Global:

2014 Geothermal Resources Council Scholarships

Applications must be received by April 4, 2014 to be considered. 

 Koenraad Beckers (left) and Andrés Ruzo, 
recipients of the 2013 GRC Scholarships

The Geothermal Resources Council (GRC), a non-profit educational association dedicated to the promotion of geothermal energy and associated technologies around the world, reminds students of the availability of the 2014 GRC Scholarship Awards.

The total amount awarded has been increased to $15,000 for 2014 from $5,000 in 2013.

To qualify for one of these awards a student must be a GRC member (student memberships are only $5 per year) and must meet the award-specific requirements listed below. Selection of recipients will be based upon a variety of factors, including the individual’s academic record, student activities, geothermal industry experience, and career goals.

USA, Nevada:

Don A. Campbell Geothermal Power Plant Receives State Tax Incentive (Nevada Governor’s Office of Energy)

Don A. Campbell geothermal power plant

More of Nevada’s extensive geothermal energy potential is being tapped after the Governor’s Office of Energy (GOE) granted a tax incentive for construction of a geothermal power plant in Mineral County.

Ormat Technologies, Inc. received the incentive for its Don A. Campbell geothermal power plant in Nevada, after undergoing a rigorous screening process that included meeting State and local statutes requiring the project provide employment for Nevadans, major capital investment in the State; and providing a living wage with comprehensive health benefits.

The tax incentive amount granted to Ormat is $12.6 million over 20 years. The total amount Nevada is projected to gain from the power plant during that time is $102 million, which includes employee wages, a capital investment worth $84 million dollars, and $8 million combined from property taxes and school support taxes. This represents an 8-to-1 return on Nevada’s investment, far exceeding the loss of revenue from the tax incentive.

Once completed, the power plant will be capable of generating 20 MWe, which will be sold to Southern California Public Power Authority under a 20 year contract. It will utilize 13,800 acres of public land in Mineral County, and will include photovoltaic panels and related right-of-way features including a substation and switchyard facilities.

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USA, Indiana:

Another University Ditching Coal for Geothermal Energy (Wane.com)

For nearly 70 years, coal-fired boilers have helped power the campus of Ball State University in Muncie in the U.S. state of Indiana.  In just a matter of days those boilers will be turned off and the university will rely on what’s being touted as the world’s largest ground-source, closed-loop district geothermal energy system.

The $80 million conversion to geothermal power began in 2009.  When completed next year, the system will heat and cool 47 buildings on campus.

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USA, New Mexico:

Native American Geothermal Project Gets More Funding (T&D World Magazine)

Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell has announced that $3.2 million has been awarded to 21 tribal projects to assist in developing energy and mineral resources, including to the Pueblo of Jemez Geothermal project in Jemez Pueblo, New Mexico.

The Jemez Valley, just 40 miles north of Albuquerque, is known for hot springs that stem from ancient volcanic activity. In 2009, Jemez Pueblo landed a $4.9 million Department of Energy grant to explore ways the hot water sources could be developed for geothermal energy.

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USA, Hawaii:

Attorney General: Geothermal Revenue Must Go to Hawaiians (Honolulu Civil Beat)

Hawaii Attorney General
David Louie

Hawaii Attorney General David Louie says that royalties from geothermal resource development on Hawaiian home lands must be paid to the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands (DHHL) to benefit of Native Hawaiians.

Louie said in a press release yesterday that “following a comprehensive legal analysis by the capable deputy attorneys general in my office, I have concluded that the DHHL has the right to receive all proceeds and income from the available lands, including 100% of the royalties derived from geothermal resource development.”

The opinion also concludes that DHHL is the state entity authorized to manage geothermal resources on Hawaiian home lands.

Technology:

Geothermal and Lithium Production, Perfect Together (Sustainable Business.com)

Electric car manufacturer Tesla's Gigafactory is already spurring a new business that's vying to supply it.

A startup company called Simbol Materials is in the final stages of raising funds for a factory that would open in 2017 - the same year as Tesla's world's largest battery plant.

Simbol's California plant - which breaks ground this summer - would be the first to create lithium by extracting it from geothermal power plant waste. The company is partnering with geothermal power producers in a mecca for that kind of energy - Southern California's Imperial  Valley.

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USA, Nevada:

Mining Company Runs on Geothermal Power (Elko Daily Free Press)

Florida Canyon in northern Nevada, has been the site of experimentation with green energy in recent years.

For the last couple of years, Florida Canyon has partnered with ElectraTherm in an ongoing experiment with geothermal energy.

Using a $1 million Department of Energy grant, ElectraTherm installed a Green Machine at the Florida Canyon site, which is in Phase II of development.

The Green Machine uses waste heat to generate electricity. It could be any kind of waste heat, such as the methane gas generated in the bowels of landfills, but at Florida Canyon it’s geothermal water. The machine generates power through heat differentials.

