USA, California:

California Energy Commission Awards More $700,000 in Renewable Energy Grant to Imperial County (California Energy Commission - News Release)

Imperial County to use grant to amend the geothermal/alternative energy element of the county's general plan.

The California Energy Commission has awarded $3,341,152 in renewable energy planning grants to five counties including Imperial County which has important geothermal resources.

The funding will help the county with its collaboration and coordination with the Desert Renewable Energy Conservation Plan (DRECP) while also addressing renewable energy and conservation goals within its planning processes.

Imperial County will use $700,000 to update and amend the geothermal/alternative energy element of the county's general plan. The project calls for revising ordinances, maps and other required environmental documents involved.

The geothermal facilities of the Imperial Valley will be a feature of a GRC Field Trip after the GRC Annual Meeting & GEA Expo in Las Vegas, Sept. 29-Oct. 3.

Read More....

Indonesia:

Indonesian Govt Set to Raise Prices of Geothermal Power (The Jakarta Post)

(Courtesy CIA.gov)

The Indonesian government will raise the price of electricity produced by geothermal power plants to promote business certainty, and resolve a number of geothermal projects that have stalled due to financial problems, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Jero Wacik said on Wednesday.

The minister said that with the revised pricing plan, investors involved in the operation of geothermal power plants would be given more certainty in running their businesses.

“The prices will be determined through a tender. Those with the lowest bid will win the geothermal projects being auctioned,” Jero said during the opening of the first Indonesia International Geothermal Convention and Exhibition.

Separately, the ministry’s director general for renewable energy and energy conservation Rida Mulyana said that the decree on the new pricing, which would be based on power plant capacity, as well as based on enthalpy, or heat content, would be issued next week.

There will be five groups based on power plant potency, namely over 55 MWe, 20 -55 MWe, 10-20 MWe, 5-10 MWe, and under 5 MWe.

Read More.....

Technology:

EGS and Shale Gas Exploitation - The Essential Differences (EGEC)

EGEC, the European Geothermal Energy Council has released a factsheet outlining the difference between the technique used for shale gas exploitation commonly known as ‘fracking’, and the stimulation technique used for Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS).

This EGEC factsheet (PDF) underlines the different impacts of the two systems on both the underground and surface environment. Whilst the two technologies use underground resources to supply energy, shale gas is an extension of classical hydrocarbon technology whilst geothermal is a renewable energy source. Further, there are differences in the way the systems are operated and the resources required.

Fact Sheet On Enhanced Geothermal Systems: Why It Is Different To Shale Gas (PDF)

USA, Colorado:

Geothermal Coproduction Workshop (Colorado Oil & Gas Association)

Thursday, June 13, 2013, 1:00 - 4:00 pm
Colorado Center for Renewable Energy Economic Development, 14062 Denver West Parkway, Building 52, 3rd Floor - Vail Conference R, Golden, Colorado.

A workshop on geothermal coproduction will be held in partnership with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Colorado School of Mines, U.S. Department of Energy, Colorado Cleantech Industry Association, and the Colorado Center for Renewable Energy Economic Development.

Limited space is available. Please register with Stacee Foster

USA, Oregon:

Oregon Tech Closer To Renewable Energy Independence (KOBI TV)



Oregon Tech is taking big steps towards becoming the world's only energy-independent campus, with two renewable energy projects.

The foundation is now being prepared for Oregon Tech's energy future.

"This project is a 1.75 megawatt power plant project."  Notes Project Manager Bob Simonton.  "Which is quite a bit larger than our existing power plant, which is only 280 kilowatts."

Technology:

Leapfrog Geothermal 2.4 Released as Geothermal Energy Demand Rises (News Release)

ARANZ Geo Limited of New Zealand today announced the release of Leapfrog Geothermal 2.4. The major release, which further improves the interface to the specialist geothermal flow simulator TOUGH2, was accelerated due to the significant recent growth in the global geothermal market.

Shaun Maloney, CEO of ARANZ Geo, says, “We’ve seen significant growth in interest globally and recent licence sales include Turkey, Chile, Australia and the Philippines. Leapfrog Geothermal 2.3 was a significant milestone as users could create TOUGH2 inputs consistent with the geoscience model, a major workflow enhancement. Leapfrog Geothermal 2.4 is another leap and greatly enhances what users can do.”

Leapfrog Geothermal will have a booth at the GEA Expo run in conjunction with the GRC Annual Meeting, Sept. 29-Oct. 2 at the MGM Grand, Las Vegas, Nevada.

Read More....

USA:

US Grid Rejig to Target Renewables (reNews)

President Barack Obama has called for a modernization and expansion of America’s electricity transmission grid to better cater for the nation’s “clean energy economy”.

Speaking in a presidential memorandum, he said: “Countries that harness the power of clean, renewable energy will be best positioned to thrive in the global economy while protecting the environment and increasing prosperity.”

