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

Download The GRC Annual Meeting & Expo App!

Due to popular demand we are again providing a mobile app for the GRC Annual Meeting & Expo for use on a Smartphone, tablet or desktop. This is the best way to keep up-to date with news and information at your favorite geothermal energy event.

Are you going to Palm Springs to network? The app will help you find old friends and connect with new ones.

The app can be downloaded from a dedicated website at https://attendify.com/app/611o5d/ - you first have to download a "container app".

1. Download the "Attendify" container app from the App Store or Google Play.
2. Open the app and sign up by tapping the corresponding button at the top or bottom of the page, or log in if you already have a profile. To create an account, we recommend using the email address you registered for the event with.
3. Search for "GRC Annual Meeting & Expo" or scan this QR Code........
4. If you already joined an event, it will be visible on the home screen of the Attendify App under "Your Events" section, or you can quickly open the list of all events you joined from the side menu.
5. On the event card, you can find the GRC Annual Meeting's date, location, and description. Tap join to access the event, see the full, up-to-date information and start interacting with other users. 

You are in! Here is what you can do with the Attendify App:

• Share photos, post messages, comment & like other users' posts
• @mention other attendees in your post and they will receive a notification about it
• Cross-post to other social networks (Twitter, LinkedIn)
• Connect & network with other attendees
• Send private messages
• Save participants' profiles as VCards to your phone
• Take notes (you can #tag other attendees to document something about them)
• Bookmark sessions, speakers, sponsors, exhibitors, and attendees
• Rate speakers and sessions, provide feedback & comments
• Set scheduled reminders for sessions & create a personal schedule
• Receive push notifications from the event organizer
• Vote in polls & view voting statistics
• Access all event information (schedule, documents, maps, speaker bios)
• Search attendees by "Interests"

How to use the Attendify GRC Event App.........

Don't wait, download the App now!

Download....

Japan: Construction of 14.9 MW Appi Geothermal Power Plant Begins

Construction Works Started at Appi Geothermal Power Plant - Aiming to start commercial operation in April 2024 (News Release)

Appi Geothermal Energy Corporation, which was jointly established by Electric Power Development Co., Ltd. (J-POWER), Mitsubishi Materials Corporation (MMC), and Mitsubishi Gas Chemical Company, Inc. (MGC), has started construction works of Appi Geothermal Power Plant in August 2019.

Appi Geothermal Power Plant, whose capacity is 14,900kW, will contribute to reducing CO2 emissions and stable power supply. Aiming to start commercial operation in April 2024, Appi Geothermal Energy Corporation is proceeding with construction works safely, with consideration to natural environment.
This project is the second joint geothermal power project by J-POWER, MCC and MGC after Wasabizawa Geothermal Power Plant which started commercial operation on May 20, 2019.

Read More.........

Europe: New Website for Combined Geothermal Heat and Power Consortium

Geosmart: Innovations For Flexible Geothermal Systems (News Release)

Project GeoSmart is pleased to announce the launch of its brand new project website, https://www.geosmartproject.eu/. The site enables the users to find out more about the project and its services, its international consortia and the expected impact on the resilience of geothermal heat and power sector.

Project GeoSmart, an international and collaborative initiative, funded by European Commission’s H2020 program, aims to address the strategic flexibility required from European geothermal installations, as they become significant energy sources over the next 20-30 years, replacing decommissioned fossil fuel plants.

The project’s main objective is the demonstration, in working geothermal plants, of two variants of GeoSmart technology, meeting the different flexibility needs of low-enthalpy and high enthalpy combined heat and power (CHP) provision.

Read More.........

Geothermal Event! GRC Annual Meeting to Host Timely Discussion on Opportunities and Challenges for the Geothermal Industry

Opportunities and Challenges for the Geothermal Industry - A Panel Discussion (News Release)

GRC Annual Meeting & Expo
Tuesday, September 17, 10:10-11:50am
Palm Springs Convention Center

Moderator: Kathy Araujo, Energy Policy Institute - Center for Advanced Energy Studies, Boise State University

Panelists:

• Nick Goodman (Cyrq)
• Bill Harvey (Power Engineers)
• David Kolk (City of Colton)
• Tim Latimer (Fervo)
• Christal Loewen (CanGEA)
• Alex Richter (ThinkGeoEnergy)

The US geothermal power industry has experienced major flux in recent years. In the five-year period between 2012 and 2017, total growth equaled 0.2% compared to 15.2% in the previous five years (according to data from the Energy Information Administration). Importantly, geothermal energy is also experiencing significant technological improvements through research programs led by the European Union (EU), the US Department of Energy (DoE) and California Energy Commission (CEC), amongst others, as well as new investment from the private sector. Amidst the shifts, geothermal energy continues to offer considerable value for the power grid in terms of the quality and characteristics of the energy as a flexible and renewable form of baseload in the transition to a low-carbon, sustainable, energy economy.

There are also large growth opportunities in Co-production with oil & gas, Deep Direct Use, and Shallow Heat-pump applications, as evidenced by countries in Europe and through the DoE’s recent GeoVision study. Given these dynamic times, how do we take good advantage of these opportunities, encourage growth in the geothermal industry and facilitate greater penetration of geothermal energy into the world’s energy markets? The goal of the panel is to facilitate objective debate across a panel of experts and, using interactive Q&A with the audience, get to the heart of this question to inform the direction of our industry and community.

Free with GRC Annual Meeting Registration

Register Now!

Geothermal Event! Register Now and Save $50!

Register Now for GRC Annual Meeting & Expo and Save!

Save $50 for this premier geothermal energy event by registering before the event

The GRC Annual Meeting & Expo will bring together geothermal companies, academics, financiers, policy leaders, students, and other individuals to attend or exhibit at the event, to be held from September 15 to 18 at the Palm Springs Convention Center, Palm Springs, California, USA.

Attendees who register before the event pay only $1,130 as Geothermal Resources Council (GRC) members or $1,330 if non-members. The non-member registration includes GRC membership through 2020. Students with a current identification card from an accredited institution pay just $175 which also includes GRC membership through 2020. Registration onsite at the event will incur a $50 processing charge. 

In addition to the prestigious Technical Program, the three-day registration to the GRC Annual Meeting & Expo includes Sunday evening events until late (an Opening Reception, Outdoors Exhibits and an After-after Party!), the Opening Session on Monday morning, a Network Reception on Tuesday and the GRC Expo and lunch on all three days.