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Technology:

Lithium Producer Chases Tesla’s Bold Battery Plan (Boston Globe)

Simbol materials will extract lithium from geothermal brine from the proposed EnergySource Hudson Ranch II geothermal power plant.

Last month, Tesla Motors, the maker of high-end electric cars, announced plans to open the world’s largest battery plant in 2017. The goal is to overcome what it calls the biggest obstacle to meeting increased demand for its vehicles: a reliable supply of the advanced batteries that power them.

To accomplish that, Tesla will need plenty of battery-grade lithium. That is where Simbol Materials comes in.

Simbol, of Pleasanton, Calif., is preparing to break ground on its own commercial plant in August, which would put it on track to start production at around the same time Tesla’s plant is scheduled to open. The Simbol plant will be the first to use a unique process to extract lithium from a novel source: the waste from geothermal power plants.

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Australia:

Geodynamics Announces Sale of Cooper Basin Operating Base to Beach Energy for $1.5 Million (OilVoice - press release)

Geodynamics retains ownership and responsibility for all geothermal permits including the 1 MWe Habanero Pilot Plant.

Geodynamics Limited has announced that it has entered into an agreement for the sale of the Habanero logistics and operational support base located near Innamincka, South Australia, to Beach Energy Limited, for a total consideration of $1.5 million.

Under the sales agreement, Beach Energy will acquire camp accommodation, operating support facilities for drilling and associated equipment suited to its current field activities. Geodynamics retains ownership and responsibility for all geothermal permits associated with its Innamincka granite resource and ownership and responsibility for geothermal wells, brine pipelines and geothermal facilities including the 1 MWe Habanero Pilot Plant.

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Japan:

Japan to Open Geothermal Plant ‘Next Month’ (Energy Live News)

Japan is reportedly planning to open its first geothermal plant in 15 years next month.

Located in the nation’s southern island of Kyushu, the Waita geothermal power plant is being built by Waita-Kai and Chuo Electric Power which also plans to open five other plants in the next five years.

“The output of Waita Geothermal Power Plant is small at 2,000 kilowatts, based on the environmentally conscious design taking into account the landscape of this special hot spring village”, Waita-Kai says on its website.

The power plant – the first to open in Japan since 1999 – will herald the start of a new chapter for the nation’s energy industry following the Fukushima nuclear incident.

East Africa:

U.S.$100 Million Set Aside for Renewable Energy in East Africa (East African Business Week)

The African Renewable Energy Fund (AREF), has $100 million of committed capital to support small to medium scale independent power producers (IPPs).

According to a statement, the fund, which will be based in Nairobi, wants to raise $200 million within the next 12 months.

The money is for grid-connected development stage renewable energy projects, including small hydro, wind, geothermal, solar, biomass and waste gas.

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USA, California:

California’s Plan to Replace San Onofre Nuclear: Green Success or Natural Gas Giveaway? (Greentechmedia)

With 2,200 megawatts to make up for, green energy advocates worry that the CPUC’s replacement plan relies too heavily on natural gas.

Last week, the California Public Utilities Commission unanimously approved a procurement decision, known as LTTP Track 4 (PDF). The decision will allow utilities Southern California Edison and San Diego Gas & Electric to procure up to 1,500 megawatts of new generation capacity between now and 2022 to replace the San Onofre Nuclear Generation Station (SONGS), which closed permanently last year.

Thursday’s decision requires SCE and SDG&E to procure a combined 575 megawatts of “preferred resources” such as renewable energy, efficiency improvements, demand response and energy storage -- anything besides fossil-fuel generation. That includes a requirement for SDG&E to obtain 25 megawatts of grid-scale energy storage, much like last year's decision to require SCE to obtain 50 megawatts of energy storage for the region.

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Japan, Malaysia:

Japan and Malaysia Consider Geothermal Energy (PennEnergy - Press Release)

The Japanese are looking for sources of energy after shutting down all of their nuclear power reactors to check for safety issues. One resource that experts are considering is geothermal energy. Unlike wind and solar power, geothermal energy is a steady source of energy that will not go away at night or when the wind stills. Additionally, there are large reservoirs of geothermal steam underground. This is the same volcanic steam that powers Japan's famous hot springs.

In another part of Asia, the University of Auckland is helping Malaysia develop geothermal power on some of its islands, according to WBUR.

Malaysia is interested in using geothermal energy to cut back on its use of fossil fuels. It is building plants on the island of Borneo and in Tawau. Malaysia's Minister of Energy, Green technology and Water Dr. Maximus Ongkili intends to move Malaysia's renewable energy supply to 5.5 percent of the total energy used in Malaysia. It is currently only 0.85 percent.

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USA, Hawaii:

Hawaii Electric Light Puts Off Geothermal Decision Until Study is Done (The Business Journal)

Hawaii Electric Light Co. has put off a decision on expanding geothermal power on the Big Island until after a power supply improvement plan is completed next month in response to a recommendation from an independent observer, the Boston Pacific Co.