Improvements in how transmission lines are sited, permitted and reviewed will be prioritized, with new initiatives building on the work of the cross-agency Rapid Response Team for Transmission set up previously by the administration.

The full presidential memorandum is available here.

Read More.....

USA, Washington D.C.:

The 16th Annual Congressional Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Expo + Forum

Wednesday, June 12th, 2013
9:30 am - 4:30 pm
Cannon House Office Bldg., Washington, D.C. 20003

More information......  
Download the Expo 2013 Flyer (PDF)

Livecast at www.eesi.org/expo2013#stream on Wednesday, June 12.

Global:

Registration Opens for Annual Charity Golf Tournament at Geothermal Resources Council Annual Meeting (News Release)

Popular Networking Event on Sept. 29 before the GRC Annual Meeting & GEA Expo in Las Vegas, Nevada

(Courtesy Angel Park Golf Club)

The Geothermal Resources Council (GRC) has announced more details of events at the world’s largest annual geothermal conference held this year at the MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada, Sept. 29-Oct. 2, 2013.

Just before the start of the GRC Annual Meeting & GEA Geothermal Energy Expo, the GRC Annual Charity Golf Tournament will take place September 29 on the Mountain Course at Angel Park Golf Club in Las Vegas. Registration for the tournament is now open.

This year the proceeds from the tournament will go to the Southern Nevada Chapter of the Make-a-Wish Foundation.

Read More......

Mexico:

Regulatory Changes Vital to Attract Private Investments to Mexican Geothermal Power Generation (PR Newswire UK - News Release)

(Courtesy CIA.gov)

The 30-year-old Mexican geothermal power generation market is powered by investments from the Federal Electricity Commission (CFE), a public utility. However, its growth beyond 2015 depends on the level of involvement of independent power producers (IPPs).

For greater private investments, either the government should amend regulations to protect investors in the exploration phase or financial institutions must make higher initial investments to lower the risks in the earlier phases.

New analysis from Frost & Sullivan, Analysis of the Mexican Geothermal Power Generation Market, finds that the market drove investments of $182.4 million in 2012 and estimates this to reach $200.2 million in 2017.

Read More.....

USA, California:

California Bill Sets New Green Target for Renewable Energy (The Desert Sun)

If California is to achieve its ambitious goals for ramping up renewable energy while cutting greenhouse gas emissions, it must revamp its energy planning processes so that renewables, not fossil fuels, become the primary focus, a Coachella Valley assemblyman said.

Amendments to Assembly Bill 177 introduced earlier this year by V. Manuel Pérez, a Coachella Democrat, would kick-start that transformation by giving the state a new clean energy target — 51 percent by 2030 — and promoting renewable development at the Salton Sea, which in turn could help fund the dwindling lake’s restoration.

Utilities have opted for cheaper, but more intermittent wind and solar projects to meet the 33 percent goal, backed up by natural gas-powered “peaker” plants such as Competitive Power Ventures’ Sentinel plant now online in North Palm Springs said V. John White, executive director of the Center for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Technologies, a Sacramento-based group working on climate change issues.

Meanwhile, technologies that are more expensive but could provide more stability for the grid — geothermal and solar thermal — have been ignored, he said.

“Geothermal is unique in the world of renewables; it’s base-load power. You don’t have to have spinning reserves,” said Vince Signorotti, vice president for resource and real estate assets at EnergySource, an El Centro company that owns a geothermal plant at the Salton Sea. “When solar and wind aren’t working, you have gas plants ramping up. Those are peaker plants; they have a carbon footprint. We don’t.”

Kevin Kelley, general manager of the Imperial Irrigation District, added geothermal development at the Salton Sea could easily put California over its 33 percent renewable energy target or higher, providing more transmission lines can be built in the region.

Read More......

Iceland:

Iceland Geothermal Power Plant Capacity Questioned (IcelandReview)

(Courtesy Orkusýn ehf)

Studies of the Hengill geothermal area south east of Reykjavík, have concluded that the area currently exploited by the Hellisheiðarvirkjun power plant, run by Reykjavík Energy (OR), will not be able to supply the plant with energy for full production long term.

The area currently exploited by the plant is smaller and not as high in energy as originally assumed. There are indications that the plant was expanded too rapidly.

CEO of OR Bjarni Bjarnason told Fréttablaðið that more steam is necessary to secure Hellisheiðarvirkjun’s future operations. “Otherwise the production will continue to decrease, even considerably quickly.”

Read More.....

USA, Oregon:

Oregon Tech’s Geothermal Power Plant is Full Steam Ahead (News Release - Oregon Institute of Technology)‎

The Oregon Institute of Technology and Batzer Construction Incorporated of Medford, Oregon entered into a final contract last week to complete the infrastructure and installation of a new 1.75 MWe geothermal power plant at the Oregon Tech Klamath Falls campus.

The agreement marks the final phase for the completion of the project that is expected to be finished in December 2013. Upon completion of this project and the 2.0 MWe solar array project with Solar City, Oregon Tech may become the first university in North America to reach a major goal to generate most—if not all—electrical power needed for the campus.