All the latest information and a tremendous tool for networking at the conference, can be found on the Event App, which can be downloaded at https://attendify.com/app/611o5d/.

Registration is available through a secure online connection on the GRC website at www.geothermal.org or download the Program containing a printable Registration Form.

This is the premier gathering to learn about the latest developments in geothermal energy. Last year, the GRC Annual Meeting & Expo hosted over 1,000 attendees from 34 different countries.

The GRC Annual Meeting will offer technical, policy, and market conference sessions, educational seminars, tours of local geothermal and renewable energy projects, and numerous networking opportunities.

The Expo features a unique opportunity for leaders in the geothermal energy sector to showcase their projects, equipment, services and state of the art technology to the geothermal community. Reserve your booth now! There were more than 100 exhibitors at last year’s trade show.

Room reservations can now be made on the GRC website at www.geothermal.org.

For more information about the GRC Annual Meeting & Expo in Palm Springs, California, USA, visit www.geothermal.org or call (530) 758-2360.

For information on how to sponsor this event, contact Estela Smith, GRC at (530) 758-2360 or grc@geothermal.org

More Information & Register..........

Germany: Fifth Well Being Drilled at Munich Geothermal District Heating Project

Geothermie-Anlage: Unter der Wiesn wird derzeit gebohrt - Geothermal plant: Under the Wiesn is currently being drilled (Abendzeitung-Muenchen)

Ducks at the Schäftlarnstraße Drill Site in
Munich, Germany. By David Lentsch.
GRC Photo Contest 2018.

Das fünfte Bohrloch für die Geothermie-Anlage der Stadtwerke München in Sendling wird bald fertig. Gerade fräst sich der Bohrer unter der Theresienwiese durchs Gestein.

The fifth borehole for the geothermal plant of Stadtwerke München in Sendling will soon be completed. The drill is currently milling through the rocks under the Theresienwiese .

Es ist das fünfte von insgesamt sechs Mega-Bohrlöchern, die die Stadtwerke (SWM) für die Geothermie-Anlage, die hinterm Heizkraftwerk Süd an der Schäftlarnstraße entsteht, in die Erde treiben, um das heiße Thermalwasser aus der Tiefe unter München bald für die Wärmeversorgung der Stadt nutzen zu können. Ein Baustein für das Ziel, bis 2040 den gesamten Münchner Bedarf an Fernwärme CO²-neutral zu decken.


(From Google Translate) It is the fifth of a total of six  deep holes drilled into the ground by Stadtwerke (SWM) for the geothermal power plant, which is being built behind the southern heating plant on Schäftlarnstraße, soon to supply hot thermal water from below Munich for use in the city - a building block for the goal of covering the entire Munich demand for district heating CO²-neutral by 2040 .

Weiterlesen.........                          Read More........

Finance: World Energy Council Envisions Modest Growth for Geothermal Energy

World Energy Scenarios 2019 (World Energy Council)

In 2016, the World Energy Council and its scenarios partners, Accenture Strategy Energy and the Paul Scherrer Institute, published a new set of World Energy Scenarios describing three different plausible pathways for energy transition. The scenarios adopted a time horizon to 2060 to focus on the responses to the challenge of global climate change.

Over the last three years, this scenario framework has been validated by input from the Council’s extensive energy expert member community and annual surveys of energy leaders. The three scenarios are perceived by these experts to be more relevant than ever. Discussion of member input has added interesting nuances to each scenario archetype. In this round, the Council has adopted a medium-term time horizon of 2040 and focused on the implications of broader and disruptive innovation for the energy industry.

The 2019 scenarios are summarised as follows:

• Modern Jazz. A market-led, digitally disrupted world with faster-paced and more uneven economic growth. Recent signals suggest that this entrepreneurial future might accelerate clean energy access on both global and local scales, whilst presenting new systems integration, cyber security and data privacy challenges.
• Unfinished Symphony. A strong, coordinated, policy-led world, with long-term planning and united global action to address connected challenges, including inequitable access and affordable decarbonisation. Recent signals suggest increased activism and commitment to addressing climate change at the sub-national level, and an expansion of the focus from climate change mitigation to a broader, socially inclusive and economically affordable sustainable development agenda.
• Hard Rock. A fragmented world with inward-looking policies, lower growth  and less global cooperation. Recent signals, such as the rise of populist leaders and uncertainty about the outlook for international cooperation, imply that this scenario is also evolving into a story of regionally firmer security foundations rather than total fragmentation and “harder rocks.”

The projections for geothermal under the three scenarios are:

• Modern Jazz: 599 TWh by 2060, a 4.6% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) over the period of 2015-2060 
• Unfinished Symphony: 859 TWh by 2060, a 5.4% CAGR
• Hard Rock Power: 365 TWh by 2060, a 3.4% CAGR

Read More.........

Geothermal Event! New Exciting Outdoor Exhibit Showcase

Display Your Large Equipment at the Outdoor Showcase!

GRC Annual Meeting & Expo

• Sunday, September 15, 8-9pm
• Monday, September 16, 7am-1:30pm

Esplanade area outside the Palm Springs Convention Center

Do you have large equipment to display? Bring it to the GRC Expo and showcase it to our attendees!

New this year, the GRC will host an Outdoor Exhibit Showcase in conjunction with the usual indoor expo at the Palm Springs Convention Center. The outdoor expo will be located in the outdoor Esplanade area in front of the registration lobby of the convention center where exhibitors will have a covered and secure place to showcase their large equipment.

If you are interested, please contact Anh Lay at alay@geothermal.org or by phone at (530) 758- 2360 ext. 100.

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

Geothermal Energy News from Around the World

Global Geothermal News - Weekly Update (Geothermal Resources Council)

A round-up of this week's international geothermal energy news.......

Click on the links below to view the whole story and other news on Global Geothermal News.

Opportunity to Have a Say on the Direction of your Geothermal Association

Become a Candidate! GRC Board of Directors 2020-2021 Term (News Release)

The next election for the Board of the Geothermal Resources Council will be in November 2019, voted by our members. It’s vital that all our members participate in this vote. It’s your chance to have a say on the direction of your association.

The Board will soon announce a list of nominated candidates selected by the current Directors.