The Hawaii Tribune-Herald reports the decision was made after the Boston Pacific Co. criticized HELCO for moving forward with a request-for-proposal process seeking up to 50 megawatts of additional geothermal power on the island before completing a study to see if it is needed.

Six companies had submitted proposals last September for the project, but HELCO has since postponed making a decision at least once before.

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USA, California:

Geothermal Workshop @Imperial Valley Renewable Energy Summit & Expo

GRC Board Member Gene Suemnicht Presents Geothermal 101 Workshop this morning

10:30 am - 12:00 pm, March 14, 2014
Quechan Resort, Winterhaven, California

Geothermal 101– Resource Exploration and Assessment
sponsored by Geothermal Resource Council

Presenter: Gene Suemnicht, CEO/Principal, EGS, Inc., Santa Rosa, California.

7th Annual Imperial Valley Renewable Energy Summit & Expo 2014

USA, California:

Renewable Energy Leaders Discuss the Challenges and Opportunities at Imperial Valley Renewable Energy Summit (Imperial Valley Press)

California Energy Commissioner David Hochschild
discusses the challenges of weaving together intermittent
and baseload renewable energy generation at the seventh
annual Imperial Valley Renewable Energy Summit
(Courtesy Imperial Valley Press)

How to push past the plateau that California’s renewable energy industry has reached was just one question on everybody’s mind at the Renewable Energy Summit at the Quechan Casino Resort on Thursday.

What many describe as a valuation model that does not accurately reflect the costs and benefits of intermittent energy sources and stable baseload generation has left geothermal energy at a competitive disadvantage to solar and wind.

Test wells are expensive, and geothermal developers run the risk of drilling sub-commercial wells. Wind and solar energy are easier to harness.

There are other issues. Energy derived from the wind or the sun is intermittent. Solar generation drops if a cloud passes overhead, and stops entirely when it gets dark. And if the wind stops, turbines don’t spin. Grid operators have the added challenge of regulating these energy spikes and drops.

Developers are evaluating the potential of another increase in the state’s Renewables Portfolio Standard.

We’re looking at post-33 percent (RPS),” said Randy Keller, CalEnergy director of development, transmission and land assets.

“What would the market look like with 40 to 50 percent penetration,” he asked.

As every type of resource has its own set of challenges and opportunities, what is the biggest challenge facing the industry?

“How to weave all of these resources together is the biggest challenge going forward,” said California Energy Commissioner David Hochschild.

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USA, California:

California, the Golden State for Geothermal Energy

Industry leader urges development of geothermal resources in the Golden State

Karl Gawell, GEA Director

This morning at the Imperial Valley Renewable Energy Summit, the head of the U.S. Geothermal Energy Association (GEA) presented his vision for geothermal energy in California.

Karl Gawell, Director of the domestic trade group reports that geothermal power is “a viable, cost effective, and plentiful renewable energy option to meet California’s climate goals. Utilizing the Golden State’s geothermal resources can help achieve “carbon reductions with the least total cost and highest power system reliability.”

The Imperial Valley Renewable Energy Summit is being held at the Quechan Resort, Winterhaven in the furthest south-east of the state.

Mr Gawell read from a new report published by the U.S. GEA, Report on The State of Geothermal Energy in California (PDF).

In brief, the status report shows that:

• geothermal power generated 4.4% of total system power in California in 2012, but could have generated substantially more;
• geothermal power produces some of the lowest life-cycle emissions when compared to almost every other energy technology and even some renewables;
• depending on the resource characteristics and plant design, geothermal power plants can be engineered to provide firm and/or flexible power;
• even with high upfront capital costs, geothermal power is a competitive renewable energy source;
• about half of California’s identified geothermal resources are still untapped, and significant resources may remain undiscovered;
• geothermal power is key to achieving an expanded renewable power portfolio at the lowest total cost;
• new technology will reduce geothermal power risks and can expand the supply curve to make more resources commercially available;
• the Salton Sea Known Geothermal Resource Area (SSKGRA) is considered by many to be the best opportunity for growth in California in the near term;
• distributed generation geothermal power and heating projects have potential in a number of areas, but are not eligible for the type of support provided other distributed generation projects;
• challenges to growth of utility scale plants include weak demand, inadequate transmission, permitting delays, and a lack of coordinated policies.

USA, California:

Geothermal Energy May Provide Salton Sea Funding, but Path Unclear (The Desert Sun)

The tangled relationships between the different facets of regional efforts to tackle the environmental impacts of the receding shoreline of California’s largest inland lake surfaced as a central theme at the Imperial County Renewable Energy Summit held at the Quechan Casino Resort in the southeast corner of the county.

A critical area for cooperative effort will be finding a way to prop up geothermal development at the Salton Sea as a necessary part of the state’s 33 percent renewable energy mandate, which California utilities have mostly filled with cheaper solar and wind projects.