USA, California:

Resource Assessment & Optimization Workshop Opens in Sacramento

Educational program is another in a series of GRC Workshops from the Geothermal Resources Council

Embassy Suites Sacramento Riverfront - Sacramento, California
June 10-12, 2013

Interim Executive Director Steve Ponder
welcomes the GRC Workshop participants

This GRC workshop will describe how to assess the suitability of geothermal

resources for development and expansion once initial exploration has been done. Presentations will focus on insights to be gleaned from well testing, reservoir simulation, geochemistry, and ongoing resource monitoring.

Experienced practitioners in these areas will discuss the techniques, and several geothermal operators will present case studies illustrating how the techniques have been applied to their projects.The workshop comprises of two days of presentations in Sacramento, California, followed by an optional, one-day field trip to The Geysers.

New Zealand:

New Zealand Geothermal Power Generation Hits Record Level (Stuff.co.nz)

(Courtesy CIA.gov)

Geothermal electricity generation in New Zealand rose to its highest level on record last month, as power from Mighty River Power (MRP)'s new Ngatamariki plant started to feed into the grid, but the glass ceiling appears to be close.

As it stands, geothermal power plants produce about 14 per cent of the country's electricity, ranking behind hydro at 54 per cent and gas-fired at 20 per cent.

It is expected to grow in the short term as Contact Energy's 130 MWe Te Mihi plant emerges from the development phase soon, and MRP's 82 MWe plant ramps up to full production.

The addition of further geothermal assets has been welcomed by the energy market, with the base load generation helping to smooth out supply from more volatile renewable power sources such as wind and hydro.

Read More.....

Japan:

New Geothermal Plant to Provide 25% of Islands Power (The Japan Times)

Plans are afoot to build a 500-kw geothermal power plant on Okushiri Island off southwest Hokkaido in northern Japan, that could start operations as early as fiscal 2016, sources in the central and local governments said.

If the project is realized, it would be the first geothermal plant on a remote Japanese island to capitalize on the feed-in tariff system for renewable energy introduced last July, according to the Natural Resources and Energy Agency.

The power station’s output would cover up to 25 percent of Okushiri’s consumption of power, which is currently generated by burning fuel oil. All of the electricity would all be purchased by Hokkaido Electric Power Co. at a fixed rate under the feed-in tariff program.

Read More.....

USA, Hawai'i:

Geothermal Relocations Taking Millions From Fund (Part 2 of 2) (bigislandnow.com)

In an earlier analysis, Big Island Now detailed the recent shift in how geothermal royalties are being spent by Hawaii County.

The program that relocated residents from near the Puna Geothermal Venture power plant and provided millions of dollars in benefits for the Puna community at large is now being spent entirely on relocations.

That is despite the fact that all but one of the owners of the homes now under consideration for county purchase acquired their properties after the plant’s construction in 1989 — despite the program’s stated priority for homes already in place when PGV was built.

To catch up on our reporting, read the original article.

We now examine how the sudden surge in relocation requests may have happened, and whether there is any end in sight to the relocation program itself.

Read More.....

USA:

U.S. National Geothermal Student Competition - Business Pitch Competition Finale (DOE/EERE)

Wednesday, June 26th 

4:00 pm - Carson 4 Meeting Room
Grand Sierra Resort and Casino, Reno, Nevada

The final four Semi-Finalists will be showcased at the U.S. GEA National Geothermal Summit in Reno, Nevada. 

This exciting event allows the finalists to pitch their plans to develop a geothermal enterprise in their home state/region to a panel of geothermal experts drawn from the private and public sector.

USA, California:

What Happens When California’s 33 Percent Renewables Mandate Is Met? (greentechmedia)

A just-proposed California law would do away with the state’s 33 percent renewables mandate in favor of a coherently procured greentech future. The plan is backed by renewables advocates and approved by grid operator leadership.

Assembly Bill 177 (AB 177), authored by Assemblyman V. Manuel Perez (D-56th District), describes a new way for California to approach the procurement of renewables like solar, wind and geothermal, along with energy efficiency (EE) tools like demand response (DR).

Read More.....

Global:

North America and Asia Pacific Lead the Market for Geothermal Power, With a Combined 56 Projects in Final Stages of Development (Navigant Research)

According to a recent report from Navigant Research, North America and Asia Pacific lead the world in terms of geothermal power projects in the final stages of development, with 56 reported projects in either active drilling or construction stages.  Nearly all of these projects are in the United States, the Philippines, and Indonesia, the top three countries in installed geothermal power production capacity globally, the study concludes.

“More than 4 GWe of geothermal power capacity are expected to come online worldwide between 2013 and 2018,” says Mackinnon Lawrence, principal research analyst with Navigant Research.

Read More.....

