervision of international research and development projects in the field of geothermal energy
Communication and support to cluster participants
Marketing, promotions and event management
Planning and managing meetings and networking events
Participation in policy development in geothermal RD&D?
Diverse team- and project work with GEORG employees
Application deadline is January 23, 2017
For further information please contact Hjalti Páll Ingólfsson, GEORG Operational Manager, directly at (+354)618 3541 or email hpi@georg.cluster.is.
Retail and tech companies such as Amazon, Apple, Facebook, Google, Microsoft, Target and Walmart are among nearly half of the Fortune 500 companies seeking to locate operations in states with ready access to clean-energy sources.
The report concludes that while there is no one-size-fits-all solution, the following actions at the state level would go a long way in supporting the growth of corporate renewables procurement:
Remove barriers to
corporate deployment of
both onsite and offsite
renewable installations.
Support the development of next-generation options to purchase renewable energy through utilities in regulated markets.
Expand energy choice options for C&I customers in regulated markets.
Ensure that an adequate market exists for renewable purchasing through both utilities and third-party programs.
Ensure that RE in both regulated and deregulated markets can scale up rapidly.
Alison Thompson is the Principal of Borealis GeoPower: Geothermal Village SustainAville, Chair and Co-Founder Canadian Geothermal Association (CanGEA).
In her PowHERtalk, Alison shares her vision-in-action, "We're bringing together industry, community, and government with the "SustainAville" concept".
Once final data are in, Energy Information Agency (EIA) expects 24 gigawatts (GW) of new generating capacity to be added to the power grid during 2016. For the third consecutive year, more than half of these additions are renewable technologies, especially wind and solar.
Of the 2016 renewable additions, nearly 60% were scheduled to come online during the fourth quarter. Renewable capacity additions are often highest in the final months of the year, in part, because of timing qualifications for federal, state, or local tax incentives. Estimated fourth-quarter capacity additions for 2016 are based on planned additions reported to EIA and are subject to change based on actual project schedules.
Power producers around the world are increasingly turning their attention to the heat beneath our feet.
Circulation test at Rittershoffen EGS site, by Christine Heimlich. Circulation tests of the doublet EGS Rittershoffen site. Rittershoffen village, Alsace, France. September 24, 2014.
Geothermal electricity generation might not have the high-tech flashiness of solar, or the romance of wind and wave, but it’s the solid, steady workhorse of the renewable energy race.
The never-flagging heat lurking at various depths below the Earth’s surface is tapped to produce steam that is used to drive turbines and generate electricity.
This heat can also be used more directly to warm spaces or swimming pools, but sustainable electricity generation is the goal that most have in their sights.
Jerome L. Garciano of Robinson+Cole has updated his Green Tax Incentive Compendium which includes information about incentives for geothermal projects.
The volume presents certain U.S. federal and state tax incentives promoting the renewable energy and energy efficiency industries. Each section outlines the basic features and regulatory requirements for a tax program which provides financial incentives for clean technology development through renewable energy and energy efficiency projects.
21-22 March, 2017, Courtyard Marriott Mission Valley San Diego, California, USA
The Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) and Geothermal Resources Council (GRC) have teamed up to develop a joint workshop bringing together researchers, engineers, and field technicians concerned with Upstream E&P, Corrosion and Scaling, and Geothermal Energy.
Exploring themes common to these related fields through case studies and applications, this event hopes to improve the ability to develop downhole resources safely and efficiently.
A group of researchers is aiming to develop a novel way to satisfy Europe’s energy needs by combining heat and power with metal extraction.
The strategic objective of the ‘CHPM2030’ programme is to create a potentially disruptive technological solution that could help satisfy European needs for energy and strategic metals in a single interlinked process.
In the CHPM technology vision the metal-bearing deep geological formation will be manipulated in a way that the co-production of energy and metals will be possible, and may be optimised according to the market demands.
The project aims to convert ultra-deep metallic mineral formations into enhanced geothermal systems (EGS) that will serve as a basis for the development of a new type of facility for ‘combined heat, power and metal extraction’ (CHPM).