Geothermal developers have argued that their power, available 24/7 and easier to integrate into the grid than intermittent wind and solar, has not been properly valued. Efforts are now underway in the Legislature to propose a carve-out for geothermal in the state’s renewable energy planning and procurement process as part of the state’s contribution to restoration efforts at the sea, Stills said.

Bob Sullivan, vice president for geothermal developer Ormat Technologies, noted that several states already have solar carve-outs. With an untapped geothermal potential estimated at more than 2,000 megawatts, the Salton Sea is “the Saudi Arabia of geothermal,” he said. “

“Having a cool initiative like this, it combines energy integration with an indigenous resource,” he said. “The more geothermal you procure, the more renewables you can bring onto the grid.”

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USA, California:

GRC Front and Center at Imperial Valley Renewable Energy Summit (Imperial Valley Press)

Geothermal Resources Council (GRC) Director of Communications, Ian Crawford was on a bus tour of renewable energy sites around the Imperial Valley yesterday.

Here he can be seen listening intently, at the front of the room, to Alexander Schriener, Jr., CalEnergy director of geothermal re-sources at the CalEnergy control center in Calipatria.

The Imperial Valley Renewable Energy Summit concludes tomorrow with a Geothermal 101 workshop led by Gene Suemnicht, CEO/Principal, EGS, Inc. preceded by a talk by Karl Gawell, Executive Director, U.S. Geothermal Energy Association.

USA:

Congressmen Oppose Cuts in Geothermal Payments (RenewablesBiz)

Reps. Mike Thompson and Jared Huffman are urging President Barack Obama not to eliminate geothermal royalty payments totaling nearly $2 million a year to Sonoma and Lake counties.

Four other congressmen, including two Republicans, joined the call to preserve the payments, which amount to $2.2 million for eight California counties involved in steam power production.

The president's proposed budget for the fiscal year beginning 2015 eliminates the 25 percent share of geothermal royalty payments given to counties. It would instead split the $12 million national total equally between the states and the federal government.

Counties deserve to "get their fair share" of the geothermal royalties due to their investments in developing energy resources, Thompson, D-Napa, said Wednesday in a statement.

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USA, California:

Renewable Energy Summit Begins with Tour of Valley Renewables (Imperial Valley Press)

Alexander Schriener Jr., CalEnergy director of geothermal resources,
gives a bus ride tour of geothermal sites to participants of the seventh
annual Imperial Valley Renewable Energy Summit on Wednesday near
Salton Sea in Calipatria. (Courtesy Imperial Valley Press)

The Imperial Valley Renewable Energy Summit began Wednesday with a bus tour of the area’s renewable energy projects.

The tour headed west from the Quechan Casino Resort in Winterhaven to a number of solar projects in the Calexico area before heading north toward the Salton Sea area.

The growth of the area’s renewable energy sector may be obvious for lifelong residents of the Valley. But, for those on the bus, it was an opportunity to better understand the renewable energy potential that the area holds.

Approximately 500 megawatts of renewable energy are generated locally through wind, solar and geothermal projects. Most of that energy is exported to surrounding communities.

Officials say that number could increase five-fold if new projects at various stages of development reach fruition.

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United Kingdom:

Prime Minister Announces Big Geothermal Project for Stoke-on-Trent (Stoke Sentinel)

David Cameron: City Deal and geothermal project can help Stoke-on-Trent become a manufacturing powerhouse

The Prime Minister's statement comes after news of a £32.8 million 'city deal' for Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire was announced today.

The deal will see a Powerhouse Central project for North Staffordshire, which will include a major geothermal development aimed at delivering jobs and cheaper energy for consumer's in the region.

Mr Cameron said: "Today’s City Deal will hand the people of Stoke-on-Trent the power and freedom they need to grow their local economy and turn the city into a world- leading manufacturing powerhouse.

The deal will help create the UK’s first large-scale geothermal project in the city by drilling for water to convert to electricity and provide cheaper energy supplies to city firms; and provide cheaper energy for people living in the Hanley area.

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Hungary:

Green Rock Energy Awarded Prime Geothermal Concession in Hungary (Proactive Investors Australia)

Green Rock Energy's 46% owned subsidiary, CEGE, has won the geothermal concession tender in the Jászberény area in eastern central Hungary. This includes the well now owned by CEGE, which was successfully evaluated for its geothermal potential in October 2010.

CEGE is now preparing for negotiations with Government on terms and conditions, which should be completed by mid-April.

The Jászberény geothermal concession covers an area of 396 square kilometers and includes several areas previously drilled by joint venture partner MOL looking for petroleum. It lies 80 kilometers east of Budapest and has high voltage electricity transmission and low voltage distribution lines running through the concession area for rapid commercialization.

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Commonwealth of Dominica:

Dominica Says Drilling Complete on Geothermal Production Wells (Caribbean Journal)

Dominica’s government said this week that the drilling of its geothermal production wells had been completed.

According to Energy Minister Rayburn Blackmoore, the country has finished that phase of the country’s geothermal project.