Every member also has the right to petition for a candidate by collecting 25 signatures from other members. Get on the ballot by participating at the Annual Meeting & Expo in Palm Springs!

All candidates at the Annual Meeting & Expo will have the opportunity to campaign for the vote:

• receive a special “GRC Board Nominee” ribbon attached to their name badge;
• be involved in a meet-and-greet at the GRC booth (5:30 – 6:30 pm on Tuesday September 17);
• have candidate information uploaded to the conference app including: draft statement; head shot; bio.*

Submit a petition before the meet-and-greet and receive a ribbon and be eligible to take part at our booth.

Final candidate petitions will be accepted through October 1st.

* Candidate information will be uploaded to the app if received promptly and staff time allows.

Instructions on Completing a Nomination by Petition...........

Geothermal Event! Controlled Thermal Resources Updates on Hell’s Kitchen Geothermal Lithium and Power Projects

The right place at the right time - Hell's Kitchen Lithium and Geothermal (LinkedIn)

Rod Colwell, Chief Executive Officer, Controlled Thermal Resources

Hells Kitchen 2, Third Place in 2017 GRC Photo Contest.
Darrell Cornett, Darco Productions, El Centro, California, USA.

With August wrapped up and the U.S. summer cooling off, Controlled Thermal Resources (CTR) continues to progress its Hell’s Kitchen Lithium and Power projects in Imperial Valley with commercial operation of the first 15,000-tonne lithium carbonate facility and 49.9 megawatt power plant projected for 2023.

We are pleased to report construction work continues in preparation for CTR’s Hell’s Kitchen Lithium and Power projects. CTR’s engineering consultant HATCH is nearing completion of the HKG Preliminary Economic Assessment and the team has activated early preparations for the next major engineering milestone.  

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

Rod Colwell will be attending the GRC Annual Meeting & Expo from 15-18 September at the Palm Springs Convention Center, Palm Springs, California, USA. He will be speaking on a panel - Accelerating Geothermal Lithium Extraction Technology from 1:30-3:10pm on Monday, September 16. 

Controlled Thermal Resources is a sponsor of the Party at the Air Museum on Monday, September 16.

Geothermal Event! Spaces Filling Up Fast for Enhanced Geothermal Systems Workshop

GRC Workshop - New Frontiers in EGS Technology

Friday & Saturday, September 13 & 14
Palm Springs Convention Center, California, USA
Cost: $650 (Member), $750 (Non-Member), $225 (Student)

Organized by:

• Sabodh K. Garg, Ph.D., Vice-President and Principal Reservoir Engineer, Geologica Geothermal Group, Inc.
• Azadeh Riahi, Ph.D., Senior Engineer, Itasca Consulting Group
• William M. Rickard, PE, President and Principal Engineer, Geothermal Resource Group, Inc.
• Will Pettitt, Ph.D., Executive Director, Geothermal Resources Council

Download the Flyer (PDF).........

High-temperature geothermal resources are the manifestations of cooling magmatic intrusions, which are vertically zoned. Beneath the low-permeability cap and the hydrothermal circulation volume, there exists a zone of limited permeability where meteoric fluid does not circulate freely, and thus engineering intervention is required to enhance permeability and fluid circulation.

It is estimated that roughly 90% of the geothermal power resource reside in Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS). While realization of EGS development on the 100+ GWe scale would make EGS a significant component of the renewable energy portfolio, numerous technological challenges remain in accessing and characterizing, creating, monitoring, operating, and sustaining engineered reservoirs.

Development of cost-effective EGS technology is critical to the long-term viability of the world-wide geothermal industry. This workshop is the third in a series of EGS-focused workshops sponsored by the GRC (previously held in 2012 and 2016), focusing on the latest research findings and practical experiences in geothermal reservoirs. The workshop instructors are experts from geothermal and petroleum industry, academic institutions, and U.S. national laboratories.

In addition to formal presentations, ample time will be allowed for questions/discussion between participants and workshop presenters.

Spaces are filling up fast! Sign-up now!

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

Geothermal Event! Spaces Filling Up Fast for Supercritical and Superhot Geothermal Resources Workshop

GRC Workshop - Supercritical and Superhot Geothermal Resources

Saturday, September 14, 8am-5pm
Palm Springs Convention Center, Palm Springs, California, USA
Cost: $375 (GRC Member), $475 (Non-Member), $175 (Student)

Organized by Wilfred Elders (Professor Emeritus, UC Riverside), with instructors from USA, Japan, and Iceland.

Flow testing the hottest well in the world. Krafla Power Station, Iceland. Well IDDP-1 at Krafla hit 900°C hot magma at 2.1 km depth. Since the well has been flow tested several times, photo from 9 August 2011, 10°C at 40 bar, 3150 KJ/Kg, -35 MWe. - Gudmundur O. Fridleifsson. 2011 GRC Photo Contest.

There is increasing interest in supercritical and superhot geothermal systems as wells penetrating such reservoirs could potentially yield an order of magnitude more power than that currently produced from typical geothermal wells. Such resources are likely wherever young volcanic rocks occur at drillable depths.

Speakers: 

Wilfred Elders, University of California, Riverside, USA; Susan Petty, Alta Rock Energy USA; Samuel Scott, Reykjavik University, Iceland. Ingólfur Ö Þorbjörnsson, Iceland GeoSurvey, Iceland; Matthew Uddenberg, Stravan Consulting LLC, USA. Tatiana Pyatina, Brookhaven National Lab., USA; Hiroshi Asanuma, AIST, Japan. Þorleikur Jóhannesson, Verkis, Iceland,

Topics:

• Enthalpy and Flow Characteristics of Supercritical Fluids and Their Reactions With Crustal Rocks & Their Worldwide Potential. Wilfred Elders
• Modeling Supercritical Systems Associated With Igneous Intrusions. Samuel Scott
• Economics of Supercritical Geothermal Resources. Matthew Uddenberg
• The Iceland Deep Drilling Project, Phase 1, Drilling Into Magma. Wilfred Elders
• The Iceland Deep Drilling Project, Phase 2, Drilling Into a 600^o Supercritical System. Wilfred Elders
• The Japan Beyond The Brittle Project. Hiroshi Asanuma
• Challenges of Drilling, Logging, and Completing High Temperature and Pressure Wells. Susan Petty
• Casing, and Expandable Couplings For Hot Wells. Ingólfur Ö Þorbjörnsson
• Very High Temperature Casing Cements. Tatiana Pyatina
• IDDP Fluid Handling and Power Production Issues. Þorleikur Jóhannesson
• The Newberry Crater, Oregon Superhot System. Susan Petty
• Utilizing Supercritical Systems To Produce Flexible And Integrated Combinations Of Electricity, Hydrogen, and Minerals. Wilfred Elders
• Panel Discussion: Overview and Prospects For The Future. Moderated by Wilfred Elders

Ample time will be provided for workshop participants and presenters to engage in discussion to explore select topics in more detail.

Space is limited; early enrollment is recommended.

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

Geothermal Event! Exhibitor Launches Enhanced Measurement Tools

Enhanced measurement accuracy with new Promac series tools (Engineering360)

(Courtesy Probe)

Probe, a supplier of cased-hole logging and advanced monitoring technology to the global oil and gas and geothermal industries, has launched the ProMAC, a new series of multi-arm caliper tools. Designed to increase measurement accuracy, reliability and maintainability, ProMAC series tools offer advanced measurements to provide an accurate profile of the internal surface of tubing, casing and completion assemblies.

The tools join Probe’s growing range of well integrity solutions that help operators identify mineral deposition, corrosion, wear and mechanical deformation. The ProMAC series calipers deliver highly sensitive, accurate multi-arm caliper measurements over a wide range of casing and tubing diameters at a vertical resolution of 0.0001 in with excellent temperature stability.

Read More.........

Probe will be exhibiting at the GRC Annual Meeting & Expo, 15-18 September at the Palm Springs Convention Center in Southern California, USA. 

Germany: Garching Geothermal Plant Plans Summer 2020 Start

Start der Bauarbeiten für Geothermieanlage - Start of construction work on geothermal plant (News Release)

Nachdem im Juli die ersten Baugenehmigungen für die Errichtung der oberirdischen Anlagenteile der Geothermieanlage erteilt wurden, starteten Mitte August die Arbeiten der Silenos Energy am Bauplatz Bruck in Garching an der Alz. Aktuell werden insbesondere Erd- und Fundamentarbeiten durchgeführt und u.a. mit dem Bau des Betriebsgebäudes, dem Turbinenhaus und dem Filtergebäude begonnen. Parallel dazu wird die benötigte Leitungsinfrastruktur bestehend aus Trinkwasser, Strom und Kommunikation bis zum Anlagengrundstück eingerichtet.

Nach Abschluss der wesentlichen Fundament- und Rohbauarbeiten beginnt der Rohrleitungs- und Anlagenbau. Mit der Montage der Turbine, einem der Herzstücke der Anlage, ist im kommenden Frühjahr zu rechnen. Die Fertigstellung und Betriebsaufnahme der Anlage plant Silenos Energy für den Sommer 2020.

(From Google Translate) After the first building permits for the erection of the above-ground plant components of the geothermal plant were granted in July, the work of Silenos Energy at the Bruck site in Garching an der Alz started in mid-August. In particular, earthworks and foundation work are currently being carried out, including the construction of the company building, the turbine house and the filter building. At the same time, the required pipeline infrastructure consisting of drinking water, electricity and communication will be set up right up to the site.

After completing the essential foundation and shell construction work, the pipeline and plant construction begins. The assembly of the turbine, one of the core parts of the plant, is expected in the coming spring. Silenos Energy plans to complete and start up the plant in the summer of 2020.

Weiterlesen.........                          Read More.........

From the Global Geothermal News archives:

• Wednesday, November 28, 2018 - Germany: Garching Geothermal Project - 125 Degrees Celsius Geothermal Waters at 105 Liters Per Second Meets all Expectations
• Wednesday, September 26, 2018 - Germany: First Well Completed at Garching Geothermal Project
• Friday, March 23, 2018 - Germany: Drilling at Garching Geothermal Project to Begin Next Month

Croatia: MB Holding to Build a 19.9 MW ORC Geothermal Power Plant in Legrad

Turkey's MB Holding unit to build second geothermal power plant in Croatia - report (SeeNews)

Zagreb-based MB Geothermal, part of Turkey's MB Holding, has signed a deal with Croatian project design firm Ekonerg for the design of a 19.9 MW geothermal power plant, local media reported on Friday.

The Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) plant will be build in Legrad, close to the city of Koprivnica in Croatia's north, and will produce some 165 GWh of electricity per year, news wire SeeBiz reported.

The Legrad plant will deliver its output to the power grid in northern Croatia, with MB Geothermal having already requested a study on the optimal technical solution for the connection to the grid from the Croatian electricity transmission system operator, HOPS, SeeBiz said. 

In December, Italian turbogenerator manufacturer Turboden, a Mitsubishi Heavy Industries company, completed the commissioning of MB Holding's first geothermal power plant in Croatia - the 17.5 MW Velika Ciglena plant, whose ORC turbine system was delivered by Turboden.

Read More.........

USA, California: Call for Abstracts for High-Temperature Well Cementing Workshop

Joint GRC-SPE Workshop: High-Temperature Well Cementing

March 30 - April 1, 2020,
Wyndham San Diego Bayside, San Diego, California, USA

Call for Abstracts - Deadline is Dec. 1

The Geothermal Resources Council (GRC) together with the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) invite you to present your latest technical work in High-Temperature Well Cementing at the special joint workshop.

The topics to be covered are listed in the agenda for the workshop.....download the Flyer for more information.

Please submit your abstracts to Estela Smith at grc@geothermal.org. Call 530.758.2360 ext 102.

Deadline for submission of abstracts is December 1st, 2019.

Download the Flyer...........

Netherlands: Trias Westland to Expand Geothermal District Heating Network

Second geothermal heat source Trias Westland for more sustainable geothermal heat (Royal FloraHolland)

Trias Westland is expanding with a second geothermal heat source. This considerable increase in sustainability for the Westland greenhouse horticulture sector will enable more greenhouse horticulturists to equip their companies with sustainable heating.

The first construction work is starting early September 2019 at Kasteelweg in Naaldwijk, so that it may be combined with the reorganization planned by the municipality of Westland. Over the next six months, two kilometers of heat pipelines will be installed in stages. Preparatory works for installing the second thermal heat doublet at Lange Broekweg in Naaldwijk will start in the first quarter of 2020. It will become operational in the second half of 2020. 

Read More.........

Croatia: Great Interactive Maps of Geothermal Energy Resources

Mapping The Geothermal Resources of Croatia (GIS Cloud)

Geothermal energy is getting traction as a renewable energy source and an alternative to solar and wind farms. To better understand the geothermal potential of a country and to raise awareness, it’s best to present the geothermal resources data with interactive maps.  That’s why Lea Petohleb, a graduate geologist from the University of Zagreb, created a GIS Portal that shows all Geothermal Resources of Croatia and a lot more.

Read More.........

Finance: Solar and Wind Dominate the Last Decade of Renewable Energy Investment

A decade of renewable energy investment, led by solar, tops USD 2.5 trillion (United Nations Environment Programme)

Global investment in new renewable energy capacity over this decade — 2010 to 2019 inclusive — is on course to hit USD 2.6 trillion, with more gigawatts of solar power capacity installed than any other generation technology, according to new figures published today.

According to the Global Trends in Renewable Energy Investment 2019 report, released ahead of the UN Global Climate Action Summit, this investment is set to have roughly quadrupled renewable energy capacity (excluding large hydro) from 414 GW at the end of 2009 to just over 1,650 GW when the decade closes at the end of this year.

The global share of electricity generation accounted for by renewables reached 12.9 per cent, in 2018, up from 11.6 per cent in 2017. This avoided an estimated 2 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions last year alone — a substantial saving given global power sector emissions of 13.7 billion tonnes in 2018.

Read More.........

USA, Nevada: Employment Opportunity as Business Analyst at Ormat

Vacancy: Business Analyst (Ormat Technologies)

Location: Reno, Nevada, USA

This position is responsible for supporting the business development staff in origination tasks, writing proposals, market research, and administration of the US Business Development databases.

• Assists in the preparation of interconnection and transmission applications, submittal, and associated communications to obtain interconnection and transmission agreements.
• Assists in the preparation of proposals for power purchase agreements and other types of business transactions.
• Administers contracts, power purchase agreements, and interconnection and transmission agreements.
• Performs market analysis, competitive intelligence and research.
• Administers US Business Development databases in SharePoint.
• Assists in regular reporting on main projects and tasks.
• Develops project schedules, descriptions, diagrams, reports, studies, and other documents.
• The willingness to travel up to 20% nationally.
• The ability to travel for long distances by car and air.
• Must be able to operate a vehicle in a safe manner.

More Information and Apply........

Global: Best Geothermal Photos of the Year!

Winners of the 2019 Geothermal Photo Contest Announced (News Release)

The 40th Amateur Geothermal Photo Contest winners will be on display at the GRC Annual Meeting & Expo in Palm Springs, California, USA.

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


1st Place:

Salton Sea Infrared
https://flic.kr/p/2gSohLu

Janet Harvey, Ladenburg, Germany

2nd Place:
Cathedral
https://flic.kr/p/2gSnwYJ

Fabio Sartori, Massa Marittima (Grosseto), Italy

3rd Place:
Powered By Light
https://flic.kr/p/2gSnuti

Thomas Ratouis, Reykjavik, Iceland



Honorable Mentions:

• Geothermal Drilling by Vilhjálmur Guðmundsson, Reykjavik, Iceland - https://flic.kr/p/2gSofRx
• The famous "cozido" cooked by geothermal heat, by Jose Manuel Vaz Velho Barbosa Marques, Lisbon, Portugal - https://flic.kr/p/2gSojv6 - (For excellent representation of the community and its utilization of geothermal)

All the entries can be seen on the GRC Flicker website at https://flic.kr/s/aHsmFV3MDy and will be on display at the GRC Annual Meeting & Expo being held at the Palm Springs Convention Center, Palm Springs, California, USA from September 15 –18. The theme for this year’s meeting is Geothermal: Green Energy for the Long Run.

For more information about the GRC Annual Meeting & Expo, visit www.geothermal.org or call (530) 758-2360. 

Iceland: Video of Theistareykir Geothermal Power Station

IPMA PE Award finalists 2019: Theistareykir Geothermal Power Station (IPMA Awards)

Competing for the International Project Management Associations (IPMA) Global Project Excellence Award in the category Large-Sized projects is Theistareykir Geothermal Power Station, Landsvirkjun, Iceland.

(Video 2:30 Minutes)

Switzerland: Geothermal District Heating on the Rise

Schweiz Schreitet Bei Der Geothermischen Heizleistung Voran - Switzerland Is Making Progress In Geothermal Heating (Geothermie.de)

(Courtesy CIA.gov)

2018 betrug in der Schweiz die installierte geothermische Heizleistung summa summarum 2200 MW. Das bedeutet eine Steigerung von etwa 4 Prozent im Vergleich zum Vorjahr, obwohl der letzte Winter dezent war und dementsprechend die Heizlast geringer war. Die allgemein produzierte Heizenergie sank nämlich im gleichen Zeitraum von gut 3.800.000 MWh auf knapp 3.700.000 MWh.

(From Google Translate) In 2018, the installed geothermal heating capacity in Switzerland totaled 2200 MWth. This represents an increase of about 4 percent compared to the previous year, although the last winter was decent and accordingly the heating load was lower. In the same period, generally produced heating energy dropped from a good 3,800,000 MWh to almost 3,700,000 MWh.

Weiterlesen..........                 Read More.........

Geothermal Event! Fieldtrip to Imperial Valley Geology and Power Plants

Fieldtrip to Salton Sea Geothermal Field from GRC Annual Meeting & Expo

• Wednesday - Thursday, September 18-19 (Two Days)
• Cost: $250 - Limited to 50 participants - sign up now!
• Led by: Billy Thomas, Mike Krahmer and Sam Abraham.

Mud volcanoes with the Hudson Ranch Geothermal
Power Plant in the background. GRC Fieldtrip 2013.

This two-day fieldtrip will visit the Imperial Valley, home to the world-renowned Salton Sea geothermal field.  The tour begins with a stop at Painted Canyon in the Mecca Hills to observe the San Andreas Fault up-close where discussion of local structures will explain the unique geologic setting of the Salton Trough. The tour will continue with a stop at Red Hill, one of the Quaternary volcanoes that make up the Salton Buttes, and nearby fumaroles and hot springs to discuss the geothermal activity in the area, as well as the Salton Sea and future development (including the potential for mineral extraction).  Tours of the Hudson Ranch power plant, CalEnergy wellfield will conclude the first day.