Last month, Baker Hughes successfully directionally drilled with an innovative system in a deep geothermal well. In fact, the metal-to-metal motor operated for a continuous 270 hours – the longest time that a system like it has ever operated.
"The Bulldog" by Andrew Tiedeman.
GRC PHOTO CONTEST
Geothermal taps an immeasurable amount of energy lying deep beneath our feet, energy that is also renewable and nearly free of emissions. But because of the immense heat in the deep subsurface, conditions are sometimes difficult to work in. For example, engineers seeking to tap geothermal resources often encounter extreme temperatures, extreme pressures, and crystalline rock formations. That’s where highly advanced drilling technologies and techniques—pushing the envelope of what can be achieved in conventional drilling operations—come in.
To overcome these challenges, Baker Hughes Incorporated, a global oilfield services company, with investment from the Geothermal Technologies Office (GTO), developed and successfully demonstrated an advanced drilling system designed for these critical conditions. This technology can drill directionally at extremely high temperatures (~300°C). The system uses a high-temperature lubricant in the drilling fluid, a full metal drill bit to break the formation, and a full metal drilling motor known in the drilling industry as a “metal-to-metal motor”. Last month, Baker Hughes successfully directionally drilled with this innovative system in a deep geothermal well. In fact, the metal-to-metal motor operated for a continuous 270 hours – the longest time that a system like it has ever operated.
For more than a century, fossil energy innovations have dominated research at the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL). Now a group of NETL researchers are building on that expertise to increase the world’s body of knowledge on how to integrate fossil fuel energy systems with renewable energy technologies—knowledge that could end up powering commercial office complexes and military installations with heat from deep within the earth.
The researchers are part of an NETL initiative called Synergistic Fossil Integrations with Renewable Energy (SFIRE). Their goal is to find ways to effectively use renewable energy resources—such as biomass feedstock, solid waste gasification, wind, solar, and geothermal—in combination with fossil energy fuels, such as coal and natural gas, and through non-typical cycles, such as solid oxide fuel cells and cycle-hybrids.
SFIRE researchers have recently focused their attention on geothermal energy possibilities.
At the lab level, NETL’s SFIRE researchers are helping to determine safe and sustainable ways to expand the direct use of geothermal energy in the context of electricity generation. For example, SFIRE researchers have worked on hybrid combustion/geofluid cycles for energy-producing turbines. This humidified cycle can make use of low-temperature geofluid water, normally applied only for heating, to generate power at higher geofluid efficiencies than typical geothermal cycles. The hybrids use less natural gas, per unit of electricity produced, than conventional combustion turbines as well as less water than water-cooled combustion-based power cycles. This approach is known as geoHART—geothermal humidified air recuperated turbine.
We have long known, on the basis of a massive scientific record, that the urgency of acting to mitigate climate change is real and cannot be ignored. In recent years, we have also seen that the economic case for action—and against inaction—is just as clear, the business case for clean energy is growing, and the trend toward a cleaner power sector can be sustained regardless of near-term federal policies.
Despite the policy uncertainty that we face, I remain convinced that no country is better suited to confront the climate challenge and reap the economic benefits of a low-carbon future than the United States and that continued participation in the Paris process will yield great benefit for the American people, as well as the international community. Prudent U.S. policy over the next several decades would prioritize, among other actions, decarbonizing the U.S. energy system, storing carbon and reducing emissions within U.S. lands, and reducing non-CO2 emissions.
Of course, one of the great advantages of our system of government is that each president is able to chart his or her own policy course. And President-elect Donald Trump will have the opportunity to do so. The latest science and economics provide a helpful guide for what the future may bring, in many cases independent of near-term policy choices, when it comes to combatting climate change and transitioning to a clean-energy economy.
Popularly known as Hans Zwager, the pioneer who has passed on at the age of 90, brought to life the Kenya flower industry.
Hans Zwager founded Oserian Development Company in the early 80s marking the beginning of a business which would drive an industry to grow into one of the top export earners for Kenya.