The next phase of the project will involve shutting down the wells for a period of 12 weeks in order to “monitor progress on the generation of heat,” according to the government.

“I have been so advised that to generate energy you need to have a minimum of 180 degrees Celsius based on the reviews we have gotten thus far, it is above 235 degrees.  I think that this is tremendous for us going forward,” Blackmoore said in a government release.

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Philippines:

One More Unit of Unified Leyte Geothermal Power Complex Back Online (InterAksyon)

Leyte Geothermal Production Field (Courtesy EDC)

Energy Development Corp (EDC) has brought back online another geothermal power facility at the Unified Leyte Geothermal Power Plant Complex in Leyte.

In a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange, EDC said it re-energized another unit of the Mahanagdong power plant, which is under "close monitoring and additional tests."

The 180 MWe geothermal facility has three generating units of 60 MWe each.

Last February, EDC completed rehabilitation of another generating unit of the Mahanagdong plant, with only one left to be energized.

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Indonesia:

Sarulla Geothermal Nears Signing (Project Finance Magazine)

The four sponsors of the $1.6 billion Sarulla geothermal project in Tapanuli Utara, North Sumatra, are expected to sign its financing next week. The sponsor group comprises Medco (37.25%), Itochu (25%), Kyushu (25%) and Ormat (12.75%).

The sponsors signed an energy sales contract (ESC) with state-owned electricity company PLN and a joint operating contract with Pertamina Geothermal Energy (PGE), a 100% subsidiary of state-owned oil and gas company Pertamina, on 3 April 2013. The contracts give the sponsors exactly one year to close the financing, so the four plan to sign the financing documents before closing on the debt towards the end of this month.

The Sarulla geothermal power plant, which is expected to generate three by 110 megawatts (MW) of electricity, was initiated in 1990.

United Kingdom:

Scotland to Invest $17 Million in District Heat (Cogeneration & On-Site Power Production Magazine)

Scotland is to invest an additional £4 million (US$6.6 million) in district heating schemes, its government has announced.

The announcement brings Scotland’s total funding for the development of district heating from sources including geothermal energy and solar power to £10.5 million (US$17 million).

The nation has set a target to supply 40,000 homes with district heating by 2020.

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USA, California:

Default on Coso Geothermal's Debt Service Facility (Project Finance Magazine)

Coso Junction

CoBank, part of the United States Farm Credit System, has issued an event of default letter under the $40 million debt service reserve letter of credit it provides to Terra-Gen's Coso Geothermal power (CGP) portfolio.

CGP is a special-purpose company formed to lease and operate the Coso project, which consists of three interlinked geothermal power plants located in Inyo County, CA. Coso provides royalty payments to the U.S. Navy and the Bureau of Land Management for use of the geothermal resource. Under a series of power purchase agreements, Coso's entire output will be sold to SCE through January 2030. Cash flows from both Coso and Beowawe, an affiliated geothermal project in Nevada, are available to service CGP's rent payments under the CGP lease. Rent payments are the sole source of cash available to pay debt service on the pass-through trust certificates.

USA, California:

7th Annual Imperial Valley Renewable Energy Summit - Imperial Valley Economic Development Corporation (IVEDC)

“California’s Future: Powered by Imperial Valley”

This important conference, located in an area dominated by various renewable energy facilities, especially geothermal energy, opens today. The Geothermal Resources Council (GRC) is represented by various members sitting on the speaker panels, manning a booth (#12) in the exhibit hall and the presentation of a Geothermal 101 workshop.

March 12-14, 2014 at the Quechan Resort in Winterhaven, California.



More Information.....

Ethiopia:

Reykjavik Plans to Start $2 Billion Ethiopian Power Project  (Businessweek)

Reykjavik Geothermal, the Icelandic power-plant builder, plans to begin drilling in Ethiopia by July as part of a $2 billion project to develop the renewable energy source, Chief Operating Officer Gunnar Orn Gunnarsson said.

Ethiopia’s government signed a deal with the Reykjavik-based company in October to build a power plant on an imploded volcano in the Rift Valley that will generate 500 megawatts of electricity by 2020. The licensing of a large-scale private power-generation project marks a shift from the country’s previous reliance on domestic investment and Chinese loans to finance infrastructure development.

“We think we have a project that can have a return on equity that is acceptable by the investors,” Gunnarsson said in an interview on March 7 from Iceland. The company plans to begin closing financing deals this month worth as much as $80 million and expects to eventually raise $500 million from equity partners, he said.

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Canada:

B.C Geothermal Project Gets Traction (Terrace Standard)

Kitselas First Nation, Enbridge, and Borealis GeoPower have signed a deal that could see a power-producing geothermal plant built in the Mount Layton hot springs area.

A first step was to pay $100,000 to the province earlier this year for the exclusive subsurface rights to 2,865 hectares of land south of Lakelse Lake, on traditional Kitselas territory.

