USA, California: Deal Reached to Fund Salton Sea Restoration

California approves rescue plan for shrinking Salton Sea (The Washington Post)

Geothermal Energy has an opportunity to provide the revenue for restoring the blighted inland sea

California regulators on Tuesday approved a plan to spend nearly $400 million over 10 years to slow the shrinking of the state’s largest lake, a vital migratory stop for birds and a buffer against swirling dust in farming towns.

Funding for the Salton Sea is unclear but the plan enjoyed support of major water agencies and environmental advocacy groups and preserves a fragile peace among urban and rural areas in California on distributing the state’s share of Colorado River water. Authorities in Imperial Valley, home to the 350-square-mile (560-square-kilometer) lake, had threatened to derail a landmark water-sharing agreement unless California did more to honor its commitment to a long-term fix.

Kevin Kelley, general manager of the Imperial Irrigation District, told the State Water Resources Control Board that the plan would create a smaller but more sustainable lake. He acknowledged public opinion was divided in the desert farming region of about 175,000 people, which provides the U.S. with much of its winter vegetables.

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Nicaragua: Third Well at San Jacinto Geothermal Project to be Drilled Soon

Polaris Infrastructure Announces 2017 Third Quarter Results (News Release)

Polaris Infrastructure Inc. reports its financial and operating results for the quarter ended September 30, 2017. 

With availability of the rig and favourable economies of scale associated with drilling multiple wells, Polaris Energy Nicaragua S.A (PENSA) is moving forward with plans to drill a third new production well as part of the 2017 San Jacinto drilling program. This well, SJ 12-5, will be drilled off the same well-pad as SJ 12-4, likely targeting further expansion of the production zone at San Jacinto to the north or northwest. Drilling of SJ 12-5 is expected to commence in November 2017.

Marc Murnaghan, Chief Executive Officer of Polaris Infrastructure noted "The San Jacinto steamfield continues to deliver consistent generation and validates our strategy to expand the size of the resource and capitalize on the operating leverage we maintain. To that end, our 2017 drilling program appears to be yielding strong results and we look forward to providing further updates in the weeks ahead, as wells are assessed and then flow-tested."

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USA, Nevada: 24 MW Tungsten Mountain Geothermal Project to be Online by End of 2017

Ormat Technologies Reports 2017 Third Quarter Earnings (News Release)

Ormat Technologies, Inc. today announced financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2017.

"This was a strategically important quarter in our electricity segment, as we increased revenue and gross margin mainly due to the performances of our Bouillante power plant in Guadeloupe, and our Puna plant in Hawaii," commented Isaac Angel, Chief Executive Officer." 

"Our revenues and gross margin from our electricity segment continue to benefit from our ongoing efforts to improve efficiencies, and we expect further improvements in 2018 and beyond. Our Platanares power plant in Honduras commences operation toward the end of the third quarter and contributed to the electricity segment results as well."

"We are very excited about the long-term potential in Honduras and with Platanares, our first facility in the region. We expect the Tungsten Mountain project in Nevada to come online by the end of 2017. Tungsten Mountain will increase our portfolio to 800 MW and will further strengthen our results and contribute to our innovative portfolio PPA with SCPPA."

Read More.........

Canada: Questions About Geothermal Energy Development in BC Legislature

Advancing the case for geothermal energy production in British Columbia

By Andrew John Weaver OBC, Canadian scientist and politician representing the riding of Oak Bay-Gordon Head in the British Columbia Legislative Assembly and leader of the Green Party of British Columbia.

Today in the legislature, Shirley Bond, the MLA for Prince George-Valemont and I quizzed the Minister of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources about the delays involving approval of a permit expansion for Borealis GeoPower.

Below I reproduce both the text and video of the exchange between Shirley Bond, Michelle Mungall and me. As you will see from the discussion, I was troubled by some of the responses we received from the Minister. Nevertheless, the overall conversation was generally positive and bodes well for the future of this particular geothermal energy project.

(Video 24:50 Minutes)

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Climate Change: USA Only Country Not to Have Signed Paris Agreement

Paris climate accord: Syria to sign up, isolating US (BBC News)

The US is set to become isolated in its stance on the Paris climate agreement, after Syria said it was preparing to join the deal.

The Paris deal unites the world's nations in tackling climate change.

Syria and Nicaragua were the only nations outside the deal when it was agreed in 2015. Nicaragua signed in October.

In June the US said it would withdraw, but the rules of the agreement state that this cannot be done until 2020.

Scientists point out that work to implement the Paris accord must be stepped up if it is to have any chance of success.

Historically, the US, Europe and China account for almost half of the world's carbon emissions.

Read More.......

USA, Nevada: FORGE Site Decision Could be Made by June 2018

Fallon in running for geothermal lab (Nevada Appeal)

Churchill County Commissioners heard at their regularly scheduled meeting Thursday that a decision could be made by June 2018 if Fallon will be named the top location for an underground laboratory to conduct research on enhanced geothermal systems.

Douglas Blankenship, manager of Geothermal Research and Development at Sandia National Laboratories, said research also is being conducted at a site near Milford, Utah.

In his presentation of phase 3 of the Frontier Observatory for Research in Geothermal Energy (FORGE), Blankenship said the Department of Energy will be selecting a location for a National Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS) field laboratory. Once the site is selected, the field laboratory, which is funded by DOE, will begin a five-year research project to further study EGS, the means by which resources are accessed from deep beneath the surface of the earth where there are hot rocks ideal for geothermal wells but little naturally occurring liquid to generate steam.

Read More........                   Fallon FORGE Website.........