Day 2 begins with a drive near the US/Mexico border (and nearby solar farms) on the way to Ormat’s Heber geothermal power plant for a tour. The final stops on the way back to Palm Springs will include a visit to “Slab City” (just outside of the town of Niland) to seethe amazing Salvation Mountain and a flowing hot well. The final stop will be at the Wister mud pots along Highway 111, where the movement of a mud pot has created a dangerous situation for the integrity of the highway and Union Pacific railroad.

We look forward to having you join us on this trip to the Imperial Valley, which has become a significant hot-spot for renewable energy – with production from geothermal, solar, wind and biofuel – and possibly soon to be one of the most important regions for lithium mining.

More Information.........         

Sign Up With GRC Annual Meeting Registration........

Geothermal Event! GRC Executive Director Reaches Out to Locals

Valley Voice: Geothermal holds great promise for California — especially for our desert (Desert Sun)

Will Pettitt, Executive Director, Geothermal Resources Council (GRC)

Geothermal energy is the recovery of heat from the Earth that is then converted to electricity or used directly. It is a renewable energy source that emits very low green-house gases, just like solar or wind power, except that the energy comes from deep within the planet beneath our feet.

California is going through an amazing transition to 100% renewable and clean power by 2045. That’s incredibly exciting for all of us, geothermal experts and general public alike, as the Golden State leads the transition to a reduced-carbon economy, vehicle electrification and long-term sustainability of our energy.

Geothermal power production creates quality jobs and contributes to local economies near the resources. For every two megawatts of geothermal development there are five jobs created. California is blessed with a large amount of geothermal resources at its fingertips. Imperial Valley, just south of the Coachella Valley, is one of the most promising regions for geothermal power generation in the western hemisphere. Positive economic impacts are felt throughout Southern California where suppliers and supporting companies are based. 

Canada: Opportunities for Geothermal Collaboration with Oil & Gas Sector

Unlikely allies in the oil patch (Corporate Knights)

How a renewable energy warrior and an oil patch entrepreneur met in the radical middle to go beyond polarizing narratives

Geothermal Drilling, by Vilhjálmur Guðmundsson, Reykjavik, Iceland. Honorable Mention 2019 GRC Geothermal Photo Contest.

In many respects, these two people ( including Alison Thompson, president and CEO of Borealis GeoPower and chair of the Canadian Geothermal Energy Association - CanGEA.  embody the two competing visions at play in Canada’s energy future.

The first is the business-as-usual vision. Our economy and many jobs depend on oil and gas. Global demand for energy is going up. We’ve got decades to come as oil and gas producers and we should maximize the economic benefits and stay competitive in this industry. And, by the way, we’re far safer and more ethical than most other oil producers.

The second vision is climate driven. We must limit global warming to two degrees or less. This  should guide our energy policy and investment priorities. New technology is available and increasingly competitive. Long term investment in fossil fuels locks us into the other vision and sets us on a more difficult path to emissions reduction.

Can these two visions be reconciled? Can we find common ground between oil as dirty and unsustainable and oil as our economic lifeblood?

Read More.........

Turkey: Overview of the State of the Geothermal Energy Sector

Turkey Banking on Geothermal Projects to Boost Domestic Generation (PowerMag)

(Courtesy CIA.gov)

Geothermal power generation continues to increase in Turkey, as the country works toward a goal of at least 2 GW of installed capacity by the end of 2019, a rise of almost 50% since the end of 2018.

Geothermal energy today accounts for about 2.4% of the country’s total power output, and growth of renewable resources is considered key to reducing Turkey’s dependence on imported power.

Recent announcements of several projects, including new units at the country’s largest facilities, highlight growing interest in the geothermal sector.

Read More.........

There will be an update on geothermal energy in Turkey as part of the International Luncheon at the GRC Annual Meeting & Expo. On September 16, between 12 noon and 1:30 pm Tevfik Kaya, Business Development Manager / Senior Reservoir Engineer at GeothermEx/Schlumberger, will present.

Finland: Drilling at 40 MWth Espoo Geothermal District Heating Project Reaches Final Phase

St1 to launch the final phase of drilling the world’s deepest geothermal heat wells in Otaniemi (News Release)

The final drilling phase of energy company St1’s geothermal heat pilot project is about to begin in Otaniemi, Espoo. 

The first 6.4 kilometre-deep geothermal heat well was completed last year, and the second well to a depth of 3.3 kilometres awaiting the results of water stimulation modelling. The drilling plan for the remaining part of the second well has been determined according to modelling and the actual drilling will start in September. 

Once complete in 2020, the plant will be the world’s deepest geothermal heat production plant, which will produce heat completely without emissions.

Read More........

From the Global Geothermal News archives:

• Monday, April 1, 2019 - Finland: Oil Company is Behind 40 MWth Espoo Geothermal District Heating Project
• Friday, February 15, 2019 - Finland: How the 15,000 Foot Deep Wells At the Espoo Geothermal District Heating Project Were Drilled
• Tuesday, July 24, 2018 - Finland: Stimulation Begins at at the Espoo Geothermal Deep Heat Project
• Monday, April 23, 2018 - Finland: Drilling at 40 MWth Espoo Geothermal District Heating Project Reaches Final Depth of 6,400 Meters
• Tuesday, May 10, 2016 - Finland: Drilling Starts for 40 MWth Espoo Geothermal District Heating Project
• Monday, December 1, 2014 - Finland: Large Scale Geothermal Energy District Heating Project to be Built in Helsinki Suburbs

Global: International Geothermal Awards Announced by Geothermal Resources Council

Geothermal Energy Awards Announced (News Release)

Best and brightest of the global geothermal community will be honored at the GRC Annual Meeting & Expo in Palm Springs, California, USA

The Geothermal Resources Council (GRC) has announced awards honoring the best and brightest of the global geothermal energy community. The GRC is a non-profit educational association dedicated to the promotion of geothermal technologies around the world and these prestigious awards have been a highlight of the annual calendar for the past five decades.

The GRC will present the Aidlin, Pioneer, Henry J. Ramey Jr., Ben Holt  and Geothermal Special Achievement awards at the GRC Annual Meeting & Expo in Palm Springs, California, September 15-18.

The recipients of these awards have a lifetime of achievement in the geothermal academic, scientific and commercial communities. The GRC Awards recognizes the contributions of these individuals to educational institutions and the geothermal community around the world.

This year’s award winners are:

• Joseph W. Aidlin Award - Maria C. Richards
  For transcendent service as Board President in supporting the Geothermal Resources Council Staff and guiding the Board during a time of expansion.
  
• Geothermal Pioneer Award - Leland "Roy" Mink
  For 40 years of outstanding leadership, creative vision, and strategic planning for the advancement of geothermal resources and for being a mentor to the next generation.
  
• Henry J. Ramey Jr. Award - Dennis Kaspereit
  For unstinting devotion to innovative reservoir engineering and detailed modeling; leading to near-term reservoir management improvements, lowered field development and maintenance costs, and accurate predictions of long-term reservoir performance.
  
• Ben Holt  Award - Dr. William Harvey
  For his significant contribution to geothermal engineering and more importantly, sharing this knowledge and passion with his many students and fellow engineers.
  
• Geothermal Special Achievement Awards
  Recognizes special or outstanding achievements in any aspect of geothermal energy development and related areas:

• Vincent J. Signorotti – For 39 years of gracious dedication to the growth and development of geothermal projects through the acquisition, packaging, leasing and financing of real property and mineral rights. 

• Bruce Levy (Posthumously)  – For his lifelong passion for power generation, the development of new power plants, and his love of all the wonderful, diverse personalities in the geothermal industry.

For more information about the GRC Annual Meeting & Expo at the Palm Springs Convention Center, Palm Springs, California, USA, visit www.geothermal.org or call (530) 758-2360.

United Kingdom: Geothermal Energy Experts Weigh in on Decarbonization

A long, hard look underground is required to reach net zero, say experts (Heriot-Watt University)

Advances and investment in geothermal energy, carbon capture and storage (CCS) and bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) are “critical” to moving the UK towards its target, according to a new report published in Petroleum Geoscience.

Roy Baria, Technical Director of EGS Energy, discussed the importance of hot dry rock and the advances that engineered geothermal systems will provide without the need for naturally convective hydrothermal resources. Until recently, geothermal power systems have exploited only resources where naturally occurring heat, water and rock permeability are sufficient to allow energy extraction. However, EGS technologies enhance geothermal resources in hot dry rock through hydraulic stimulation.

Also looking for high enthalpy heat was Thomas Driesner (ETH Zurich), who described the potential of ‘superhot’ geothermal in Iceland at a depth of 2 km immediately above a magma body, producing superheated steam reaching 450°C and 140 bar at the wellhead. At the Larderello Field in Tuscany, described by Adele Manzella of CNR Italy, two European projects are also looking at deep chemical–physical conditions in an area characterized by very high heat flow in one of the most productive hydrothermal systems in the world.

Charlotte Adams of Durham University described a geothermal opportunity in relation to the legacy remaining from over two centuries of intensive coal mining, which has left a flooded underground asset that is estimated to contain some 2.2 million GWh of available geothermal heat from two billion cubic metres of water at temperatures which are constantly around 12–16°C. Using heat pumps and exchangers, these temperatures can be increased to 40–50°C and the mine waters kept away from the surface. Adams pointed out that over one-quarter of UK homes overlie worked coalfields and could access this source of geothermal energy and seasonal heat storage.

Read More........

Geoscience and decarbonization: current status and future directions
Michael H. Stephenson, Philip Ringrose, Sebastian Geiger, Michael Bridden and David Schofield. Petroleum Geoscience, 29 August 2019, https://doi.org/10.1144/petgeo2019-084

Indonesia: 55 MW Lumut Balai Geothermal Power Plant Ready to Start Commercial Operations

Successful Rate Test at Lumut Balai Geothermal Power Plant (LinkedIn)

 

From the Global Geothermal News archives:

• Wednesday, August 14, 2019 - Indonesia: 55 MW Lumut Balai Geothermal Power Plant to Start Commercial Operations Next Month
• Wednesday, December 19, 2018 - Indonesia: 55 MW Lumut Balai Geothermal Power Plant to be Completed Next year
• Wednesday, May 16, 2018 - Indonesia: 55 MW Lumut Balai Geothermal Power Plant to Go Online By End of Year
• Tuesday, September 5, 2017 - Indonesia: Video of 220 MW Lumut Balai Geothermal Power Project in South Sumatra

Geothermal Event! Special Session on Important Geothermal Energy Report

Special Session on GeoVision Report at GRC Annual Meeting

The GeoVision Report uses photos from the
GRC Photo Contest throughout the document

There will be presentations on the GeoVision Report from the Geothermal Technologies Office at the GRC Annual Meeting & Expo, at the Palm Springs Convention Center, Palm Springs, California.

Tuesday, September 16, 8am - 12 Noon
Catalina Room, Palm Springs Convention Center

The report, GeoVision: Harnessing the Heat Beneath Our Feet, summarizes findings showing that geothermal electricity generation could increase more than 26-fold from today—reaching 60 gigawatts (GW) of installed capacity by 2050. In addition to describing electricity-generation opportunities, the GeoVision analysis also shows how geothermal can enhance heating and cooling solutions for American residential and commercial consumers through direct-use and heat-pump technologies.

• 8-8:20 am - An Overview of the GeoVision Report - Susan Hamm, Director, DOE Geothermal Technology Office
• 8:20 - 8:40 - Exploration - Christine Doughty, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
• 8:40 - 9:00 - Reservoir Maintenance and Development - Thomas Stephen Lowry, Sandia National Lab.
• 9:00 - 9:20 - Barriers—An Analysis of Non-Technical Barriers to Geothermal Deployment and Potential Improvement Scenarios - Katherine Young, Laboratory Program Manager-Geoscience, National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)
• 9:20 - 9:40 - Electric Sector Potential to Penetration - Chad R Augustine, National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)
• 10:10 - 10:30 - Thermal Applications—Quantifying Technical, Economic, and Market Potential of Geothermal District Heating Systems in the United States - Kevin McCabe, National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)
• 10:30 - 10:40 - Thermal Applications—Geothermal Heat Pumps - Xiaobing Liu
• 10:40 - 11:00 - Geothermal Hybrid Systems - Dan Wendt
• 11:10 - 11:30 - The Employment Opportunities, Water Impacts, Emission Reductions, and Air Quality Improvements of Achieving High Penetrations of Geothermal Power in the United States - Dev Millstein, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (NREL)
• 11:30 - 11:50 - The GeoVision Roadmap - Susan Hamm, Director, DOE Geothermal Technology Office

GRC Annual Meeting & Expo - Program........