LL Geothermal Inc., a consortium of Kitselas, Enbridge and Borealis GeoPower can now apply for authorization to drill in the area, and if it discovers a geothermal resource and decides to proceed with a plant, it can apply to convert the permit to a lease.

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Japan:

Geothermal Faces Pushback In Japan (WBUR)

The Matsukawa geothermal power plant, Japan’s first geothermal plant built in 1966, is seen at Hachimantai city in Iwate prefecture, northern Japan on August 4, 2011. (Yoshikazu Tsuno/Getty Images)

The Japanese are worried that drilling into these geothermal reservoirs will disrupt their beloved natural hot springs.

But GRC member Masaho Adachi of the Japan Geothermal Association swears that drilling into the deep geothermal reservoirs wouldn’t damage the shallower hot spring sources. Through an interpreter he tells me that such fears are founded on a misunderstanding of geology.

“The onsen people, we need to explain well, because they have no idea about underground,” Adachi says. “They use the hot springs but they don’t know geology or underground condition… But we in the geothermal industry, we start with an understanding of underground conditions. So we can realize geothermal power plants in Japan without any interference to hot springs.”

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Global:

Reserve Your Hotel Rooms for GRC Annual Meeting & GEA Geothermal Energy Expo

Hotel room reservations can now be made for the geothermal event of the year in Portland, Oregon, September 29 – October 2.

Reservations can now be made for rooms at the two hotels dedicated to the GRC Annual Meeting & GEA Expo, being held in Portland, Oregon, September 29 – October 2. There is a choice between the Hilton Portland & Executive Tower located in the bustling downtown or the DoubleTree by Hilton Portland near the Oregon Convention Center, the site for the conference and trade show.

Attendees can make their reservations on secure websites prepared specially for the GRC and GEA. The links are available from the GRC Annual Meeting website at: www.geothermal.org/meet-new.html

The rates are 139.00 USD/Night (126.00 for Government guestrooms) at both hotels. This discount ends September 3.

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China:

China Puts Geothermal Energy on Fast Track (China Securities Journal)

(Courtesy CIA.gov)

Head of the National Energy Administration (NEA) Wu Xinxiong said at a recent meeting in Hebei's Xiong County that the administration will issue a policy package and seek support from fiscal and financial departments to facilitate geothermal energy exploration and utilization. One analysis believes the geothermal energy sector will grow faster after subsidy details are settled.

China is rich in geothermal energy resources; the east-central sedimentary basin alone is found to have 49.17 billion cubic meters of underground hot water, which contains energy reaching 1.854 billion tons of coal equivalent (TCE). According to experts, geothermal energy is independent of weather and seasons and therefore free from the instability and indirectness as found in wind and solar energy.

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USA:

Solar, Geothermal Led New US Capacity in January 2014 (JD Supra Law News)

Patua Hot Springs Geothermal project
(Courtesy US Geothermal)

Solar and geothermal resources led the new utility-scale electric generating capacity installed in the U.S. in January 2014, according to a report by the staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.  In all, the report identified 325 megawatts of new generation placed in service in January, substantially all of which is powered by renewable resources.

Geothermal steam power was the second largest category of new electric generating capacity placed in service in January 2014, in the form of Gradient Resources Inc.’s 30 MW Patua Hot Springs Geothermal project in Lyon County, Nevada.  As with the solar projects described above, the power generated by the Patua Hot Springs project is sold to a utility -- in this case, Sacramento Municipal Utility District, under a long-term contract.

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USA, California:

Jonathan Weisgall to Speak at Renewable Energy Summit (Imperial Valley Press)

Jonathan Weisgall, a vice president for legislative and regulatory affairs for MidAmerican Energy Holdings Co., a subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway, leads the slate of energy industry heavy hitters set to address the seventh annual Imperial Valley Renewable Energy Summit that starts Wednesday at the Quechan Resort in Winterhaven in Imperial County, California.

Weisgall is the vice president for legislative and regulatory affairs for MidAmerican, he also is chairman of the Board of Directors of the Center for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Technologies (CEERT) and on the Board of Directors of the U.S. Geothermal Energy Association.

He is an adjunct professor of law at Georgetown University Law Center, where he has taught a seminar on energy issues since 1990.

Hosted by the Imperial Valley Economic Development Corp., this year’s summit is presented by the Imperial Irrigation District.

More information about the summit and its speakers are available at www.IVRES.org  or by sending an email to Cynthia@ivedc.com or by calling 760-353-8332.

USA, Oregon:

U.S. Geothermal Announces First Distribution of Profits from the Neal Hot Springs Project (Stockhouse - News Release)

U.S. Geothermal Inc. announced today that Oregon USG Holdings LLC has made its first distribution of profits from the Neal Hot Springs project.

Oregon USG Holdings is owned 60% by U.S. Geothermal and 40% by a subsidiary of Enbridge Inc. Under the terms of the U.S. Department of Energy loan agreement, profits are distributed to the equity partners semi-annually (February and August) following Final Completion, which was achieved on August 1, 2013. U.S. Geothermal's share of this first distribution is $4.6 million, out of a total distribution to the partners of $7.7 million, which represents profits generated from the project since initial operation began in November 2012.

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Technology:

Icelandic Startup Introduces New Heat and Pressure Measurement Tool (Think GeoEnergy)

In a meeting yesterday, Icelandic startup company GIRO introduced a new heat and pressure measurement tool that can be used with research and drilling at high heat geothermal fields.

The new measurement tool, called HP1, measures heat and pressure in geothermal wells up to a temperature of 400 degrees Celsius. The tool is the result of two years of development work at the company, which was founded in 2011.

GIRO is also working on the development on G1, a heat resistant direction and tilt meter, which is now in the process of being tested. The company hopes to finalize testing later this year. The new meter will be more heat resistant than older scopes.

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Finance:

Navigating the Winding Road of Geothermal Project Financing, Part I (Renewable Energy World)

Sid Sinha,
Marathon Capital Markets

Analysis by Sid Sinha, Marathon Capital Markets

It is no secret that renewable energy project development cycles present many unique challenges — as well as promising opportunities — for developers, investors and power users alike.

Geothermal energy project development in particular can be a challenging endeavor, based on the extended timelines involved in successfully proving a resource, mitigating drilling risk and managing the subsurface reservoir on an ongoing basis. These are unique “geo sector-specific” issues that must be managed, in addition to the typical power plant development and construction issues inherent in any energy project endeavor.

Due to these challenges, the corresponding financing of geothermal projects must be carefully tailored to match these specific features.

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USA, California:

Opinion - Federal Boost Could Help the Salton Sea (The Desert Sun)

(Courtesy Omar Ornelas/The Desert Sun)

The fact that the Salton Sea is getting some national attention is encouraging. This week a congressional hearing on the Salton Sea was held in Washington D.C. where officials discussed the promise of renewable energy projects that could create a revenue stream to pay for mitigation projects.

Kevin Kelley, general manager of Imperial Irrigation District, expressed his frustration that 10 years after approval of the largest agriculture-to-urban water transfer in the nation’s history no resolution of what to do at the Salton Sea is in sight. But he expressed optimism that the development of renewable resources — primarily geothermal — could support an essential revenue stream.

“There’s up to 2,000 megawatts that have been identified but are untapped,” he said at the hearing. “The full spectrum of renewable resources could not only provide a funding stream but could serve as mitigation for the exposed playa.”

Already, 11 geothermal plants operate around the sea. A study commissioned by IID estimated that renewable energy projects (especially geothermal energy) could generate $4.1 billion over the next three decades. Included in that figure is $1.5 billion from the extraction of minerals such as lithium, which is used in batteries that power everything from digital devices to electric cars.

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USA, Washington D.C.:

Washington Monument Screening Facility to be Powered by Geothermal (DCist.com)

Geothermal heat pumps will help climate control in the highly visible building in the nations's Capital

The preliminary plans for a visitor screening facility at the base of the Washington Monument were approved yesterday by the National Capital Planning Commission.

The National Park Service proposal (PDF) , pitched in 2010, is meant to replace a temporary screening structure that's been there since 2001.

Due to the visual sensitivity of the facility, both from the ground and from aerial vantage points, no rooftop heat rejection equipment is recommended. Therefore, the proposed system for mechanical heat rejection is approximately four geothermal wells, each at a depth of approximately 400-500 feet. The geothermal well field would be tied to a heat pump through a closed loop system consisting of two refrigerant pipes. The heat pump will be located in a mechanical room beneath the new visitor’s facility.

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Europe:

European Renewable Energy Lobby Liquidated (European Voice)

The dissolution of EREC after a decade in existence comes as the Commission has proposed to scrap renewable energy targets after 2020.

The European Renewable Energy Council (EREC), the main lobby group for renewable energy in the European Union, has gone into voluntary liquidation. This development will leave the sector without a main coordinator for lobbying at a time when the European Commission has proposed to scrap nationally binding renewable energy targets after 2020.

EREC co-ordinated the lobbying efforts of all different renewable energy technologies, including solar, wind, biomass, geothermal and hydropower. Without the co-ordination group, the different technologies may find themselves competing with each other for policy developments and funding.

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Technology:

Infrared: A New Renewable Energy Source? (renewableenergyworld.com)

Harvard physicists propose a device to capture energy from Earth’s infrared emissions to outer space

When the sun sets on a remote desert outpost and solar panels shut down, what energy source will provide power through the night? A battery, perhaps, or an old diesel generator? Perhaps something strange and new. (Perhaps geothermal energy!! - Editor).

Physicists at the Harvard School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS) envision a device that would harvest energy from Earth’s infrared emissions into outer space.