Science & Technology: Locating Supercritical Geothermal Fluids by Teleseismic Converted Waves

Discovering geothermal supercritical fluids: a new frontier for seismic exploration (Nature)

by Nicola Piana Agostinetti, et al. Scientific Reports 7, Article number: 14592 (2017) doi:10.1038/s41598-017-15118-w

Map of the study area showing Seismic stations deployed across the Larderello geothermal field (triangles): 

Exploiting supercritical geothermal resources represents a frontier for the next generation of geothermal electrical power plant, as the heat capacity of supercritical fluids (SCF),which directly impacts on energy production, is much higher than that of fluids at subcritical conditions. Reconnaissance and location of intensively permeable and productive horizons at depth is the present limit for the development of SCF geothermal plants.

We use, for the first time, teleseismic converted waves (i.e. receiver function) for discovering those horizons in the crust. Thanks to the capability of receiver function to map buried anisotropic materials, the SCF-bearing horizon is seen as the 4km-depth abrupt termination of a shallow, thick, ultra-high (>30%) anisotropic rock volume, in the center of the Larderello geothermal field.

The SCF-bearing horizon develops within the granites of the geothermal field, bounding at depth the vapor-filled heavily-fractured rock matrix that hosts the shallow steam-dominated geothermal reservoirs. The sharp termination at depth of the anisotropic behavior of granites, coinciding with a 2 km-thick stripe of seismicity and diffuse fracturing, points out the sudden change in compressibility of the fluid filling the fractures and is a key-evidence of deep fluids that locally traversed the supercritical conditions.

The presence of SCF and fracture permeability in nominally ductile granitic rocks open new scenarios for the understanding of magmatic systems and for geothermal exploitation.

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USA, California: Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory Celebrates GRC Award for Geothermal Energy Pioneer

Mack Kennedy Receives GRCs’ Geothermal Special Achievement Award (Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory)

Kennedy collecting He gas samples at The Geysers.
(Photo Credit: P.F. Dobson, Berkeley Lab).

Mack Kennedy, a geochemist in the Energy Geosciences Division at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, California (and former Geothermal Systems Program Lead), received the Geothermal Special Achievement Award from the Geothermal Resources Council, one of the world’s preeminent geothermal associations, during its 41st Annual Meeting held in Salt Lake City, Utah. Kennedy was recognized for his outstanding contributions and dedication to developing the science and engineering needed for enhanced geothermal systems (EGS).

In particular, his work in noble gases and isotope geochemistry related to geothermal systems has had a significant and lasting impact on the understanding of geothermal system evolution and has provided a valuable tool related to geothermal system exploration.

Read More........

Japan: Geothermal Energy Touted as Power Source for Cryptocurrency Mining

Japanese City Attracts Cryptocurrency Miners with Abundant Renewable Energy (news.bitcoin.com)

The government of a Japanese city known for its renewable energy and low temperature in the wintertime is attracting cryptocurrency miners to use its clean electricity. One company has already announced that it will open “the first clean energy-based Japanese mining center” in the city to mine 10 cryptocurrencies including bitcoin.

The government of Kazuno City, in Akita Prefecture, has been inviting companies that run businesses by using renewable, energy-derived, clean electricity. The city has an abundance of renewable energy including geothermal, hydroelectric and wind powers, and its self-sufficiency rate of electricity exceeds 300%.

The Tokyo-based Miner Garage Co., Ltd., which runs a business of mining digital currencies such as bitcoin, recently announced that it has been certified and invited to operate in Kazuno City.

Read More........

Japan: Short-Term Flow Tests at Akita Geothermal Energy Project Carried Out

INPEX and Partners Conduct Short-term Flow Tests on Exploratory Well for Geothermal Power Generation in the Oyasu region of Akita Prefecture, Japan (News Release)

INPEX Corporation (INPEX) announced today that it conducted short-term flow tests to gauge the capacity of an exploratory well it has drilled in the Oyasu region of Akita Prefecture, Japan in partnership with Idemitsu Kosan Co., Ltd. and Mitsui Oil Exploration Co., Ltd., with which it has jointly pursued commercialization studies on geothermal power generation since 2011.

INPEX and its partners will determine whether to transition to the third stage of studies (including drilling exploratory wells, production and injection experiments, assessment of reservoir capacity and environmental surveys) within FY2017 based on the results of the short-term flow tests and future studies.

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USA, West Virginia: First Geothermal Direct-Use Heating and Cooling System in Eastern US On Track

WVU to study possible geothermal use thanks to DOE grant (WVU Energy Institute)

GRC member Brian Anderson,
director of WVU’s Energy Institute

Every possible energy source exists within 100 miles of West Virginia University’s Morgantown campus, so it only makes sense that the University explores a variety of sustainable ways to heat and cool some 250 buildings on nearly 2,000 acres.

And in keeping with its “Go First” motto, WVU could become home to the first geothermal direct-use heating and cooling system in the eastern United States.

“WVU’s Morgantown campus is uniquely positioned to host the first geothermal direct-use district heating and cooling system on the east coast, which could open doors to more widespread use of this technology,” said Brian Anderson, director of WVU’s Energy Institute and GRC Member.

Thanks to a $720,000 grant from the Department of Energy’s Geothermal Technologies Office, WVU’s Energy Institute, in partnership with Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, the West Virginia Geologic and Economic Survey and Cornell University, will analyze the geologic resources around the Morgantown campus to see if that is feasible.

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Germany: Renewable Energy Meeting at UN Climate Change Conference

COP 23 Renewable Energy Day

Accelerating the Global Energy Transition

Sunday, 12 November 2017, 9:00 am – 6.00 pm, Deutsche Post DHL Post Tower building, adjacent to the conference venue, Bonn, Germany. 

With benefits extending far beyond reduced emissions, the global energy transition has the potential to advance multiple social, economic and environmental benefits including, employment, education, potential GDP growth, energy access, and reduced air pollution and health impacts. National and local governments around the world, civil society and the private sector are embarking on a pathway to achieve the greatest energy transformation since the start of the Industrial Revolution.