Opinion:

Ormat Technologies' Moat Delivers Overseas (Morningstar.com)

Ormat Technologies (ORA) has rebounded nearly 40% off its lows in 2012, handily beating the S&P 500 and the Morningstar Utilities Index. Still, in today's yield-hungry market, it is one of the few firms in our domestic utilities coverage universe to offer a compelling discount to our fair value estimate along with a narrow economic moat and a strong long-term growth profile.

The Sarulla contract signings expand Ormat's beachhead in a potentially huge growth market, Indonesia. In addition, the firm has won a string of projects in New Zealand and Honduras and is exploring in Chile. Even with delays, we project development will drive 11% annual revenue growth and 13% annual EBITDA growth over 2012-17.

Ormat Technologies will have a booth at the GEA Expo run in conjunction with the GRC Annual Meeting, Sept. 29-Oct. 2 at the MGM Grand, Las Vegas, Nevada.

Read More.....

Canada:

Alternative Earth Resources Inc. Announces Management Changes (News Release)

Alternative Earth Resources Inc. (formerly Nevada Geothermal Power Inc.) today announced the following management changes: Margot Delport, Chief Financial Officer, is leaving employment with the company effective June 6, 2013.

Ed Low is appointed Chief Financial Officer effective June 7, 2013. Mr. Low has been providing accounting services to public companies for the past 17 years. Most recently, Mr. Low was controller with Alternative Earth from 1997 to 2012.

Read More....

Technology:

Could A Volcano Power America? (Popular Science)

Obsidian Flow At Newberry Volcano
(Courtesy Joshua Schreiner/Popular Science)

In October, at the Deschutes National Forest in central Oregon, a team of scientists and engineers began pumping 11 million gallons of water underground, right near the caldera of the famed Newberry Volcano. The Northwest weather was a cool 50 degrees most days, about the same temperature as the water the engineers drove, up to 375 gallons a minute, 10,000 feet into the ground.

There, deep in the earth’s crust, the temperature reaches more than 600 degrees. That’s what the engineers were pumping for: If everything goes according to plan, a company called AltaRock Energy will suck the super-heated water from underground and use it to spin turbines and juice the area with renewable power.

AltaRock Energy will have a booth at the GEA Expo run in conjunction with the GRC Annual Meeting, Sept. 29-Oct. 2 at the MGM Grand, Las Vegas, Nevada.

Read More.....

Canada:

Canadian National Geothermal Database (CanGEA)

Geothermal Favorability Map of Alberta
(Courtesy CanGEA)

In conjunction with the Geothermal Favourability Map of Alberta, this web portal has been established to host a publicly accessible Canadian National Geothermal Database (CNGD).

The format of the web portal is designed to be user-friendly and flexible, allowing data to be retrieved as multiple different file types, including detailed spreadsheets and Google Earth maps and data. These files contain specific geological, geophysical, environmental and/or other criteria useful in assessing and identifying geothermal resource potential.

Similar to the U.S. National Geothermal Database (NGDS), the CNGD stores critical geothermal site attribute information including: temperature at depth, thermal conductivity, heat flow, well logs, bottom hole temperatures (BHT), drill stem test (DST), permafrost data, seismicity/microseismicity, porosity/permeability data, water chemistry, and geophysical surveys. It will also be inclusive of all types of geothermal resources such as direct-use, hydrothermal, hot sedimentary aquifer, geopressured, Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS), geothermal fluids co-produced with oil and/or gas, and others.

Read More......

USA, California:

California Utility Will Close Troubled Nuclear Plant (The Sacramento Bee)

(Courtesy Gregory Bull, File/AP Photo)

The troubled San Onofre nuclear power plant on the California coast is closing, after an epic 16-month battle over whether the twin reactors could be safely restarted with millions of people living nearby, officials announced Friday.

Operator Southern California Edison said in a statement it will retire the twin reactors because of uncertainty about the future of the plant, which was facing a tangle of regulatory hurdles and investigations. With the reactors idle, the company has spent more than $500 million on repairs and replacement power.

The plant "has served this region for over 40 years," Ted Craver, chairman of SCE parent Edison International said in a statement. "But we have concluded that the continuing uncertainty about when or if (the plant) might return to service was not good for our customers, our investors, or the need to plan for our region's long-term electricity needs."

The plant between San Diego and Los Angeles hasn't produced electricity since January 2012, after a small radiation leak led to the discovery of unusual damage to hundreds of tubes that carry radioactive water.

About 7.4 million Californians live within 50 miles of San Onofre, which can power 1.4 million homes. California officials have said they would be able to make it through the summer without the plant but warned that wildfires or another disruption in distribution could cause power shortages.

San Onofre is owned by SCE, San Diego Gas & Electric and the city of Riverside.

Read More.....