Heated by the sun, our planet is warm compared to the frigid vacuum beyond. Thanks to recent technological advances, the researchers say, that heat imbalance could soon be transformed into direct-current (DC) power, taking advantage of a vast and untapped energy source

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USA, California:

California Energy Summit 2014

May 28-30, 2014, Sheraton Fisherman’s Wharf, San Francisco, California, USA

California Energy Summit 2014 will provide the latest information on the opportunities and threats in California as policy-makers come together with utility, IPP, renewable energy, energy storage and DR executives to discuss the potential opportunities to solve resource adequacy problems. 

They will explore the impacts of new energy storage procurement on generation and transmission needs, the potential opportunities for the construction of power assets, and how the revision of retail rate regulation may drastically affect the economics of solar power and utility generation in the state. 

Finally, financiers will provide their perspectives on investment in and financeability of projects in the California market.

Agenda      More information......

Global:

2014 GRC Annual Meeting Call For Papers

Deadline: May 2, 2014

The Geothermal Resources Council (GRC) invites you to present your latest technical work in geothermal research, exploration, development and utilization at the GRC's 38th Annual Meeting, September 28 - October 1, 2014 at the Oregon Convention Center in Portland, Oregon, USA. Our theme this year is "Geothermal: A Global Solution."

Anyone who wants to present at the GRC Annual Meeting must first submit a completed draft paper. Successful selection to present at the GRC 2014 Annual Meeting is prestigious and recognizes the presenter as a top industry expert. International participation is key to the success of the GRC Annual Meeting technical programs and we encourage geothermal researchers and experts from around the world to submit their work for consideration.

Draft Paper submission deadline is May 2, 2014

Please direct all content related questions to: Al Waibel, Technical Chair, atawaibel@hevanet.com

Please direct all format and general submission questions to: Anh Lay, GRC staff, at alay@geothermal.org or (530)758-2360 ext. 100

• Instructions To Submit Your Draft Paper
• Submission Form
• Consent Form To Use & Reproduce Paper - Regular
• Consent Form To Use & Reproduce Paper - Government

New Zealand:

Scientists Probe Lake Heat for Geothermal Energy (New Zealand Herald)

Project aims to boost understanding of the magma body that underlies Rotomahana.

Scientists are carrying out a full geothermal survey of the lakebed, using technology never seen before in New Zealand.

For years, scientists have known there are two active geothermal systems under the 800ha lake, considered the warmest of the Rotorua lakes with year-long temperatures of 11C to 14C.

One of the systems is believed to be related to the 1886 Mt Tarawera eruption that destroyed the famed terraces.

The surrounding Okataina Caldera gives rise to a substantial amount of geothermal activity east of Rotorua, and was the source of the eruption.

To gain a detailed picture of these separate systems, scientists are dropping heat-measuring devices at more than 100 different points across the lakebed.

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USA:

Speakers Announced for U.S. GEA International Geothermal Showcase (AltEnergyMag - press release)

The U.S. Geothermal Energy Association (GEA) has announced the keynote speakers for the their International Geothermal Showcase 2014.

Ambassador Carlos Pascual, Special Envoy and Coordinator for International Energy Affairs, U.S. Department of State and Ali Zaidi, Deputy Director for Energy Policy, White House Domestic Policy Council will address attendees at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center in Washington, D.C. this Earth Day 2014 (Tuesday, April 22).

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Canada:

Learn How to Maximize Your Aquaculture Operation With Minimal Heat Cost (FIS)

The Canadian Geothermal Energy Association (CanGEA) is holding a one day workshop that is tailored to the needs of aquaculture operators and enthusiasts.

Geothermal energy taps into heat from deep in the earth and has a number of ancillary uses like heating buildings, greenhouses, aquaponics tanks and melting icy roads. Communities benefit from using geothermal heat by reducing heating costs, increasing production, and providing a clean, reliable source of power to their facilities.

On March 28th, a preeminent world expert of direct heat-use GRC member Dr. John Lund will be leading a workshop in Calgary as an element of the annual CanGEA geothermal energy conference.

Dr. Lund literally wrote the book about geothermal direct heat-use and is sought around the globe to for his expertise on geothermal applications. This is the first time that an expert of his caliber has been brought to Canada to spread practical, applicable knowledge such as this.

Read More.....       Register....

Mexico:

3rd Annual Mexican International Renewable Energy Congress, Incorporating GeoPower Mexico

There is one week remaining to take advantage of the early booking rates for the leading Mexican renewables event, the 3rd annual Mexican International Renewable Energy Congress, incorporating GeoPower Mexico.

Register now to save $700 on the booking fee!

USA:

2013 Geothermal Technologies Office Peer Review Technical Report (EERE/GTO)

The 2013 Geothermal Technologies Office Peer Review Report (PDF) is now available for download. The report provides a summary and compilation of expert, independent technical feedback on GTO-funded projects, as well as feedback from the Peer Review meeting conducted on April 22-25, 2013.

Read more about the 2013 Peer Review Meeting or see individual project presentations by awardees.

The Geothermal Technologies Office funds more than 150 research, development, demonstration and analysis projects, representing over $500 million in total combined investment.