Italy: Report that Exergy S.p.A. - Geothermal ORC Turbine manufacturer - is to be Auctioned Off September 25

Maccaferri, Exergy in vendita. Si parte da 16 milioni - Maccaferri, Exergy for sale. It starts at 16 million (Il Resto del Carlino)


La data è il 25 settembre: quel giorno, nel pomeriggio, si terrà l’asta in Tribunale per rilevare il ramo d’azienda di Exergy, società di Olgiate Olona che ha come attività principale «le attività relative alle energie rinnovabili, in particolare nel settore geotermico e di waste-heat recovery, dei sistemi a ciclo rankine organico (Orc) per la produzione di energia geotermica, delle biomasse e del recupero del calore a turbine a gas e motori industriali, dei sistemi di riduzione di pressione e dei Ncg expander».

(From Google Translate) On September 25th, the auction will be held in court of the business branch of Exergy, based in Olgiate Olona (in the Lombardy region of northern Italy), whose main activity is "activities related to renewable energy, in particular the geothermal and waste-heat recovery sector, organic rankine cycle systems (ORC) for the production of geothermal energy, biomass and gas turbine heat recovery and industrial engines,of pressure reduction systems and NCG expanders".

Leggi di più..........                                Read More........

Europe: Temporary Employment at European Geothermal Energy Council

Vacancy - Policy Officer (EGEC)

The European Geothermal Energy Council (EGEC) is looking for a new Policy Officer to join their small but growing team on an initial six-month (38h/week) basis, starting in October 2019 as soon as possible, with the opportunity for a longer-term Belgian contract.

The Policy Officer will focus on European research and innovation policies on renewable energy as well as assisting the Policy Director in advocacy issues. The Policy Officer will also support the management of European Technology and Innovation Platforms.

Closing date for applications: 15th of September 2019
To apply, please send a cover letter and CV (in English) to: info@egec.org

More Information and Apply........

Global: Calendar of Geothermal Energy Events

Geothermal Energy Calendar from the Geothermal Resources Council

3rd International Geothermal Conference GEOHEAT 

3-6 September, Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, Russian Federation
http://www.igc-geoheat.com/

1st Conference on Geophysics for Geothermal and Renewable Energy Storage

8-12 September, The Hague, Netherlands
https://events.eage.org/en/2019/near-surface-2019/conferences/1st-conference-on-geophysics-for-geothermal-and-renewable-energy-storage

43rd GRC Annual Meeting & Expo

15-18 September, Palm Springs, California, USA
www.geothermal.org/meet-new.html

Energy Policy Research Conference (Energy Policy Institute) 

29 September - 1 October, Boise, Idaho, USA
https://www.boisestate.edu/epi/eprc9/

1st Philippine Geothermal Conference (National Geothermal Association of the Philippines) Beyond Conventional: Low-Medium-Enthalpy Geothermal Resources and Applications

2-3 October, Manila, Philippines
https://www.ngaphil.com/

Praxisforum Geothermie.Bayern

7-9 October, Munich, Germany
www.praxisforum-geothermie.bayern/en

European Geothermal Workshop 2019 - Characterization of Deep Geothermal Systems

9-10 October, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Germany
http://www.agw.kit.edu/EGW2019.php

Earth Science Week - American Geosciences Institute

13-19 October, USA
http://www.earthsciweek.org/

Demonstration of deep geothermal in Europe – MEET H2020 technical workshop (MEET project) 

23 October, 9am-7pm, Palais des Congrès, Arcachon, France
Workshop is free
https://www.eventbrite.fr/e/billets-demonstration-of-deep-geothermal-in-europe-meet-h2020-technical-workshop-63956357186

IGC Turkey Geothermal Congress & Expo

6-8 November, Izmir, Turkey
https://www.igc-turkey.com/

Der Geothermiekongress 2019

19-22, November, Munich, Germany
https://www.der-geothermiekongress.de/kongress-2019/der-geothermiekongress.html

1st Canadian Geothermal Students Day 

21-22 November 2019, Québec City, Québec, Canada
https://canadiangeothermal.wixsite.com/cgsd

Joint EAGE/BVG/FKPE Workshop on Borehole Geophysics and Geothermal Energy

22 November, Munich, Germany
https://eage.eventsair.com/boreholegeophysics2019/event-overview

41st New Zealand Geothermal Workshop (NZGW) 

25- 27 November, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
https://nzgeothermal.org.nz/

4th National Geothermal Conference - RENAG - Colombian Geothermal Association (AGEOCOL)

25-28 November, Medellin, Colombia
https://renagcolombia.wixsite.com/2019

Global Geothermal Energy Summit 2019 (ACI)

27-28 November, Florence, Italy
https://www.wplgroup.com/aci/event/global-geothermal-energy-summit/

COP 25 - Climate Change Conference

2-13 December, Santiago, Chile
https://unfccc.int/santiago

American Geophysical Union - Annual Fall Meeting 

9-13 December, San Francisco, California
https://www2.agu.org/en/Fall-Meeting

GeoTHERM - Expo & Congress

5-6 March, 2020, Messe, Offenburg, Germany
https://www.geotherm-offenburg.de/de/geotherm_messe_kongress_geothermie

Joint GRC-SPE Workshop - High Temperature Well Cementing

“Exploring Geothermal and Oil and Gas Synergies”

30 March - 1 April, 2020, San Diego, California, USA

https://geothermal.org/cementing.html

World Geothermal Congress 2020

27 April - 1 May 2020, Reykjavik, Iceland
www.wgc2020.com/

Geothermal Resources in Sedimentary Basins Conference
9-10 September, 2020, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
http://gssb2019.com/

44th GRC Annual Meeting & Expo

18-21 October 2020, Reno, Nevada, USA
www.geothermal.org/meet-new.html