The pioneer purchased Oserian Farm in 1969, which was a cattle ranch with 16 employees. He established a new concept – flowers for export and later he started developing geothermal energy at Oserian, which now provides electric power to the entire farm.
On January 6, 2017, the Quadrennial Energy Review (QER) Task Force released the second installment of the Quadrennial Energy Review report titled “Transforming the Nation’s Electricity System.” The second installment (QER 1.2) finds the electricity system is a critical and essential national asset, and it is a strategic imperative to protect and enhance the value of the electricity system through modernization and transformation. QER 1.2 analyzes trends and issues confronting the Nation’s electricity sector out to 2040, examining the entire electricity system from generation to end use, and within the context of three overarching national goals: (1) enhance economic competitiveness; (2) promote environmental responsibility; and (3) provide for the Nation’s security.
The report provides 76 recommendations that seek to enable the modernization and transformation of the electricity system. Undertaken in conjunction with state and local governments, policymakers, industry, and other stakeholders, the recommendations provide the building blocks for longer-term, planned changes and activities.
Ismoyo Argo, senior manager for business relation of Supreme Energy, said the company is in the process of securing financing (financial closing) to fund the project development.
TerraCOH’s vision is grand. The fledgling firm would use carbon dioxide emissions — a nemesis to the planet — to power a geothermal energy system, which would in turn produce low-cost, clean electricity.
And TerraCOH’s patented geothermal technology could serve as a big underground battery, effectively storing renewable — but intermittent — wind and solar energy. Now, the Minneapolis-based company just needs money to turn its plans — about eight years in the making — into reality.
The good news: TerraCOH believes this year it will fire up a small-scale commercial version of its power system in North Dakota. “We are ready to build the power plant,” said Jimmy Randolph, TerraCOH’s chief technical officer. “And we’re trying to raise the money to do that,” chimed in Chief Executive John Griffin.
Indonesia has set a target of developing 9.6 GW of geothermal generation by 2025, almost seven times more than it has now, and a little less than three times as much as the US, the present leader for installed capacity.
The target was set by Arcandra Tahar, the deputy minister for energy, during a visit to the main Javanese site of Pertamina Geothermal Energy (PGE), the subsidiary of a state-owned energy company that is Indonesia’s main producer.
The minister said the geothermal would provide the country’s main baseload power supply in future, making Indonesia the first country to base its energy strategy around this means of generation.
Staff from the California Energy Commission’s Geothermal Grant and Loan Program will conduct a workshop on January 18, 2017, to review program participation requirements and discuss project planning in advance of the program’s upcoming GRDA – Mineral Recovery from Geothermal Brines grant funding project solicitation.
The workshop will provide an opportunity for interested parties to learn about the GRDA Program and the requirements specific to this special solicitation being offered pursuant to Senate Bill 1074 (Hueso, Chapter 539, Statutes of 2016), which authorizes funding for projects to recover lithium, metals, agricultural products, and other beneficial minerals from highly mineralized geothermal brines at existing geothermal facilities that are in disadvantaged communities and provide local employment opportunities. During this workshop, staff will discuss project planning considerations, including requirements for project compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). In addition to staff presentations, the workshop will include time for discussion and questions from participants.
The GDF is an initiative of KfW to promote the development of geothermal energy in Latin America. This fund will provide grants for surface studies aimed at helping to locate strategic targets for drilling, as well as contingency grants for drilling up to 3 wells.
Science Undergraduate Laboratory Internship (SULI)
The Science Undergraduate Laboratory Internship (SULI) program encourages undergraduate students to pursue science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) careers by providing research. Selected students participate as interns appointed at one of 17 participating DOE laboratories/facilities. They perform research, under the guidance of laboratory staff scientists or engineers, on projects supporting the DOE mission. Fall and spring programs are 15 weeks. Summer program is 10 weeks. Applications for Summer 2017 due January 13.
Community College Internship (CCI)
The Community College Internship (CCI) program provides technical training experiences for community college students to enter technical careers relevant to the DOE mission. Applications for Summer 2017 due January 13.
Graduate Student Research Program (SCGSR)
The SCGSR research proposal is developed by the applying graduate student in collaboration with a NREL laboratory research scientist, and in consultation with the student’s primary graduate thesis advisor. The SCGSR research proposal includes the scope of thesis research proposed to be conducted at NREL. On-line application opens February 2017.
Map
of surface heat flow in the Iberian peninsula.
Source:
UVa-www.lacasig.com
Spain’s government has announced it will launch a technology neutral auction for 3 GW of renewable energy capacity at the start of this year.
The announcement came from energy minister Alvaro Nadal on Dec. 14 as he spoke to the nation’s parliament.
Nadal stated that the 3 GW auction is necessary to assure Spain of meeting its binding European Union target for 2020 stipulating that 20 percent of final energy consumption be sourced from renewable energy. Presently, the figure is a little over 17 percent.
Nicaragua plans to invest between 600 and 700 million dollars in the energy sector this year, to improve the service to the population and promote sustainable development, official sources reported on Wednesday.
The president of the Nicaraguan Chamber of Energy, César Zamora, said that his organization was investigating at least 10 investment projects, most of which were focused on renewable energy sources such as hydro-electrics, bio energy, solar energy and geothermal energy.
'We have finished projects with available financing and with a specific period to fulfill the authorities' goals,' he pointed out.
Zamora also stated that the energy sector enjoys economic stability and is working on exporting, after reaching 90 percent of the country in 2016 with electricity cover.
The Department of Energy announces the release of a Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) entitled “Geothermal Deep Direct-Use Feasibility Studies.” The Geothermal Technologies Office will fund up to $4 million to conduct feasibility studies of large-scale, low-temperature deep-well geothermal systems coupled with advanced direct-use applications and cascaded surface technologies whose applications will extend the reach of geothermal into geologically distinct parts of the country. These systems are referred to as Deep Direct-Use or DDU.
This FOA will solicit applications that propose projects supporting DDU feasibility studies in two Topic Areas:
Topic Area 1 “DDU Feasibility Studies” will focus on the initial site selection, resource assessment, and feasibility study of DDU technology(s).
Topic Area 2 “DDU Community of Practice Administration and Techno-Economic Validation of DDU Projects” seeks to convene and establish a DDU Community of Practice (COP).
Report concludes that some geothermal resources are also competitive sources of new generation, but these lowest-cost
resources are geographically limited and are only expected to be exploited slowly.
The Annual Energy Outlook provides modeled projections of domestic energy markets through 2050, and includes cases with different assumptions of macroeconomic growth, world oil prices, technological progress, and energy policies.
For geothermal energy the report projects an additional 800 MW between 2018 and 2022 despite having one of the lowest Levelized Cost of Electricity (LCOE) and Levelized Avoided Cost of Electricity (LACE) among energy sources.
Report concludes that geothermal technologies have made important strides in development cost reduction and generation flexibility, and development in the Salton Sea area offers important co-benefits.
California will require improved transmission access to a diverse set of renewable resources throughout the state and the broader West to cost-effectively meet its renewable energy and greenhouse gas reduction targets, according to a report released by the state’s Energy Commission.
To meet its 50% renewable portfolio standard, the study assumes that California will need to tap an additional 25 to 53 TWh of renewable energy between 2020 and 2030. Based on a 30% capacity factor, that translates into a need for 9.4 to 20.3 GW of new renewable capacity. That figure spikes to 76 TWh (29 GW) under a scenario of accelerated vehicle electrification in the state.
While low-cost utility-scale solar is already cost-competitive throughout California, its continued growth will become costly without the integration of other types of renewable resources to balance out the generation profile for solar.
To counter that effect, California will require access to low-cost renewable resources both inside and outside the state, “especially wind and geothermal resources with generation profiles complementary to California solar generation.” The state’s power producers will also need access to energy markets outside California to offload excess generation and reduce ratepayer costs, the study said.