Technology:

Geothermal Solar Thermal Hybrid Power System Retro Fit



Marc Rappaport of Rappaport Energy Consulting LLC describes his plan to retrofit a concentrated solar thermal array to the existing geothermal electrical generation system currently installed at the Oregon Institute of Technology (OIT) in Klamath Falls Oregon. (VIDEO 5:17 minutes)

USA, Nevada:

Reno to Host U.S. GEA National Geothermal Summit (News Release - altenergymag.com)

The City of Reno joins the U.S. Geothermal Energy Association (GEA) in bringing the third annual National Geothermal Summit, to the Grand Sierra Resort and Casino June 26-27. The event will bring together industry leaders, government officials, and other power sector representatives from the United States and abroad for critical discussions on what is needed to move geothermal forward.

The Summit will cover the state of geothermal energy, new technologies, valuing geothermal for PPAs, and the future outlook for the geothermal industry. The program will encourage interaction and discussion about government policies, projects in development, market potential, and opportunities for U.S. companies.

Event partners also include the Geothermal Resources Council (GRC), UC Davis' California Geothermal Energy Collaborative, Western Area Power Administration, Great Basin Center for Geothermal Energy, Nevada Petroleum & Geothermal Society, and the Young Professional in Energy in Nevada.

Read More.....

Australia:

Green Rock Energy Secures Synergy Support for Perth Basin Geothermal Power Project (Proactive Investors Australia)

Green Rock Energy has lined up Western Australia’s largest electricity retailer, Synergy, as a potential offtake partner for its planned Perth Basin geothermal power projects.

Under the Memorandum of Understanding, Synergy, energy explorer and producer AWE Australia, and renewables generator Pacific Hydro have all signed on to support the planned demonstration project.

Synergy said the agreement aligned well with its ongoing commitment to explore emerging energy technologies and that if the demonstration project proved successful, it would become the offtake entity for any future energy arrangements.

Green Rock plans to tap the geothermal energy from hot sedimentary water aquifers in the Perth Basin to generate electricity with the demonstration project targeting generation capacity of up to 5 MWe.

Read More.....

Djibouti:

World Bank Approves Funding of Djibouti’s Geothermal Exploration (World Bank - News Release)

(Courtesy CIA.gov)

A project to tap into Djibouti’s volcanic riches as a source of geothermal power has the potential to reduce energy costs for the small African country and boost access to electricity for all citizens.

A US$6 million contribution to the geothermal power generation project was approved by the World Bank Board of Directors today. It will support Djibouti in assessing the commercial viability of the geothermal resource in the Fiale Caldera within the Lake Assal region. Project Webpage.

The World Bank has mobilized different donors to co-finance the total project costs of US$31 million including Global Environment Facility (GEF), OPEC Fund for International Development (OFID), African Development Bank (AfDB), Agence Française de Développement (AFD) and the Global Geothermal Development Plan (GGDP) through Energy Sector Management Assistance Program (ESMAP). The Government of Djibouti will also make a contribution.

Read More.....

USA:

Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) Update
A second amendment to the Notice of Funding Availability is anticipated extending the application period to June 14, 2013.

The USDA Rural Development California State Office began accepting grant and loan guarantee applications for Fiscal Year 2013 under the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) with the publishing of the Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) (PDF) on March 29, 2013. Subsequently, an Amendment to NOFA (PDF) was published on May 08, 2013 extending the application period from April 30, 2013 to May 31, 2013 for renewable energy systems and energy efficiency improvement projects grants; for grant and loan guarantee combination applications; and for renewable energy system feasibility study applications.

If you would like to submit an application for Fiscal Year 2013 funding, please contact Steven Scott Nicholls at Steven.nicholls@ca.usda.gov immediately.

Australia:

Prospects for Geothermal Energy in Western Australia (Yahoo!7 News)

If increased government support and private sector funding could be found, the Gascoyne region in Western Australia could be home to a geothermal energy industry.

Geothermal exploration permits are being considered by one of Australia’s leading geothermal exploration and development companies New World Energy of Perth for an area between Onslow and Carnarvon including on the Cape Range peninsula.

New World Energy managing director John Libby said his company was currently waiting to see the results of an experimental venture by Geodynamics to extract geothermal energy by drilling deep below the earth’s surface in the Cooper Basin in South Australia.

Read More.....

New Zealand, USA:

Mighty River Power Can Increase Ownership in EnergySource (PennNet)

New Zealand-based Mighty River Power announced it has negotiated an extension to the option to increase its ownership interest in U.S.-based EnergySource until the first quarter of 2014.

Mighty River Power currently owns a 20 percent interest in EnergySource. An original option to increase Mighty River Power’s ownership interest to 33.33 percent expired in May 2013, but the company will now have additional time to consider whether it will exercise the option.

EnergySource is the developer of the John L. Featherstone Plant, a 49.9 MWe geothermal plant in Imperial County, Calif. with a 30-year Power Purchase Agreement with Salt River Project Agricultural Improvement and Power District in Arizona. The company is currently developing Hudson Ranch II, another 49.9 MWe geothermal plant in the same area.

USA:

U.S. Geothermal Regulatory Roadmap is Launched (EERE)

The U.S. Energy Department (DOE) today issued a Geothermal Regulatory Roadmap (GRR) that will help developers navigate regulatory requirements at every level of government to deploy geothermal energy projects.