To explore cutting edge ideas and innovation at the forefront of renewable energy development and deployment, IRENA, in concert with the Government of Fiji in its capacity as COP President, the Governments of Germany and the United Arab Emirates, as well as Deutsche Post DHL, is holding a high-level event on the margins of COP23.

More Information.........                 Agenda (PDF).........

United Kingdom: Researcher Studies How People Think About Geothermal Energy

Geothermal Power Communicator, Dr. Hazel Gibson: A Day in the GeoLife Series (Rock Head Sciences)

Dr. Hazel Gibson

What’s your job like? My job is fascinating! Here at Plymouth, we are working in partnership with a company that is trying to construct the UK’s first deep geothermal power plant [United Downs geothermal energy project].

This is not the kind of geothermal power that most people would be familiar with, like they have in Iceland for example, as the rocks in the target location of Cornwall are hot, but not wet. In order to make geothermal work here, the company has to drill down to the hot rocks and add water to make steam, which will drive a turbine, making electricity!

My work focuses on how people think about geothermal in the geological subsurface, what they feel about it, and how that impacts how we talk about it. The aim of my research is to make it possible for people to have the best and most productive conversations about this as possible.

Making sure that conversations are effective is important as companies want permission to do the work, which is granted (or not) by the residents, but also local people have a lot of useful information that companies need to listen to. Throw the government into this mix and conversations can become quite heated, but a lot of frustrations often come from misunderstanding. My job is to try to reduce the chance of that happening.

Read More.........

New Zealand: New Prime Minister is a Fan of Renewable Energy

New Zealand’s New Leader Wants to Kill Off Carbon (Bloomberg)

New Zealand PM Jacinda Ardern
Photographer: Mark Coote/Bloomberg

After defying the political odds to become the world’s youngest female leader, New Zealand’s Prime Minister is taking on a different kind of power challenge.

Jacinda Ardern aims to switch the electricity grid entirely to renewables by 2035, which would place the South Pacific island in a small club of nations ditching fuels like coal and natural gas to cut carbon emissions. While the country of 4.7 million people already gets more than 80 percent of its electricity from green sources, maintaining reliable supply and affordable rates will become more challenging as it nears its goal.

Read More........

St. Kitts and Nevis: Drilling Rig Arrives For Nevis Geothermal Project

Geothermal Exploration Drill Rig Arrives On Nevis (ZIZ Live)

(Courtesy ZIZ Broadcasting Corporation)

Equipment for the first phase of the geothermal development project on Nevis, began arriving on the island following shipping delays due to the recent passage of Hurricanes Irma and Maria, pushing the start-up dates from October to mid-November.

Installation and assembly are expected to commence in a day or two. The drilling process will follow and the exploratory drilling is estimated to take about 45 days.

DOSECC Exploration Services LLC, drilling contractors based in Salt Lake City, Utah, have been contracted by NREI to undertake the drilling process. The test well is projected to be 4,000 meters deep. It will be used to collect all data possible to satisfy the financiers.

On completion of the exploration, the data will be analysed and final adjustments will be made to the engineering. The production process is planned in early 2018.

Read More.........

Australia: Twenty Sites Have Potential for Geothermal Energy Power Plants

The outback Queensland towns aiming to make power blackouts a thing of the past (ABC Online)

The commissioning of the Winton geothermal power plant and its connection to the grid should take place in late January or early February next year

The completed Winton generators are ready to be shipped to the western Queensland site. (Supplied: Jari Ihalainen)

Thargomindah, approximately 1,000 kilometres west of Brisbane, is at the end of the line on the electricity grid, and residents say it causes frequent blackouts.

In order to tackle the power issue the local government has decided to establish a geothermal power plant, and work to flip the existing formula by pushing energy back into the network from the west to the east.

"In layman's terms what we're looking at is a glorified steam turbine with a solar load-following operation... so we're taking the water out of the ground which is the Great Artesian Basin at 83 to 86 degrees Celsius, and then running that through a power plant which converts the heat into energy," Bulloo Shire Council CEO Edwina Marks said.

Dr Marks said the project has reached the concept design stage, and has attracted some state government help with a $3.6 million dollar grant.

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USA, Nevada: NV Energy CEO - Geothermal Has Significant Value

CEO: NV Energy pushes back on energy choice, looks at big renewable commitment (The Nevada Independent)

In the interview at NV Energy’s headquarters Friday, NV Energy CEO Paul Caudill talked more about renewables,  how geothermal could make a comeback in Nevada and more reasons why NV Energy could push back against the initiative.

Geothermal plants contribute more than half of the clean energy that the utility relies on to meet the state’s renewable portfolio standard. Yet geothermal, which is relatively more expensive than solar, is often left out of the conversation about renewables.

“I see a brighter future for geothermal energy than we have for the last five, six years here. In the early days — go back 30 years — some of our longest power purchase agreements were with geothermal plants. It was a resource that was number one in those days because of the cost of solar and the fact that wind is not a great resource here. Geothermal was the place to go if you wanted renewable energy here. And then what happened is solar costs came down. When you look at just least-cost planning and you say, ‘I’m only going to approve and buy those renewable assets that are the cheapest,’  geothermal’s price is higher.”

“But as you go to higher penetrations of renewable energy displacing thermal plants, geothermal has a significant value. And that is you can dispatch it. 24/7. We can use geothermal plants at night when we can’t use a solar facility. I think there is a significant value there. And as you start pushing to increase [solar] penetration on the grid, geothermal is going to become more valued.”

Read More........

Turkey: 4-Day Conference including Geothermal Energy in Afyonkarahisar City

IV. Geothermal and Natural Mineral Waters Symposium and Exhibition  (Jeoloji Mühendisleri Odası)

21-24 February 2018, Afyonkarahisar City, Turkey

Abstract submission deadline has been extended until 30 November

The Turkish Geothermal Association is one of the supporters of this event.

More Information..........