Since April 2012, the GRR Team has been working with federal, state and local agencies to develop a working guide for agency, industry and policymaker use in an effort to understand regulatory processes and timelines and identify potential areas of concern. The project is sponsored by the DOE Geothermal Technologies Office (GTO).

The roadmapping initiative covers the eight western states, including California, Nevada, Hawai'i, Alaska, Idaho, Utah, Oregon, and Montana. The roadmap is being developed at the federal and state levels, allowing for future expansion to the local (county) level. Development of the roadmap for two additional states (Colorado and Texas) is underway for Fiscal Year 2013.

A 2013 GRR Project update will be held at the 2013 GRC Annual Meeting in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Read More.....

USA, Nevada:

Ram Power, Corp. Announces Signing of Drilling Contract and Agrees With Project Lenders to Extend Construction Loan Period for San Jacinto-Tizate (Marketwire - News Release)

Ram Power, Corp. has executed a drilling contract with ThermaSource Inc., for the remediation drilling program for the company’s San Jacinto-Tizate geothermal power project (scheduled to begin in early July 2013.

The remediation program, expected to be complete by late October 2013, calls for the refurbishment of two existing production wells with a targeted increase in steam availability of approximately 70-110 tonnes/hour, or approximately 9 to 14 MW of additional net capacity.

Any increased steam production from the remediation program would be available for production use the latter part of the year. Ram Power, together with Sinclair Knight Merz, the company’s resource consultant, finalized the remediation plan based on the production performance of the project during the first several months of operations.

ThermaSource Inc. will have a booth at the GEA Expo run in conjunction with the GRC Annual Meeting, Sept. 29-Oct. 2 at the MGM Grand, Las Vegas, Nevada.

Read More.....

USA, Nevada:

NV Energy Bill Passes - Awaits Governor's Signature (Las Vegas Review Journal)

Bill will provide Nevada utility with opportunity to add 350 MWe of renewable energy.

An important piece of legislation for the renewable energy industry in Nevada was approved Monday. Senate Bill 123 passed the Assembly on a 31-10 vote after a spirited debate. It already passed the Senate on a unanimous vote.

The bill requires NV Energy to divest itself of 800 MW of coal-generated energy by the end of 2019 and replace it with 350 MWe generated by renewable sources and 550 MW of natural gas or other sources of electricity.

Governor Sandoval has already expressed support for the bill.

Read More...

Technology:

Siemens Steam Turbine Targets Geothermal (renews.biz)

The turbine can function in temperatures of up to 250°C
(Courtesy Siemens)

Siemens Energy has developed a new steam turbine with a capacity of up to 120 MW for use in geothermal power plants.

The SST-500 GEO follows the SST-400 GEO turbine, which was introduced in the autumn of 2011, and is a single-casing, double-flow condensing machine.

The company said each unit is tailored to particular resource conditions by adapting the blade path within the standardized casing and can function in temperatures of up to 250°C and steam pressures up to 15 bar.

Siemens Energy Industrial Power Business Unit chief executive Markus Tacke said: “The SST-500 GEO will enable us to participate in the geothermal growth we currently see in regions such as the eastern coast of Asia, the western coast of the Americas and parts of Africa.”

Siemens Energy will have a booth at the GEA Expo run in conjunction with the GRC Annual Meeting, Sept. 29-Oct. 2 at the MGM Grand, Las Vegas, Nevada.

Read More.....

Indonesia:

Land Acquisition Hampers Tampomas’ Geothermal Exploration (en.bisnis.com)

Developer of Gunung Tampomas geothermal power plant in Sumedang, PT Wika Jabar Power, admitted its well explorations and drillings are still hampered by unresolved land acquisition.

PT Wika Jabar Power Engineering Director Uum Komarudin said the company continues to conduct the necessary approach in convincing the surrounding communities as land owner to sale their land, which are affected by the exploration process.

“It’s currently under land acquisition process but we haven’t acquired land owned by the people,” he told Bisnis, Tuesday.

Read More.....

USA, California:

California Ranked As “Epicenter Of The U.S. Clean Tech Market” (Cleantechnica)

2013 Clean Tech State Index (Courtesy Clean Edge)

America’s states and cities are well on their way to a clean energy future – with California leading the charge.

This analysis comes from Clean Edge’s 2013 US Clean Tech Leadership Index,  echoing other recent reports that rank America as the most attractive country for renewable energy investment.

As always, any talk about clean tech in America starts with California. It’s “the epicenter of the US clean-tech market,” according to Clean Edge, and scored 97.1 out of a possible 100 points. California dominated every index category, including clean electricity generation, electric/hybrid vehicle adoption, green buildings, policy outlook, solar power capacity, and venture capital.

California is unique among U.S. states in clean energy – it’s the only one with wide-scale deployment of wind, solar, and geothermal. Those three resources generated 24.6 million megawatt-hours (MWH) of clean electricity and contributed more than 12% of the state’s overall electricity mix.

Read More......

USA, Colorado:

Aspen Geothermal Drilling Project Granted One More Extension (Aspen Daily News)

Jeff McCarthur with Dan’s Water Well and Pump
Service works at the geothermal drilling site on
Monday afternoon at the Prockter Open Space.
(Courtesy Chris Council/Aspen Daily News)

The city of Aspen has again extended the deadline on a project drilling a geothermal test well.

After encountering water pockets in the alluvial layer that slowed the process, which has been ongoing since April, crews with Dan’s Water Well and Pump Service of California are making much quicker progress now that they've hit a shale-rock layer known as the Belden Formation, city officials said.

Drillers have reached about 580 feet with the new hole as of Monday, Rice said. The goal is to go down to between 1,000 and 1,500 feet, where anecdotal evidence has indicated there might be water hot enough to support a geothermal utility.

Read More......

Philippines:

EDC’s Bacman1 Back Online (Inquirer.net)

BacMan Geothermal Production Field
(Courtesy EDC)

The 55 MWe Unit 1 of the Bacon-Manito (Bacman1) geothermal facility is up and running again following scheduled maintenance work over the weekend, Energy Development Corp. (EDC) yesterday reported.

EDC did not have any update for Bacman units 2 and 3. Only the BacMan1 geothermal facility, which has two 55 MWe power units (both commissioned in 1993), has been fully rehabilitated since EDC acquired the asset from the government in 2010.

BacMan2 facility has never been fully operational, with only one of two 20-MW units able to run.

Read More.....

Global:

Resource Assessment & Optimization Workshop and Tour to The Geysers Geothermal Field

One Week to Go!

Embassy Suites Sacramento Riverfront - Sacramento, California
June 10-12, 2013

This GRC workshop will describe how to assess the suitability of geothermal
resources for development and expansion once initial exploration has been done. Presentations will focus on insights to be gleaned from well testing, reservoir simulation, geochemistry, and ongoing resource monitoring.

Experienced practitioners in these areas will discuss the techniques, and several geothermal operators will present case studies illustrating how the techniques have been applied to their projects. This workshop will provide practical information to anyone interested in geothermal energy, including developers, financiers, utilities, regulators, public-interest organizations, and members of the academic community. The workshop will comprise two days of presentations in Sacramento, California, followed by an optional, one-day field trip to The Geysers.

Price per person:

• GRC Member: $375
• Non-member: $425
• Students (academic identification required): $50
• Optional Field Trip to The Geysers: $75 (Sold Out)

Register Now Online....                       Registration Form (PDF)

Sponsor the Workshop (PDF)                Workshop Flyer (PDF)

GRC has secured a block of rooms for workshop attendees at the Embassy Suites Sacramento Riverfront. Hotel stay includes full breakfast buffet from 6:30 - 9:30 am and "Manager's Reception" from 5:30 - 7:30 pm everyday. Reserve your hotel room  using the group code: GRC or call (800) 498-5237 and ask for the GRC/Geothermal Resources Council discount rate.

Hotel Room Reservation

New Zealand:

Mighty River Power Quarterly Operational Update for the Three Months Ended 31 March (News Release)

Highlights include the following: Mighty River Power is continuing the commissioning program for its latest geothermal development; the 82 MWe Ngatamariki power station, located near Taupo.

First power to the grid was delivered in late March 2013 and the commissioning process has so far brought two of the four generating units online. During this commissioning phase, output from the station has been up to 40 MWe. The next two generating units are planned to come on-line in June.

Consistent with the Offer Document, the project is on track for completion in mid-2013 and contributing to the Company’s earnings in FY2014.

Read More.....

USA, Nevada:

New York Canyon Geothermal Project Gets Approval (DOI - News Release)

U.S. Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell today announced the approval of three major renewable energy projects including the 70 MWe New York Canyon Geothermal Project located in Nevada.

The New York Canyon Geothermal Project and electrical transmission facility will be built on 15,135 acres of land managed by the BLM about 25 miles east of Lovelock, Nevada in Pershing County.

TGP Dixie Development Company, LLC, a subsidiary of TerraGen Power, LLC, will build the 70 MWe project and associated 230-kilovolt electrical line. The project will provide enough electricity to power about 60,000 homes and create an estimated 150 peak construction jobs and 16 full- and part-time operational jobs.

The BLM worked closely with its partners and stakeholders to minimize environmental impacts. For example, a Bird and Bat Conservation Strategy was developed to assess the area’s avian wildlife and reduce impacts on these populations. In addition, there are no listed, proposed or candidate threatened or endangered species present in the project area. Click here for a fact sheet (PDF) on the New York Canyon Geothermal Project and here for a map (PDF).

Read More.....