Taiwan: Geothermal Energy Could be Generated at Retired Nuclear Plants

Nuclear facility might see use as geothermal plant (Taipei Times)

The Atomic Energy Council (AEC) is to launch a plan by the end of this year that would see nuclear power plants transformed into geothermal power generation facilities, AEC Minister Hsieh Shou-shing (謝曉星) said yesterday.

The nation’s three operating nuclear plants are to be decommissioned one after the other until 2025 and this retirement is proceeding as scheduled, Hsieh told the legislature’s Education and Culture Committee yesterday, adding that the council has also funded efforts to study “green” energy in recent years.

Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Rosalia Wu (吳思瑤) said the council should be tasked with the development of geothermal power, given that a viable source can be found about 20km beneath the Guosheng Nuclear Power Plant in New Taipei City’s Wanli District (萬里).

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Pacific Islands: Program to Advance Geothermal Energy on Island States

Southwest Pacific Island Geothermal Energy Prospectivity-Economic Development and Energy Security (LinkedIn)

Bradley Ilg PhD, SPC Geothermal Advisor at Geosciences, Energy and Maritime Division of the Pacific Community courtesy of VSA

Attention potential investors interested in South Pacific Island geothermal energy prospecting, exploration, development, power production and distribution.

As newly appointed Geothermal Advisor at South Pacific Communities (made possible by Volunteer Services Abroad and SPC) please allow me to inform you that we will be working with member Pacific Island countries to advance Geothermal energy across the South Pacific. The programme aims to realise economic development, energy security and anthropogenic climate change mitigation for Pacific Island countries.

Please contact me at bradleyi@spc.int for further information. Please indicate if you are considering substantial investment and would like to speak to SPC management.

Read More.........

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St. Kitts and Nevis: Drilling Rig Arrives For Nevis Geothermal Project

Geothermal Drilling Rig Arrives on Nevis

Excitement in #Nevis today as #geothermal drill rig arrives on island to advance the #geothermal #energy project #NevisGoesGreen pic.twitter.com/LCWmlArtvW

— Hon. Mark Brantley (@markbrantley3) November 2, 2017

Europe: $246 Million Funding Available for Renewable Energy Projects

€212.5 million available to renewable energy projects (EU - INEA)

The application period is open – candidates can submit their proposals until 31 January 2018 (two-stage call) or 13 February 2018 (single-stage call).

From today, you can apply for funding in eight energy topics under the 2018-2020 Horizon 2020 Work Programme that are now open for proposal submission. The total available funding is €212.5 million.

The topics open for applications are:

• LC-SC3-RES-4-2018: Renewable energy system integrated at the building scale (overall budget: €27.5m, two-stage application process)
• LC-SC3-RES-5-2018: Increased performance of technologies for local heating and cooling solutions (overall budget: €10 m, single-stage application process)
• LC-SC3-RES-6-2018: Demonstrate significant cost reduction for Building Integrated PV (BIPV) solutions (overall budget: €30 m, single-stage application process)
• LC-SC3-RES-11-2018: Developing solutions to reduce the cost and increase performance of renewable technologies (overall budget: €30 m, two-stage application process)
• LC-SC3-RES-12-2018: Demonstrate highly performant renewable technologies for combined heat and power (CHP) generation and their integration in the EU's energy system (overall budget: €30 m, single-stage application process)
• LC-SC3-RES-13-2018: Demonstrate solutions that significantly reduce the cost of renewable power generation (overall budget: €45 m, single-stage application process)
• LC-SC3-RES-21-2018: Development of next generation biofuels and alternative renewable fuel technologies for road transport (overall budget: €25 m, single-stage application process)
• LC-SC3-RES-28-2018-2019-2020: Market Uptake support (overall budget: €15 m, single-stage application process)

Read More..........

Finance: Report Shows Continued Decline in Cost of Generating Electricity from Alternative Energy Technologies

Levelized Cost of Energy 2017 (Lazard)

Lazard’s latest annual Levelized Cost of Energy Analysis (LCOE 11.0) shows a continued decline in the cost of generating electricity from alternative energy technologies. 

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Indonesia: Video - Government Plans for 7.2 GW from Geothermal Sources By 2025

Indonesia - Geothermal Potential (The Business Year)

Official policy plans for 23% of Indonesia's energy supply to come from renewables by 2025. With 7.2GW of this expected to come from geothermal sources, we explore the country's rich geology and the new technologies making this process viable.

(Video 2:44 Minutes)

Science & Technology: Great Potential for Direct Use of Geothermal Energy From Deep Aquifers

Geothermal energy in deep aquifers: A global assessment of the resource base for direct heat utilization (ScienceDirect)

Jon Limberger et al.
Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Volume 82, Part 1, February 2018, Pages 961-975  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2017.09.084

In this paper we present results of a global resource assessment for geothermal energy within deep aquifers for direct heat utilization. Greenhouse heating, spatial heating, and spatial cooling are considered in this assessment.

We derive subsurface temperatures from geophysical data and apply a volumetric heat-in-place method to improve current global geothermal resource base estimates for direct heat applications. The amount of thermal energy stored within aquifers depends on the Earth's heat flow, aquifer volume, and thermal properties. We assess the thermal energy available by estimating subsurface temperatures up to a depth of three kilometer depending on aquifer thickness.

The distribution of geothermal resources is displayed in a series of maps and the depth of the minimum production temperature is used as an indicator of performance and technical feasibility.

Suitable aquifers underlay 16% of the Earth's land surface and store an estimated 4·105 to 5·106 EJ that could theoretically be used for direct heat applications.

Even with a conservative recovery factor of 1% and an assumed lifetime of 30 years, the annual recoverable geothermal energy is in the same order as the world final energy consumption of 363.5 EJ yr−1.

Although the amount of geothermal energy stored in aquifers is vast, geothermal direct heat applications are currently underdeveloped with less than one thousandth of their technical potential used.

Read More........

Denmark: Best Practice Guidelines for Geothermal Projects

Geothermal Development: The Best Practices (WellPerform)

Best practice guidelines for Danish geothermal projects

A very limited number of geothermal projects have been successfully developed in Denmark; in large parts due to the lack of knowhow, and the difficult transition from thought to action.

To encourage stakeholders to initiate such projects and increase the odds of completion, it is paramount that experiences are shared among the community and the industry as a whole.

Consequently, Energistyrelsen has in 2015 made six reports with guidelines of best practices for geothermal development:

• Strategic approach
• Verification process for geothermal projects
• Regulatory procedures
• Organisation and competences
• Content of standard contracts
• Budget and financial management for geothermal wells

We strongly encourage potential project owners/managers to let these guidelines support their work, and seek the open source reports that may be acquired here.

For more information on best practices of geothermal projects, please contact Rasmus Lystbæk Petersen at rlp@wellperform.com.

Read More........

Serbia: Funds made Available for Geothermal Energy Feasibility Study at Bogatić

Održivo korišćenje geotermalnih resursa šansa za razvoj opštine Bogatić - Sustainable use of geothermal resources is a chance for the development of the municipality of Bogatić (Energetski Portal)

Ovim projektom Opština Bogatić dobiće sredstva u iznosu oko 30.000 evra, koja će biti iskorišćena za izradu Studije o detaljnim geotermalnim istraživanjima i oceni mogućnosti proizvodnje toplotne i električne energije iz geotermalnih resursa na teritoriji opštine Bogatić.

(From Google Translation) With this project the Municipality of Bogatic will receive funds in the amount of around 30,000 euros, which will be used for the preparation of the Study on detailed geothermal research and assessment of the possibility of producing heat and electricity from geothermal resources in the territory of the municipality of Bogatic.

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Canada: Project Finds Significant Potential for Geothermal Energy at Mount Meager

Data sharing project highlights geothermal potential for southern BC (Geoscience BC)

A new Geoscience BC project to share historical data about geothermal heat and power potential at Mount Meager has been released today. 

The information, which is available on the Geoscience BC website can be used by First Nations leaders, experts, governments and others to better understand the characteristics of the rock types and subsurface geological structures that might contain geothermal resources. This is essential for assessing the viability of geothermal energy and heat ('direct use') in the area north of Whistler. 

Geothermal researchers have been working in the Mount Meager area since the early 1970s, but their findings have never all been available in one place -- and much of it was not accessible to the public. The information provided by Geoscience BC today shares and links to raw data, maps, and reports from companies, government agencies, researchers and students who have worked in the area.

Read More........

St. Kitts and Nevis: Video Update on Nevis Geothermal Energy Project

Nevis Geothermal Site Work Completed Prior to Drilling Rig Arrival (Thermal Energy Partners)

(Video 1:36 Minutes)

Chile: Enel Wins 33 MW of New Geothermal Capacity in Tender

ENEL Wins 242 MW Of New Solar, Wind And Geothermal Capacity In Chile’s Tender (News Release)

Enel S.p.A., acting through its subsidiary Enel Generación Chile, has been awarded the supply of 1.180 TWh per year to a number of Chilean distribution companies through the tender launched by the country’s National Energy Commission (Comisión Nacional de Energía), and aimed at meeting the energy demand of regulated market customers over the 2024-2043 period.

The Group won 54% of the 2.2 TWh per year offered in the tender, more than any other participant. The energy awarded to Enel will be provided by a mix of new renewable projects comprising of 116 MWp of solar, 93 MW of wind and 33 MW of geothermal located in the Antofagasta region for a total capacity of 242 MW.

Read More.........

New Zealand: Share Offer Will Fund Development of Silica Extraction Plants for Geothermal Power Generator

Geo40 powers up for $25m market float (The West Australian)

The Western Australia-backed New Zealand company tapping geothermal power plants for silica is laying the pathway to a $25 million sharemarket float next year. Geo40, will publish an initial public offer by October.

The fresh cash, most of it sourced from sophisticated investors and family offices, will fund Geo40’s development of two commercial silica extraction plants for an as-yet unidentified but major power generator.

Geo40’s patented technology allows for the economic extraction of silica and other specialty minerals such as lithium and boron from the hot fluids harnessed by geothermal stations to produce electricity.

The extraction plants, which are erected in modular form, remove the silica from waste geothermal fluids that have been used for power generation. The fluids are pumped back into the underground reservoir through existing reinjection wells, or recycled first to generate further electricity.

Read More........

From the Global Geothermal News archives:

• Tuesday, March 28, 2017 - New Zealand: Company Close to Begin Silica Extraction at Geothermal Power Plants
• Tuesday, November 29, 2016 - New Zealand: Commercial Operation to Extract Silica from Geothermal Power Plant Wastewater

Indonesia: PLN to Sign PPA for 86 MW from Rantau Dedap Geothermal Power Plant

PLN to sign agreements with nine renewable power producers (TheJakarta Post)

State-run electricity firm PLN has announced that it will sign power purchase agreements (PPAs) with nine independent power producers (IPPs) by mid-November.

The nine IPPs are set to build power plants based on renewable resources in various capacities totaling 640.45 MW, PLN strategic procurement director Nicke Widyawati said in Jakarta on Thursday.

The second-largest plant located in Rantau Dedap, South Sumatra will use geothermal energy with a capacity of 86 MW.

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USA: Tax Credits for Geothermal Energy Could return in Tax Overhaul Bill

House Tax Bill Trims Wind Tax Credit, Extends Nuclear Provision (Bloomberg)

Bill would also add tax credit for geothermal

Tax credits cherished by the wind and solar industry remain under a rewrite of the tax code revealed by House Republicans, but the tax overhaul bill would trim the wind energy’s production tax credit by more than a third.

The bill also adds tax credits for other energy sources, such as geothermal, small-scale wind and fuel cells that were left out of a 2015 budget and spending deal.

It’s possible the bill could change quickly, as Representative Kevin Brady, the Texas Republican who chairs the Ways and Means Committee, indicated he may rewrite the bill ahead of a Monday committee vote. Amendments are likely then, too. And then there’s the Senate, which may draft its own, separate legislation.

Read More........

USA: Forest Service Wants to Develop Geothermal Energy

Forest Service - Agency aims to boost geothermal, revise NEPA regs (E&E News)

In March, an executive order tasked U.S. federal agencies with pinpointing what actions hold back energy production on government soil.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Forest Service responded with a final report that recommended revising three regulations, five policies, four agreements with other agencies, one programmatic analysis and one order while rescinding part of another policy.

The Forest Service yesterday outlined 15 steps it could take to reach President Trump's goal of "energy dominance," placing a top priority on geothermal energy. Two of the three top priorities involved harnessing increased interest in geothermal development.

• The Forest Service wants to revise its memorandum of understanding with the Interior Department to clarify each agency's role and responsibility to streamline permitting.
• Another recommendation would require officials in national forests with high geothermal potential to consider geothermal leasing and development in their forest plans.

In FY 2016, geothermal resource production from NFS lands contributed over 360,000 megawatts of electricity, valued at over $22 million. This production generated over $650,000 of revenue for the United States Treasury.

USDA Final Report Pursuant to Executive Order 13783 on Promoting Energy Independence and Economic Growth (PDF).........

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USA: GRC Member Surveys the Geothermal Energy Industry - Part Four

Geothermal Insights IV: Postscript on Baseload Premium (LinkedIn)

by William Harvey, P.E., Project Engineer at POWER Engineers (GRC Member)

The third installment [of my series of articles] contained discussion regarding the challenges baseload geothermal power faces from intermittent renewables, and from the rapidly improving battery energy storage system (BESS) technology. At the time, Installment III did not attempt to put firm numbers on what the premium for baseload geothermal power could be.

In October 2017 we had the good fortune to convene for the Geothermal Resources Council (GRC) Annual Meeting, and in that session two papers by separate authors addressing this question quantitatively and more comprehensively were presented. So let's summarize some conclusions as I understand them.

Although not addressed by the authors, it seems future work could go into how these premiums are a function of the percentage of intermittent renewable penetration, rising as distortions increase. It also will be interesting in the future to see how BESS costs drop relative to the gap, and to what extent BESS-type arbitrage reduces the premium - the "efficient market" paradox.

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From the Global Geothermal News archives:

• Wednesday, September 6, 2017 - USA: GRC Member Surveys the Geothermal Energy Industry - Part One
• Tuesday, September 12, 2017 - Part Two
• Wednesday, September 20, 2017 - Part Three

Malaysia: Geothermal Reservoir With Temperature Above 200°C at Apas Kiri

Insights Into the Apas Kiri Geothermal System from AK-1D – Malaysia's First Geothermal Exploration Well (Researchgate)

Libbey, Ryan et al & Green Energy, Tawau. (2017).
Geothermal Resources Council Transactions Volume: 41, presented at Salt Lake City, Utah, USA

This paper presents the findings of the first geothermal exploration well in Malaysia, which was drilled at the Apas Kiri prospect in Sabah, on the island of Borneo.

The well was drilled vertically to a depth of 1449 m and encountered bottomhole temperatures of ~200°C. Petrographic, XRD, and fluid inclusion analyses of the core from AK-1D have revealed a prograding sequence of hydrothermal alteration from argillic to phyllic assemblages, providing indications that the geothermal reservoir is associated with near-neutral pH, low-moderate salinity fluids.

The observed thickness of the argillic zone in the downhole samples is in close agreement with the thickness of the <20 ohm-m conductor in the 3D MT inversion model – a valuable verification that has helped to refine the conceptual model of the system by extrapolating the initial results to other parts of the prospect. The available data suggest that AK-1D intersects a deep outflow of the Apas Kiri geothermal system, and that temperatures of >200°C are likely to be encountered in the central upflow region closer to the summit of Mt. Maria.

The findings from Apas Kiri may serve as a useful analog when prospecting for other geothermal systems situated around waning volcanic centers.

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GRC Geothermal Library. The 2017 GRC Transactions will shortly be available for free download by GRC members. All GRC PDFs from 2016 and earlier, plus several thousand additional non-GRC PDFs, will then be available for free download by everyone without signing in.

New Zealand: Seequent is New Name for Leapfrog Software Company

ARANZ Geo Changing Its Name to Seequent (News Release)

Leapfrog Geothermal exhibits at the GRC Annual Meeting & Expo 

New Zealand company ARANZ Geo announced today that the company is changing its name to Seequent. The name change and rebrand reflects the company’s expansion into a broader range of global industries and markets.

Seequent leads the world in visualisation of complex scientific data. It first introduced its Leapfrog® 3D geological modelling software to the mining and minerals industry over 10 years ago. The company has since developed solutions for a wide range of industries including geothermal and renewable energy, civil engineering, and environmental management.

Seequent chief executive Shaun Maloney says the new brand reflects the company’s evolving purpose and vision for the future.

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USA, California: Meeting to Discuss Salton Sea Restoration

Notice of Public Hearing, Opportunity to Comment and Adoption Meeting - Salton Sea - California Regional Water Quality Control Board, Colorado River Basin

November 7-8, 2017, Hearing/Adoption Hearing, Los Angeles, California. Comment Deadline has been extended to November 6, 2017 by 12 noon.

Notice of Public Hearing, Opportunity for Public Comment and Adoption Meeting on the adoption of a proposed order revising State Water Board Order WRO 2002-0013, an order approving the long term transfer of water from the Imperial Irrigation District to the San Diego County Water Authority, the Coachella Valley Water District and the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California.

Comment Deadline has been extended to November 6, 2017 by 12 noon. The Public Hearing/Adoption Hearing is scheduled for November 7-8, 2017.

Additional Information.......

New Zealand: All of Contact’s Geothermal Assets Qualify as Eligible Green Assets For Bond Program

Contact's Green Borrowing Programme (Contact Energy)


(Video 3:52 Minutes)

In August 2017 Contact launched NZ's First Green Borrowing Programme. In this video the Contact team, as well as partners ANZ and Greening Taupo, talk about Contact's investments in renewable geothermal electricity generation assets, opportunities in green investing and biodiversity projects Contact supports in the Wairakei region.

Canada: RFP Issued for Geothermal Feasibility Study for Nunavut Territory

Geothermal Feasibility Study Nunavut (Qulliq Energy Corporation)

Request for Proposal (RFP) #QEC RFP 2017134
Closing Date: 15 November

Nunavut is the largest and newest federal territory of Canada; it was separated officially from the Northwest Territories on April 1, 1999, via the Nunavut Act and the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement Act, though the actual boundaries had been established in 1993. The creation of Nunavut - meaning "our land" in Inuktitut - resulted in the first major change to Canada's map since the incorporation of the new province of Newfoundland in 1949.

Contact Jonathan Ferraby, 867-979-7544 or JFerraby@qec.nu.ca for more information.

More Information........

Canada: British Columbia Utilities Commission Alternative to Hydro Project Includes 81 MW Geothermal

British Columbia Utilities Commission - Inquiry Respecting Site C Executive Summary of the Final Report to the Government of British Columbia (BCUC)

The British Columbia Utilities Commission (BCUC) is not persuaded that the Site C project will remain on schedule for a November 2024 in-service date. The Panel also finds that the project is not within the proposed budget of $8.335 billion. Currently, completion costs may be in excess of $10 billion.

The Panel is of the view that BC Hydro’s Alternative Portfolio was not the lowest cost portfolio. We directed Commission staff to develop a draft Illustrative Alternative Portfolio and sought comment from parties.

The Panel believes increasingly viable alternative energy sources such as wind, geothermal and industrial curtailment could provide similar benefits to ratepayers as the Site C project with an equal or lower Unit Energy Cost.

The Commission Staff’s Illustrative Alternative Portfolio includes approximately 81 MW of geothermal starting in 2025.

Read the report (PDF).........

Calendar for the Global Geothermal Energy Community

Geothermal Energy Calendar from the Geothermal Resources Council

GRETA Midterm Conference
7 November, Salzburg, Austria
www.alpine-space.eu/event-details/1530

IGC Invest Geothermal
7 November, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
www.investgeothermal.com/

CAS Deep Geothermal Systems - Certificate of Advanced Studies
Module 2: Geochemistry and Hydrochemistry
12-16 November, Neuchâtel, Switzerland
www.unine.ch/cas-deegeosys

Renewable Iran 2017 - Incorporating Iran Geothermal Expo
13-14 November, Tehran, Iran
www.greenworldconferences.com/ri2017/

Geothermal Energy Development for a Green Economy
13-14 November , Hanoi, Vietnam
http://iea-gia.org/workshop-november-2017/

2017 Geothermal Technologies Office Peer Review 
13-15 November, Denver, Colorado, USA
http://doubletree.hilton.com/en/dt/groups/personalized/D/DENSNDT-USD-20171112/index.jhtml?WT.mc_id=POG

NZ Geothermal Workshop
22-24 November, Rotorua, New Zealand
http://nzgeothermal.org.nz/blog/2017/03/09/2017-geothermal-workshop/

5th Global Geothermal Energy Summit 
29-30 November, Amsterdam, Netherlands
www.wplgroup.com/aci/event/global-geothermal-energy-summit/

Geothermal Energy Workshop
European Association of Geoscientists and Engineers
1 December, University of Nebrija, Madrid, Spain
https://events.eage.org/en/2017/international-workshop-on-geothermal-energy

Reunión Nacional de Geotermia (ACEG)
5-6 December, 2017, Manizales, Colombia
www.acegeociencias.org/reuni%C3%B3n-nacional-de-geotermia/

SMU Power Plays Conference (SMU Geothermal Lab)
10-11 January, 2018 , SMU Campus, Dallas, Texas, USA
www.smu.edu/Dedman/Academics/Programs/GeothermalLab/Conference

CAS Deep Geothermal Systems - Certificate of Advanced Studies
Module 3: Drilling and Logging
15-19 January, 2018, Neuchâtel, Switzerland
www.unine.ch/cas-deegeosys

3rd International Conference on Geothermal Energy 
(Centre of Excellence for Geothermal Energy - CEGE, PDPU)
17 January, 2018, Gandhinagar, Gujarat, India
www.pdpu.ac.in/cege.html

3rd National Energy Education Summit (CEREL) 
25 January, 2018, Hyatt Regency Crystal City, Washington D.C.
https://energyedsummit.wordpress.com/

Stanford Geothermal Workshop
12-14 February 2018, Stanford, California, USA
https://pangea.stanford.edu/researchgroups/geothermal/stanford-geothermal-workshop

IV. Geothermal and Natural Mineral Waters Symposium and Exhibition
21-24 February 2018, Afyonkarahisar City, Turkey
https://jeotermalsempozyumu.org/

GeoTHERM – Expo & Congress
1-2 March, 2018, Offenburg, Germany
www.geotherm-germany.com/

CAS Deep Geothermal Systems - Certificate of Advanced Studies
Module 4: Reservoir Evaluation and Production
12-16 March, 2018, Neuchâtel, Switzerland
www.unine.ch/cas-deegeosys

9th European Geothermal PhD Days (EGPD) 
14-16 March, 2018, Zurich, Switzerland
https://geg.ethz.ch/conferences/egpd/

5th Expo Geothermal 
19-21 April, 2018, İzmir, Turkey
http://demosfuar.com.tr/fair/2

Iceland Geothermal Conference 2018
24-26 April, 2018, Reykjavik, Iceland
www.igc.is

GEOHEAT International Geothermal Conference
4-7 September, 2018, Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, Russian Federation
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DLsAdQDW0AAxWj9.jpg

GRC Annual Meeting & Expo
14-17 October, 2018
Reno, Nevada, USA
www.geothermal.org/meet-new.html

Seventh African Rift Geothermal Conference (ARGeo-C7) 
29 October–4 November 2018, Kigali, Rwanda
www.theargeo.org

Employment: Geothermal Plant Manager, Blundell Geothermal Plant, Milford, Utah, USA

Vacancy: Geothermal Plant Manager - Milford, Utah (PacifiCorp)

$107,200 - 139,100 per year

PacifiCorp’s 34-megawatt Blundell
geothermal facility near Milford, Utah.

Manages the day-to-day operations of a geographic territory, region, location or functional unit that has a significant impact on corporate, business unit, or organizational objectives. Establishes and implements business objectives, strategies, and plans. Manages and allocates financial and employee resources. Responsible for selecting, coaching, and developing employees and responsible for management of employee salaries. Implements and supports Company programs and policies. Usually responsible for establishment and adherence to department budget.

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Kenya: Japanese Agency Pledges Ongoing Support for Geothermal Energy Development

JICA pledges more support for GDC’s capacity building (News Release)

GDC MD & CEO Eng. Johnson P. Ole Nchoe (second right) joined by JICA’s Mr. Evanson Njenga (far left), Ms. Chiyoko Miyata (second left) and GDC Strategy Research & Innovation General Manager Dr. George Muia (far right) at GDC’s Kawi House office. COURTESY GDC

Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has pledged to continue its support for Geothermal Development Company (GDC)’s capacity building programme on geothermal development.

JICA has appointed a new programme consultant Ms. Chiyoko Miyata to act as the link between the organisation and GDC in the implementation of the programme that has already seen a host of GDC staff trained on geothermal development. The programme is expected to run through to 2019.

GDC is committed towards building its internal capacity as it targets a 100% utilisation of its internal human resource in its drilling activities.

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Philippines: 600 GWh Achieved by 20 MW Maibarara Geothermal Power Plant

Maibarara geothermal plant hits milestone generation level (Manila Bulletin)

A milestone level of generation of 600 gigawatt hours (GWh) has been reached by the 20 MW Maibarara geothermal power facility, according to the PetroEnergy Resources Corporation, the major equity holder firm in the project’s corporate vehicle.

That magnitude of generated capacity was officially clocked in October 25 this year, barely three years and eight months from the start of commercial operations of the power facility.

The plant is currently advancing on its expansion phase for another 12 MW capacity, targeted to be on commercial stream by December this year.

According to Paul Morala, Maibarara Goethermal, Inc. (MGI) power plant manager, a revenue meter had just been installed recently at the Maibarara-2 geothermal project, indicating then that the asset is now moving headway into its full commercial operation.

The company executive added that the engineers of MGI and Manila Electric Company (Meralco) have also jointly and successfully completed the testing of the plant’s protection relays and circuit breakers; and also of the unit’s supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) and direct transfer trip (DTT) functions.

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Science & Technology: Monitoring a Geothermal Resource from Space

How to turn a volcano into a power station – with a little help from satellites (The Conversation UK)

This is one of the first times anyone has monitored a geothermal resource from space, and it demonstrates what can be achieved. Since the satellite data is freely available, it represents an inexpensive and risk-free way of assessing geothermal potential.

(Video 4:08 Minutes)

Geothermal power has recently become a serious proposition thanks to geophysical surveys suggesting that some volcanoes could yield a gigawatt of power. That’s the equivalent of several million solar panels or 500 wind turbines from each. The total untapped resource is estimated to be in the region of 10 GW.

In recent years, the UK’s Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) has been funding RiftVolc, a consortium of British and Ethiopian universities and geological surveys, to address some of these issues. This has focused on understanding the hazards and developing methods for exploring and monitoring the volcanoes so that they can be exploited safely and sustainably.

Teams of scientists have been out in the field for the past three years deploying monitoring equipment and making observations. Yet some of the most important breakthroughs have come through an entirely different route – through researchers analysing satellite images at their desks.

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Satellite observations of fumarole activity at Aluto volcano, Ethiopia: Implications for geothermal monitoring and volcanic hazard, Mathilde Braddock, et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvolgeores.2017.05.006 Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research, Volume 341, 15 July 2017, Pages 70-83.

Indonesia: Government Seeks 25% of Electricity from Renewable Energy

Indonesia Adds Renewable Capacity Faster Than Expected (Jakarta Globe)

Remarkable Twilight in Geothermal Power Plant Site. Jakarta Pusat, Indonesia. Ulubelu Unit 3&4 (2x55MW) geothermal power plant operated by PT. Pertamina Geothermal Energy. 21st January 2017. GRC PHOTO CONTEST 2017

The government seeks to make green energy sources the backbone of Indonesia's power sector, a minister said on Monday (30/10).

According to Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Iganatius Jonan, President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo has given a directive that the government increase the use of hydropower and geothermal energy supplies, so that 25 percent of power in the country's grid be generated from renewable sources.

To attract investors to the renewable energy sector, the government has issued a ministerial regulation on the initial survey procedure (PSP) and exploration (PSPE), asked state-owned enterprises to increase investment, and simplified the procedures for obtaining exploration licenses through a one-stop integrated service center at the Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM).

The minister said Indonesia still has a huge potential in the renewable energy sector. The country also has the largest geothermal reserves in the world.

According to government data, the use of renewable energy sources is rising 0.54 percent annually. In the second quarter, the use of geothermal and other renewable energy sources in the same period reached 5.23 percent, or 0.27 percent more than the target.

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