Philippines:

EDC Shuts Down Bacon-Manito Geothermal Power Plant for Repairs (InterAksyon.com)

Energy Development Corp (EDC) today said it has shut down the Bacon-Manito (BacMan) geothermal plants in Sorsogon and Albay to make way for maintenance work.

In a disclosure to the Philippine Stock exchange, EDC said BacMan's 55 MWe Unit 1 generating plant was switched off on June 1 as the company had to replace the facility's hot well pump.

"This planned maintenance activity should be completed in approximately [three] days, or earlier," the Lopez-led company said.

Early this year, EDC shut down BacMan's 55 MWe Unit 2 after newly-installed turbine blades sheared off, causing damage to the facility. The plant's 20 MWe Unit 3 is still undergoing repair work.

Read More.....

Iceland:

Photographer Makes the Ugly Beautiful with Her New Series on Geothermal Energy (Its Nice That)

Anna Filipova: Geothermal Energy

Anna Filipova’s new series Geothermal Energy focuses on the changing relationship between nature and industry in Iceland. The high rate of tectonic activity in there lends the landscape’s hot springs and volcanoes to the cause of sustainable energy, leaving the previously untamed natural landscape increasingly dominated by industry. Anna looks to change the way we view this co-existence of nature and industry, seeking to find beauty in the technological developments which allow Iceland to maintain one of the cleanest environments in the world.

Read More.....

USA, Hawai'i:

Puna Geothermal Relocations Taking Millions From Fund (Big Island Now)

Puna Geothermal Venture (Courtesy Ormat)

A program initiated in the 1980s to aid the relocation of residents affected by the construction of the Ormat geothermal power plant in Puna could be drifting away from its original intent, according to sources within the county government.

Back in 1995, the Hawaii County Council amended the county code to allocate the county’s share of geothermal royalties paid by Puna Geothermal Venture toward a “Geothermal Relocation Fund.”

More changes were made about a decade later that changed the name of the fund to the Geothermal Relocation and Community Benefits Fund and its function to allow any royalties not used for relocations to be deployed for community benefits in the Puna district.

Read More.....

Indonesia:

Sumatran Villagers Rejects Geothermal Project (Jakarta Post)

Thousands of villagers in South Lampung in Sumatra, Indonesia, have rejected planned geothermal exploration on Mount Rajabasa.

The villagers, mainly members of the Rajabasa traditional clan residing on the slope of Mount Rajabasa, staged a peaceful rally at Sukaraja dock in Jeti village, Rajabasa, on Wednesday, demanding that PT Supreme Energy cease its exploration.

Beside being detrimental to the environment, the villagers said the geothermal exploration would also damage the social structure of the South Lampung traditional community, especially those living around Mount Rajabasa.

Read More.....

Nicaragua:

Ormat Sells $7.5 Million Stake in Nicaraguan Geothermal Project (Businessweek - News Release)

Ormat Technologies Inc. has sold  its stake in Momotombo Power Company, a geothermal plant operator in Nicaragua for $7.5 million, to an undisclosed buyer.

The sum amounts to the earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization the plant will generate through the remainder of its concession contract which will terminate in about a year, Ormat Technologies said today in a statement.

The 22 MWe plant sells power to two utilities under a 15-year contract, according to the statement.

GRC 2013 Patron Members Ormat Nevada, Inc. will have a booth at the GEA Expo, run in conjunction with the GRC Annual Meeting at the MGM Grand, Las Vegas, Sept. 29-Oct. 2.

Read More.....

Oman:

Tap Geothermal Energy for Water Desalination (Oman Ministry of Information)

(Courtesy CIA.gov)

Reykjavík Geothermal has underlined the potential for harnessing the Sultanate’s geothermal resources for applications such as water desalination, district cooling and low pressure steam generation. RG (Reykjavík Geothermal) Thermal Energy Solutions (RG-TES), a UAE-based firm focused on developing geothermal projects in the Middle East and Africa, outlined opportunities for the commercial exploitation of this largely untapped energy resource at a key conference held in the city recently.

While any geothermal resources in the Sultanate are essentially low-enthalpy (temperature) reservoirs, which make them unsuitable for power generation, these resources are ideal for a range of applications that currently depend on conventional energy, say RG-TES’s experts. According to the company, the Middle East is a “unique geothermal market”, endowed with far greater low-enthalpy resources than most people are aware of. These resources, it argues, can power a substantial share of the region’s thermal desalination capacity.

Read More....

Global:

GRC Calendar of Events

Upcoming International Geothermal Events organized and supported by the GRC

• GRC Workshop - Resource Assessment and Optimization
  June 10-11, 2013
  Sacramento, California, USA
  
• Center for Geothermal Resources - Industry Partner MeetingJune 25-26, 2013
  Reno, Nevada, USA
  
• U.S. GEA National Geothermal Summit (Co sponsored by the GRC)June 26-27, 2013
  Reno, Nevada, USA
  
• 37th GRC Annual Meeting & GEA Geothermal Energy Expo
  September 29-October 2, 2013
  MGM Grand Hotel, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA