United Kingdom: Geothermal District Heating Project JV Agreed

Council agrees district heating joint venture (LocalGov)

Cheshire East Council, in northern England has entered a joint venture with energy and French services company ENGIE to create eco-efficient district heating networks in the area.

It will build on a relationship established through ENGIE’s delivery of facilities management services to the council.

Cheshire Energy Networks will focus on low and zero carbon sources of heat including geothermal energy.

ENGIE will undertake all related feasibility studies, engineering and construction services as well as providing consultancy with respect to design and delivery of renewable energy projects.

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New Zealand: Ormat to Build 20 MW Te Ahi O Maui Geothermal Project

Ormat Technologies Secures $36 Million Supply & EPC Contracts for a Geothermal Power Plant in New Zealand (News Release)

Ormat Technologies, Inc. today announced that one of its subsidiaries has signed a $36 million Supply, Engineering, Procurement and Construction, (EPC) contracts, with Eastland Group for the 20 MW Te Ahi O Maui geothermal project located near Kawerau, New Zealand. The construction of the project is expected to be completed in 2018.

Under the Supply & EPC contracts, Ormat will provide its air-cooled Ormat Energy Converter for the Te Ahi O Maui geothermal project. This project is a partnership between Eastland Generation and the Kawerau A8D Ahu Whenua Trust, who are the owners of the land on which the project will be constructed. Eastland Generation owns the geothermal power plant GDL, which was built by Ormat in 2008.

As we reported previously drilling has already begun.

Ormat will be exhibiting at the 40th GRC Annual Meeting & GEA Geothermal Energy Expo, October 23-26, Sacramento, CA

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Turkey: 12 MW Umurlu I ORC Geothermal Plant is in Operation

Umurlu I 12 MW geothermal plant now running  (News Release)

EXERGY, has announced that the Umurlu I geothermal plant, commissioned in the late 2015 in Turkey for KARKEY Karadeniz Elektrik Uretim A.S is successfully in operation producing clean power with higher efficiency than expected.

The performance test conducted by the third party company Power Engineers, confirmed the plant is running with an over performance of between 8 and 12% and producing up to 1.5 MWe more than guaranteed.

Located in the Umurlu geothermal area near Denizli, Umurlu I is the first of two 12 MW binary plants in EXERGY’s contract with Karkey. The second 12 MW plant will be operational in the second half of 2016 delivering the client a total power output of 24 MW. The solution provided by EXERGY utilizes an ORC module equipped with two Radial Outflow Turbines connected to a common generator and an air cooled system sized to maximize the efficiency of the plant.

Exergy S.p.A. will be exhibiting at the 40th GRC Annual Meeting & GEA Geothermal Energy Expo, October 23-26, Sacramento, CA

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USA, Idaho: Profile of Geothermal Energy Engineering Company

Idaho’s little-known Power Engineers an engineering heavyweight (Idaho Statesman)

Power Engineers opened a Boise office in 1990 and moved it to Meridian in 2008. On Wednesday, Bret Moffett, the freshly promoted CEO of Power Engineers will succeed Jack Hand, the CEO since 1998. Hand will stay on as chairman. Moffett said the board allowed him to stay at the Meridian office instead of moving to Hailey.

Pete Van Der Meulen and Hans Buhler founded Power Engineers in Pocatello in 1976. Their original headquarters burned the next year, so they relocated to Hailey. The founders are no longer involved in the company.

Today, Power Engineers has offices in 38 U.S. markets and another in Johannesburg in South Africa. Its geothermal project experience includes more than 1,800 MW of efficient, clean new generation in Nicaragua, Mexico, Kenya, Costa Rica, Iceland, Indonesia, Turkey, the Philippines, and the United States. For nearly three decades, Power Engineers’s team of experts has provided feasibility assessments, design engineering, and field engineering to some of the world’s leading geothermal project developers and operators.

Power Engineers will be exhibiting at the GRC Annual Meeting & GEA Geothermal Energy Expo, October 23-26 in Sacramento, California, USA.

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USA: News from the Geo Heat Pump Industry

Heat Exchange Industry News (Geothermal Exchange Organization)

The latest GEO Industry News is now available from the Geothermal Exchange Organization (GEO).

Headlines and features in this month’s edition include:

• GEO Needs Your Help to Save Our Tax Credits
• House Bill Would Extend Tax Credits for Orphaned Technologies
• Iowa Geo Tax Credit Provides Stopgap for Federal Incentive
• Grassroots Work Passed South Carolina Geo Tax Credit 
• GEO Supports OGA Against Expanding Natural Gas in Ontario
• CSA Rolls Out Bi-national Standard for Geothermal Heat Pumps

The Geothermal Exchange Organization, a 501(c)(6) non-profit trade association based in Springfield, Illinois, USA that advocates the environmental, energy efficiency and economic benefits of geothermal heat pump systems for heating and cooling applications in residential, commercial, and institutional buildings in the USA.

GEO Industry News (PDF)

USA: California Continues to Reign as Top Clean-Tech State

California Reigns as Top Clean-Tech State (Clean Edge)

Clean Edge, a clean-tech research and indexing firm, today released its annual U.S. Clean Tech Leadership Index which tracks and ranks the clean-tech activities of all 50 states and the 50 largest metro areas in the U.S. – from EV and renewables adoption to patent and investment activity. A free downloadable summary report is available at www.cleanedge.com.

The transition to a clean-energy economy over the past seven years is remarkable, with 14 states now exceeding 10% renewable energy generation, and the top three states (Iowa, South Dakota, and Kansas) at 31%, 25%, and 24% respectively.

In this year's Index, California became the first state to generate 10% of its in-state electricity from utility-scale and distributed solar, with Hawaii not far behind at 7%. 

Clean-energy deployment transcends politics. Among the Top 10 states for utility-scale clean-energy generation in our 2016 Index, half were red states during the last presidential election (Idaho, Kansas, North Dakota, Oklahoma, and South Dakota) and half were blue states (California, Colorado, Iowa, Minnesota, and Vermont).

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Indonesia: Call for Papers Deadline for Indonesia International Geothermal Convention & Exhibition 2016 is 10 June

Indonesia International Geothermal Convention & Exhibition (IIGCE) 2016

10-12 August, Jakarta Convention Center, Jakarta, Indonesia

Global: Flash Geothermal Production Dominates the Market

Market Insight: The Status of Commercial and Progressive Geothermal Technologies (Renewable Energy World)

Commercial geothermal technologies are growing with the market based on their applications in low- and high-temperature systems, while progressive technologies are pushing the limits of accessible thermal resources.

Of the approximately 313 MW of new geothermal capacity that came online last year, most of it was from small binary/organic rankine cycle (ORC) projects, but the dominance of new binary/ORC installations in 2015 is not indicative of how the geothermal market will grow in the future, according to a report from the Geothermal Energy Association (GEA).

Flash technologies account for about 58 percent of global geothermal production, dry steam about 25 percent, and binary/ORC 16 percent, the report said.

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Philippines: DOE Gives More Guidance on Geothermal Feed-in-Tariff

DOE open to FIT perks for geothermal (Manila Bulletin)

(Courtesy CIA.gov)

The Philippines Department of Energy (DOE) is acquiescent to proposals of including geothermal technology in the array of renewable energy (RE) projects that shall be incentivized under the feed-in-tariff (FIT) system.

Nevertheless, Energy Secretary Zenaida Y. Monsada has qualified that such set of perks may only be granted to project developers based on the recommendation of the National Renewable Energy Board (NREB).

She said the NREB must carry out an extensive study on the proposal; and shall subsequently lodge its policy recommendations to the DOE for approval.

“It (FIT for geothermal) can be considered… we will have to review it,” the energy secretary said. The FIT subsidy is typically extended to qualified projects at a fixed rate for 20 years.

At this stage, Monsada indicated that they may only be amenable to granting FIT incentives to low enthalpy geothermal resources; and those developments of smaller capacities.

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Science & Technology: Better Measuring of the Geothermal Temperature Gradient

Software helps define feasibility of geothermal exploitation (Phys.Org)

Dr. Jorge Wong

In order to determine in detail the underground temperature for the utilization of geothermal energy, researchers at the Institute for Renewable Energy (IER) of the National University of Mexico (UNAM) designed and developed software that determines the thermal diffusivity of the subsoil, i.e., how fast heat is transferred through the rocks without removing them from the ground.

This tool obtains in situ data with temperature measurements from the shaft in 36 hours. The thermal history is reconstructed from the start of drilling, during and in recovery. Various parameters can be determined such as heat flux, cementation processes, or the viability of exploiting the geothermal resources.

Dr. Jorge Wong, project leader, explained that the so-called "simulator to determine the formation diffusivity at the bottom of geothermal wells," developed since 2013, works as a start module with the polynomial rational method, patented in 2015 by its inventors.

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GRC Annual Meeting & GEA Geothermal Energy Expo: Golf Tourney Registration Opens

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

Popular networking event for the geothermal energy industry in Sacramento, California. 

The Geothermal Resources Council (GRC) has announced more details of events at the world’s largest annual geothermal conference, held this year in Sacramento, California, USA, October 23-26, 2016.

Just before the start of the GRC Annual Meeting & GEA Geothermal Energy Expo, the GRC Annual Charity Golf Tournament will take place October 23 at the William Land Golf Course just three miles from the conference site. Registration for the tournament is now open.

This year the proceeds from the tournament will go to the GRC Scholarship Fund. 

The William Land Golf Course is Sacramento’s oldest golf treasure. In 1911 William Land left $250,000 “to purchase a public park within a suitable distance of Sacramento to be used as a recreation spot for children and a pleasure ground for the poor.” William Land Park was established on its present site in the 1920’s and the golf course was built in 1924.

More details of the tournament can be found on the GRC website at www.geothermal.org. Download the GRC Annual Charity Golf Tournament Flyer and fill out a registration form which can be mailed or faxed to the GRC office. Online registration will open in the coming months.

Caribbean: Geothermal Energy Could Power Island Nations

A Push for Geothermal Energy in the Caribbean (Caribbean Journal)

The Caribbean has some of the world’s highest energy costs, and that means the need for new sources.

High on the list right now in the region is geothermal energy, something that is a major priority for St Kitts and Nevis.

“Successful geothermal development can positively impact energy security within the Eastern Caribbean Community, indeed within the wider Caribbean Community,” said St Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister Dr Timothy Harris. “[This is] a watershed for a transformed energy future that delivers affordable, reliable, sustainable and clean energy to the citizens of the Caribbean region.”

Harris was speaking at the recent Regional Geothermal Forum at the St. Kitts Marriott Resort.

The twin-island federation has met some success with geothermal exploration, and is looking toward the construction of a geothermal power plant in Nevis as a likely next step in the decade-long project.

Authorities in St. Kitts have established a public-private partnership with Teranov, a Guadeloupe-based company, to examine the technical feasibility and economic viability of the plan.

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Philippines, Indonesia: Filipino Utility Seeks Chevron's Geothermal Assets

Aboitiz Power likely to bid for Chevron's geothermal assets (Nikkei Asian Review)

Aboitiz Power is interested in bidding for Chevron's geothermal assets in the Philippines and in Indonesia, company officials told reporters on Monday.

In a global trend among energy companies, Chevron is looking to divest some assets to shore up finances amid weak oil prices. Aboitiz Power CEO Erramon Aboitiz said his company would look into the terms of the sale once they are released, likely by the end of this month.

Aboitiz Power could potentially be competing with bigger French and Japanese companies which were also keen on acquiring the assets, according to earlier reports.

Chief Operating Officer Antonio Moraza said Aboitiz Power would likely bid on its own for the Philippine assets, but it would seek a partner for the Indonesian projects.

Chevron has a 40% stake in Philippine Geothermal Production, which supplies steam energy to the 692 megawatt Tiwi-Makban geothermal power plants in southern Luzon, which are both owned by Aboitiz Power. In Indonesia, Chevron's geothermal projects generate around 650 MW of electricity. The assets were valued at around $3 billion.

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USA: GRC Member On the Search for Geothermal Energy Resources

NREL Helping the Bureau of Land Management Dive Further into Hot Water (NREL)

NREL researcher Kathryn Young visits an IPT Energy Services oil and gas well site near Denver. NREL will be providing technical assistance to the BLM for its geothermal program, adapting knowledge, materials, and lessons learned from the agency’s oil and gas programs. Photo by Dennis Schroeder

Geothermal energy is there for the taking, provided you know where to look and want to invest the time and money to drill into the earth. The process can be complicated, but work being undertaken at the Energy Department's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) for the federal Bureau of Land Management (BLM) will make it less so.

That's important, because untapped geothermal energy stands ready to fill a need as states and the federal government push to generate more electricity from renewable sources. But adding geothermal-generated electricity to the grid can take years.

The BLM is tasked with the responsibility of deciding appropriate uses for 245 million acres of public lands, such as whether to allow the operation of geothermal plants. All states possess geothermal energy, but a dozen have been identified as the best potential sources for traditional hydrothermal power.

But where, under all that real estate, are the best places to drill?

"With solar and wind resources, it's easier to see if it's available," said Katherine Young, a geothermal energy engineer who works at NREL in the Technology Systems and Sustainability Analysis Group in the Strategic Energy Analysis Center. "It's easy to measure when the sun's shining and when the wind's blowing. With geothermal you have to spend a lot of money to confirm that resource is there."

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USA: Big Corporations Unite to Develop 60 GW of renewables by 2025

Major US companies launch Renewable Energy Buyers Alliance (Utility Dive)

Around 60 U.S. companies, including Facebook and Microsoft, and several environmental groups are forming a new alliance, called the Renewable Energy Buyers Alliance, aimed at developing 60 GW of renewables by 2025.

 

The companies said the alliance is being formed to knock down barriers they say they face with utilities and regulators in their goals to reduce carbon emissions. The group cited the inefficency of power purchase agreements in procuring renewables for smaller companies. 

The alliance aims to bundle up power purchase agreements, connect generators and buyers, and persuade policymakers of the economic benefits of new investments in renewables, according to the Financial Times.

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Guadeloupe: Regional Leaders Visit 10 MW Bouillante Geothermal Power Plant

Minister Liburd leads OECS and CARICOM delegation to Bouillante Geothermal Plant in Guadeloupe (SKNVibes.com)

St. Kitts and Nevis’ Minister of Public Infrastructure with responsibility for energy, Honourable Ian Patches Liburd, led Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) and the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) delegates, on the last day of a three day regional geothermal forum held at the St. Kitts Marriott Resort from May 10-12, to the only active geothermal plant in the Caribbean in Bouillante, Guadeloupe.  The 10 MW facility was bought by Ormat Technologies in March. Ormat is confident that with its technology and expertise it can optimize the use of the resource at the existing facilities and recover its current production to its design capacity of 14.75 MW by mid-2017.

The forum was held under the theme “Opportunities and Synergies for Collaboration.”

Minister Liburd said that the regional geothermal forum would not have been complete without a trip to the Bouillante Geothermal Plant in the French Caribbean Island that serves as the only model of how geothermal energy can be of benefit to small island developing states (SIDS) that are heavily burdened with high electricity costs from the use of fossil fuel—and also the dangers that high carbon emissions from this type of fuel poses to the environment.

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Global: Nominations for GRC Geothermal Awards

The GRC Awards – Seeking the Best in Global Geothermal

Nominations are now open. The winners will be announced at the GRC Annual Meeting in Sacramento, California, USA.

2015 Joseph W. Aidlin Award winner Gene Suemnicht (left)
with GRC President Paul Brophy

The Geothermal Resources Council (GRC) is pleased to announce the opening of nominations for this year’s GRC Awards. The awards recognize distinguished colleagues in the geothermal community from around the world and have been a highlight of the geothermal calendar since the late 1970’s.

The winners will be honored at the GRC Awards Luncheon, the climax to the GRC Annual Meeting being held in Sacramento, California, USA from October 23 –26. The theme for this year’s meeting is Geothermal Energy, Here and Now: Sustainable, Clean, Flexible.

“The recipients of these awards often have a lifetime of achievement in the academic, scientific and commercial geothermal communities,” said GRC Executive Director Steve Ponder. “These awards are considered among the most prestigious in the geothermal community.”

More information on the GRC Awards, including a nomination form, can be found on the GRC website. The deadline for nominations is June 24, 2016.

Read More......                        Nomination Form......

USA, New York: A Model Geothermal Energy Park on Cornell's Campus

Cornell and Iceland team to model geothermal energy (Cornell University)

Ríkharður Ibsen, left, Jefferson Tester and Albert L. Albertsson sign the memorandum of agreement April 28, while Ambassador Robert Cushman Barber, back left, and Minister Ragnheiður Elín Árnadóttir look on. (Courtesy Cornell University)

With an aim to create clean, renewable geothermal energy projects, and to cooperate in research and education, Cornell University and Geothermal Resource Park (GRP) Iceland have signed a memorandum of agreement that mirrors the successful Icelandic model for integrating energy solutions.

GRP Ltd. facilitates that model within the Iceland Geothermal Cluster to promote clean energy globally.

One of the agreement’s key aims is to employ the Icelandic experience of integrating geothermal and hydro resources as a model to transform carbon-based U.S. energy into sustainably harnessed, green systems.

GRP will assist Cornell in designing a renewable energy park for possible deployment on the Cornell campus in Ithaca, with an eye toward transforming the campus into a zero carbon model for other campuses and communities.

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GRC Annual Meeting & GEA Geothermal Energy Expo: Geothermal Photo Contest

The Geothermal Resources Council 2016 Amateur Photo Contest

The 37th Amateur Geothermal Photo Contest winners will be announced at the GRC Annual Meeting in Sacramento, California, USA.  

1st Place 2015: Drill Casings for New Geothermal Well by Cari Covell,
Reykjavik University - Iceland School of Energy, Reykjavik, Iceland

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

The winners will be announced at the GRC Annual Member Meeting and Awards Luncheon, the climax to the 40th GRC Annual Meeting & GEA Geothermal Energy Expo being held in Sacramento, California, USA from October 23-26. The theme for this year’s meeting is “Geothermal Energy, Here and Now: Sustainable, Clean, Flexible”.

The first place winner will receive $150, second place - $100, and third place - $75. Honorable Mention photos will receive certificates. The award checks will be drawn on a US bank.

Photographs on any subject related to geothermal energy can be submitted such as geothermal energy production, EGS, Direct Use and geothermal heat pumps. These can include photos of well testing, drilling, operation of geothermal equipment, newly developed equipment, or plant operation, construction of a geothermal plant or plant site, and geological areas or surface manifestations (holding potential for geothermal exploration or development).

More information on the GRC Amateur Photo Contest, including a submission form, can be found on the GRC website. The deadline for submissions is September 16, 2016.

GRC Photo Contest Submission Form......

Latin America: Initial EUR 50 Million Risk Mitigation Fund for Geothermal Development

Dewhurst Group Selected as Lead Geothermal Project Manager for KfW Fund (News Release)

First Multi-Donor Climate Initiative to Promote Geothermal Energy in Latin America

The German Government’s Development Bank, KfW, has announced the launch of the first multi-donor climate initiative to promote geothermal energy in Latin America. The initiative is known as the Geothermal Development Facility, Latin America (Fund).

This activity includes both straight grants for exploration surface studies as well as contingency grants for exploration drilling. Initially €50M will be provided with follow-on funding anticipated. The Fund will be modeled after the existing risk mitigation fund in East Africa.

Qualified developers in Chile, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala can apply for funding. The Fund will also include technical assistance forums for the various stakeholders.

IDA Fund Management, LLC will serve as the Fund managers with oversight from KfW. IDA Fund Management, LLC includes Interlink Capital, Inc., Dewhurst Group, LLC, and Ambata Capital Partners.

The Fund expects to be up and fully operational within the next six months.

Dewhurst Group will be exhibiting at the GRC Annual Meeting & GEA Geothermal Energy Expo, October 23-26 in Sacramento, California.

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Tanzania: 100 MW Geothermal by 2023

Tanzania to generate 100 MW from geothermal sources by 2023 (China.org.cn)

(Courtesy CIA.gov)

Tanzania plans to generate 100 megawatts from geothermal energy sources in the coming seven years, an official said on Wednesday.

Juliana Pallangyo, Deputy Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Energy and Minerals, said experts have already conducted a review and analysis of the geothermal projects surface study in Lake Ngozi and Songwe in Mbeya Region before starting to drill holes.

She said Tanzania was endowed with huge geothermal potential, approximated at 5,000 MW, which was yet to be exploited.

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USA, North Dakota: Co-Production of Geothermal Energy from Oil & Gas Well

EERE Success Story—DOE-Funded Project is First Permanent Facility to Co-produce Electricity from Geothermal Resources at an Oil and Gas Well (EERE/GTO)

Source: Kirby Baier of Continental Resources

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is excited to announce the launch of the nation’s first commercial enterprise to co-produce electricity from geothermal resources at an oil and gas well. With support from DOE’s Geothermal Technologies Office (GTO), researchers at the University of North Dakota (UND) successfully generated geothermal power from hot water that flows naturally from petroleum wells in the Williston Sedimentary Basin in western North Dakota. This technology offsets the need for costly transmission construction and reduces energy costs at remote oil fields. The facility started generating electricity for the first time in late April.

UND’s process to co-produce electricity involves the use of hot fluid—a by-product of oil, gas, and other material harvesting processes. While the quality of the resource depends on water volume and temperature, the technology has the potential to extend the economic life of oil and gas fields. UND’s technology features a special engine that can make steam from warm water pumped out of the ground with oil. The heat in the water flashes into steam and drives a turbine to create electricity.

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USA: Western Energy Imbalance Market Allows for More Renewable Energy Trade

CAISO EIM Boosts Market for Renewables in Q1 (RTO Insider)

The recently expanded western Energy Imbalance Market (EIM) provided California a new outlet for its surplus renewable output last quarter, according to California Independent System Operator (CAISO)’s quarterly economic benefits report.

The EIM produced $18.9 million in overall financial benefits for its participants during the first quarter of 2016, up from $12.3 million the previous quarter, the report said.

CAISO attributed the increase to the participation of NV Energy, which joined the real-time market in December 2015. The utility’s addition significantly improved transfer capability between the ISO and the balancing areas belonging to PacifiCorp — the EIM’s first participant — creating a more unified footprint.

Despite its key contribution to unifying the market, NV Energy realized just $1.7 million of the gross benefits during the quarter. The largest share — $10.85 million — flowed to PacifiCorp, while CAISO picked up $6.35 million.

“A significant level of the energy that was exported by the ISO was renewable generation,” CAISO said.

There will be a GRC Fieldtrip to the headquarters of CAISO from the GRC Annual Meeting & GEA Geothermal Energy Expo, October 23-26, Sacramento, California.

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Australia: Funds provided for Queensland Geothermal Power Project

Proposed Roma, Mitchell geothermal plants tipped to save Maranoa council $20m over 20 years (ABC Local)

 

A south-west Queensland council says plans to build two clean energy plants to power its assets will save ratepayers $20 million over 20 years.

Maranoa Regional Council yesterday approved another $7,500 towards planning for a geothermal plant at Roma. A second plant has been touted for Mitchell.

Maranoa councillor David Schefe said if the project was built, the $3 million investment required would be worth it.

"We're only looking at supplying power to council assets, so council's assets are pretty extensive and widely used by the community and there's a huge amount of power usage there," he said. "The projections moving forward of course are that energy prices are only going to continue to move upwards. "There's a lot of other subsidies that come and go federally that we might be able to tap into too which will make it even more lucrative for our community.

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USA: Washington Provides Most Baseload Renewable Power

Western States Renewable Power Ranking Released – Idaho Tops the List (News Release)

Idaho tops the Western States in renewable power generation, according to ranking released today by the Geothermal Energy Association (GEA). “When you consider both baseload and intermittent renewable power, Idaho is a leader,” said Karl Gawell Executive Director of the Geothermal Energy Association.

The ranking of the 13 Western States is shown below. The ranking is being distributed in support of the first Baseload Renewable Energy Summit, being held in Reno, Nevada June 7-8th. The event is hosted by the GEA, National Hydropower Association and Biomass Power Association to explore the role of baseload renewable technologies in a low-carbon future.

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Philippines: EDC President Calls for Geothermal Feed-in-Tariff

Geothermal FiT pushed (The Standard)

Richard Tantoco, EDC president
and COO (Courtesy EDC)

Renewable energy producer Energy Development Corp., a subsidiary of First Gen Corp., asked the government to provide a feed-in-tariff for geothermal power projects.

EDC president and chief operating officer Richard Tantoco said future geothermal projects would require a modest feed-in tariff, “nowhere near where wind and solar are today but in reality is significantly cheaper when the costs of intermittency are factored in.”

“The whole Epira [Electric Power Industry Reform Act]  is geared toward competition to reduce cost. But we have to get people to accept and acknowledge that fact that there are other costs not factored there, intermittency, carbon costs,” Tantoco said.

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USA, Idaho: US Geothermal CEO on Legislative Changes

US Geothermal's CEO Dennis Gilles on Q1 2016 Results - Earnings Call Transcript (Seeking Alpha)

U.S. Geothermal's CEO Dennis Gilles 

GRC Member Dennis Gilles: "On the legislative front, I am pleased to note that the U.S. government has extended the start of construction date that geothermal projects can qualify for the 30% investment tax credit. Any geothermal project that has begun construction, begun construction that is by December 31, 2016 now qualifies for that tax credit.

And I want to point out that’s a tax credit, not a deduction. That investment tax credit allows 30% of the project’s cost to be taken as a credit against any tax payments in the year the project goes into operation. And basically to utilize that credit, we would bring a tax partner into our project similar to what we had done on Raft River with Goldman Sachs.

There is a growing interest in the market for baseload renewable electricity to replace the phasing out coal, nuclear and once through cool plants along the California coast. All of which have historically provided firm predictable baseload generation."

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Nicaragua: San Jacinto-Tizate Power Plant Upgrade Continuing

Polaris Infrastructure Announces 2016 First Quarter Results (Stockhouse - News Release)

(Courtesy Polaris Infrastructure)

Polaris Infrastructure Inc., based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, reports its financial and operating results for the quarter ended March 31, 2016.

The San Jacinto-Tizate Power Plant generated 105,599 MWh (net) (an average of 48.4 MW (net)), resulting in revenue of $12.6 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2016, versus revenue of $12.3 million on generation of 106,045 MWh (net) (an average of 48.8 MW (net)) in the prior year period.

The first new production well, SJ 6-3, is in the midst of thermal recovery and will be connected to the plant in the third quarter of 2016. We are confident that SJ 6-3 is a commercial well and will provide specific guidance as to estimated additional steam flows and hence MW contribution once production testing is complete.

Drilling of the second new production well, SJ 14-1, was completed in late April 2016, and preliminary results are anticipated in June 2016. The first of four injection well workovers has been completed, with the balance to occur in May and June, 2016, at which point we will begin drilling SJ 9-4, our third new production well. A more detailed discussion of the 2015/2016 drilling program can be found in our MD&A.

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Latin America: Big Credit Line for Development of Geothermal Energy from German Bank

Germany to back CAF’s financing in geothermal projects and urban transportation for Latin America with €350 million (CAF)

The German Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and Development Bank of Latin America (CAF) signed an agreement by which they shall promote the development of energy projects in Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Chile and Mexico.

By means of the agreement signed today in Caracas with the German Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development through its Embassy in Venezuela for a total of €350 million, the German government has granted its approval for KfW (German development bank) to negotiate with CAF regarding two new concessionary credit lines during 2017.

The first credit line of €250 million (c. $286 million) shall be allocated to lowering financing that CAF grants to geothermal projects in the region, whether for supporting excavations for measuring the potential of energy generation, or for the very construction of the geothermal plant. This credit line constitutes part of a program lead by KfW and CAF, in which other agencies also participate and which arose in 2013 in order to identify the potential of geothermal energy in Latin America. The countries with the greatest potential in South America are Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia and Chile.

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St. Vincent and the Grenadines: Geothermal Energy Development Project ESA

Summary Environment and Social Appraisal Geothermal Energy Development Project – St. Vincent and the Grenadines (Caribbean Development Bank)

The Geothermal Energy Development Project – St. Vincent and the Grenadines appraises a proposal for exploratory drilling by the St. Vincent Geothermal Company Limited (SVGCL), a joint venture established between the Government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines (GOSVG) and St. Vincent Geothermal Holdings Limited, to assess the geothermal resource in the La Soufrière region in northern St. Vincent; and for the services of a Community Liaison Officer (the CLO) to support and facilitate stakeholder engagement throughout the project implementation (the Project).

The outcome of the Project will be the enhanced capability of SVGCL to make an evidenced based determination of the feasibility of continuing geothermal resource development for electricity production.

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Caribbean: "Successful Geothermal Development can Positively Impact Energy Security"

St. Kitts PM urges development of regional geothermal strategy (Caribbean 360)

St. Kitts And Nevis Prime Minister Dr. Timothy Harris

St. Kitts and Nevis’ Prime Minister Dr. Timothy Harris is calling on regional stakeholders to continue efforts to reform energy production and reduce the dependency on fossil fuels.

That was his key message as he delivered the feature address at yesterday’s opening of a Regional Geothermal Forum at the St. Kitts Marriott Resort, which is being held under the theme “Opportunities and Synergies for Collaboration” and attended by government and other stakeholders across the Caribbean region.

“I call on all of us and in particular the participants at this forum, to maintain a purposeful stance towards achieving energy security and energy independence for the Caribbean,” Dr. Harris told delegates attending the three-day conference.

“Successful geothermal development can positively impact energy security within the Eastern Caribbean Community, indeed within the wider Caribbean Community,” he said. “I challenge you to make this event, which connects geothermal decision-makers and developers with key international experts, a watershed for a transformed energy future that delivers affordable, reliable, sustainable and clean energy to the citizens of the Caribbean region.”

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Iceland: Without Geothermal Power Life in Iceland Wouldn't be as Pleasant

Geothermal power generates higher living standards, lower heating costs and less pollution (Iceland Magazine)

Without geothermal power, which provides Icelanders with cheap energy to heat their homes and warm water to fill swimming pools, life in Iceland wouldn't be as pleasant. Photo/Vilhelm Gunnarsson. 

One of the principal sources of the quality of life in Iceland is geothermal power. For example, it provides Icelanders with hot water to fill outdoor swimming pools and hot tubs which have been identified as one of the key sources of Icelandic well-being, the “secret to the country’s happiness”.

But geothermal power improves the quality of life for Icelanders in some other, more easily measurable ways as well.

• Massive savings on utility bills
• Warmer homes, improved health
• Cleaner air and less CO2 emissions
• Generating green electricity
• Power plants are popular tourist destinations

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USA: EIA Forecasts 52 GW Global Geothermal Energy by 2040

International Energy Outlook 2016 (IEA)

The International Energy Outlook 2016 (IEO2016) presents an assessment by the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) of the outlook for international energy markets through 2040. U.S. projections appearing in IEO2016 are consistent with those published in EIA's Annual Energy Outlook 2015 (AEO2015). IEO2016 is provided as a service to energy managers and analysts, both in government and in the private sector.

In the International Energy Outlook 2016 (IEO2016) Reference case, world net electricity generation increases 69% by 2040, from 21.6 trillion kilowatthours (kWh) in 2012 to 25.8 trillion kWh in 2020 and 36.5 trillion kWh in 2040. Electricity is the world’s fastest-growing form of end-use energy consumption, as it has been for many decades. Power systems have continued to evolve from isolated, small grids to integrated national markets and even international markets.

Total generation from renewable resources increases by 2.9%/year, as the renewable share of world electricity generation grows from 22% in 2012 to 29% in 2040. Generation from nonhydropower renewables is the predominant source of the increase, rising by an average of 5.7%/year and outpacing increases in natural gas (2.7%/year), nuclear (2.4%/year), and coal (0.8%/year), even without taking into account the growth in renewable generation anticipated under the Clean Power Plan in the United States.

In the reference case scenario the EIA forecasts geothermal capacity to grow from the current 10 GW to 22 GW in 2020, 41 GW in 2030 and 52 GW by 2040 - an average of 5.9% growth per year.

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Russia: Geothermal Energy Production is Just 82 MW

Renewable Energy Report For Russia (CleanTechnica)

Other than large hydroelectric plants in Russia, all other forms of renewable energy account for less than 1% of power generation capacity.

These metrics come from Russia Direct, which reports when it comes to wind, solar and geothermal energy, Russia’s renewable potential is terrifyingly underdeveloped.

Russian geothermal production capacity has tripled over the last decade to 82 MW, its current level of development is regarded as underdeveloped. There are many geothermal sources available in Northern Caucasus, Kamchatka, and the Kuril Islands. According to Russia Direct, “Russia could potentially rival the world-leading United States (with 3.4 GW of power generation capacity).”

Russia’s geothermal abundance is such that much like the Ecuadorian government did regarding the Galapagos Islands, Moscow could declare Kamchatka and the Kuril Islands, with a joint power generation capacity of 2 GW, a fossil fuel-free zone with a binding deadline to adhere to. Hitherto there had been no talks whatsoever of creating a fossil fuel-free zone in Russia, all the more so if it meant imposing a regional or federal carbon tax.

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Philippines: Sale of Unified Leyte Geothermal Power Plant Capacity Not Set

PSALM lists ‘hurdles’ in privatization of power assets (Business Mirror)

The Philippines Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp. (PSALM) has yet to line up the inventory of power assets up for sale this year, pending further discussions with concerned agencies.

Under Republic Act 9136, or the Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2001, PSALM is mandated to manage the privatization and maintenance of National Power Corp.’s (Napocor) power-generation assets, liabilities and contracted capacities.

Among the power assets that are yet to be privatized are the 40-MW “security capacity” of the Unified Leyte Geothermal Power Plant (ULGPP) and the bulk capacity of the ULGPP itself.

“There is no definite bid schedule yet for Unified Leyte bulk and security energy this year because we need further consultation with [the] DOE [Department of Energy] on policy directions,” PSALM Officer in Charge Lourdes Alzona said in an interview.

The ULGPP is  in the Visayas. The PSALM Board still needs to determine if the 40-MW security capacity would be bundled to the remaining 160 MW of ULGPP’s bulk capacity that has yet to be privatized.

PSALM is also looking at a negotiated sale of the bulk capacity of ULGPP after only one bidder—Unified Leyte Geothermal Energy Inc., a subsidiary of Lopez-led Energy Development Corp.—participated in the bidding activity.

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Mexico: Geothermal Research and Development Center Opens

Mexico opens geothermal R&D center (News Release)

Mexico has inaugurated a geothermal research and development center, called CEMIE-Geo, in Ensenada, Baja California, the energy ministry said.

The Mexican Center for Innovation in Geothermal Energy, CeMIE-Geo, is an academia-industry alliance supported by the Mexican Secretary of Energy (SENER) and the National Science and Technology Council (CONACYT) aimed to promote and accelerate the use and development of geothermal energy in Mexico.

This group of academic institutions and private companies is leaded by Centro de Investigación Científica y de Educación Superior de Ensenada (CICESE), a government institution dedicated to scientific research and education since 1973. This consortium includes several universities, scientific research institutes, as well as public and private companies.

Most of the geothermal expertise in the country is grouped in CeMIE-Geo. The idea is to improve the existing physical and human infrastructure in the country and promote the functioning in a coordinated manner, in such a way that efforts be focused to encourage scientific research, technological development and innovation in the field of geothermal energy.

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Canada: Update from Alterra Power Corp

Alterra Power Announces Results For The Quarter Ended March 31, 2016 and Annual General Meeting (News Release)

Vancouver, Canada-based Alterra Power Corp. reports its financial and operating results for the quarter ended March 31, 2016.

Highlights for the quarter and subsequent period include:

• Announcement of landmark deep drilling project at HS Orka: Subsequent to the period, the last major contract was signed for a 5,000 meter deep drilling program at the Reykjanes plant in Iceland. The project will test for very high energy geothermal resources below the current Reykjanes geothermal field, and any resulting power will be utilized at the Reykjanes power plant.
• Adjusted EBITDA and revenue: Consolidated and net interest Adjusted EBITDA decreased by 27% to $6.4 million and 33% to $4.3 million, respectively, and consolidated and net interest revenue decreased by 9% to $14.9 million and $13.9 million, respectively. The decrease in EBITDA and revenue is primarily due to the lower quarterly generation.

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Indonesia: Shareholders' Agreement for 50 MW Seulawah Agam Geothermal Project Signed

Aceh-Pertamina sign Seulawah geothermal shareholder`s agreement (ANTARA)

Perusahaan Daerah Pembangunan Aceh (PDPA) and PT Pertamina Geothermal Energy (PGE) have signed a Shareholders Agreement (SHA) on the Seulawah geothermal power project.

The agreement was signed after two years of negotiation, head of the provincial mining and energy service T Syakur said. He added that as the winner of the tender for the Seulawah Geothermal project, PGE is required to form a partnership with PDPA to build and operate the geothermal power plant (PLTP) in Seulawah Agam.

He said the next step is PT Pertamina Geothermal Energy and PDPA would establish a joint venture company to be called PT Geothermal Energy Seulawah (PT. GES) to implement the project.

Pertamina as the capital provider will have a 75 percent share with PDPA holding the remaining 25 percent. The PDPA will pay for the share with a grant from KfW, a German government-owned development bank based in Frankfurt.

Seulawah Agam concession, in the regency of Aceh Besar, around 50 km southeast of Banda Aceh, is estimated to have a geothermal reserve equivalent to 165 MW.

The first unit of PLTP would have a capacity of 55 MW.

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USA, Nevada: Geothermal, Hydro-power, Biomass Conference - Early Bird Discount Ends Tomorrow!

Baseload Renewable Energy Summit (BRESx3) (GEA)

June 7-8, 2016 at the Grand Sierra in Reno, Nevada

GRC Members pay $325.00 before May 12, then $395.00 after.

Register.....                        More information........

Philippines: New Re-Injection Well at Maibarara Geothermal Power Plant

Maibarara taps Desco to drill geothermal field in Batangas (Business Mirror)

Maibarara Geothermal Inc. (MGI) has tapped Desco Inc. to conduct drilling services in a geothermal field in Batangas.

The company said on Wednesday it signed a contract for the provision of drilling rig and services for MB-17RD, a new reinjection well in MGI’s Maibarara geothermal field in Santo Tomas, Batangas.

The well is intended to be spudded by the last week of May and programmed to reach a total depth of 1,900 meters.

MGI, the owner and developer of the 20 MW Maibarara geothermal-power facility, is a joint-venture company owned 65 percent by PetroGreen Energy Corp. (PGEC), 25 percent by Trans-Asia Oil and Energy Development Corp. (TAO) and 10 percent by PNOC Renewables Corp. (PNOC RC).

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USA, Idaho: Update from US Geothermal

U.S. Geothermal Inc. Reports First Quarter 2016 Results and Reaffirms 2016 Guidance (News Release)

U.S. Geothermal Inc. announced today its financial and operating results for the first three months ending March 31, 2016, reaffirmed guidance for 2016, and highlighted notable achievements for the First Quarter.

Development projects update includes the following:

• Received signed Large Generator Interconnection Agreement from the California Independent System Operator (CAISO) and Pacific Gas & Electric for the 30 MW WGP Geysers project in California. The company continues to seek a Power Purchase Agreement prior to starting plant construction.
• Engaged independent reservoir engineering firm from Iceland to review drilling data, provide recommendations for additional drilling, and provide resource estimate in preparation for Guatemalan request for proposal for geothermal PPAs expected in Q2 of this year.
• Finalized the acquisition of three unconstructed binary power plants, at a small fraction of their original cost, providing flexibility to install these plants at new projects with significantly lower project capital costs, and accelerate development timelines.
• Obtaining approval to drill additional water supply wells at Neal Hot Springs, Oregon in support of hybrid cooling project which could add approximately 3+ MW to the project annual average generation.
• Preparing for drilling second production leg on well RRG-2 at Raft River which could add up to 3 MW to the project generation. Drilling scheduled for Q2 of this year.

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St. Kitts and Nevis: Update on Two Geothermal Energy Projects

Minister Touts Geothermal Opportunities (WINN FM)

St Kitts and Nevis Energy Minister Ian Patches Liburd

St Kitts and Nevis is capitalizing on its potential to develop its renewal energy sources, according to Energy Minister Ian Patches Liburd.

The minister told participants of a CARICOM sponsored regional geothermal meeting that Basseterre and Charlestown are pursuing separate geothermal exploration projects, and that the federation would also tap into other renewable energy sources.

“The federation of St Kitts and Nevis as a destination is therefore self sufficient in opportunities for solar, wind and geothermal powered development. For that reason as a responsible administration it is not our intention to rely much longer on expensive and less environmentally friendly sources of energy.  As countries within the OECS and beyond we face a common challenge that we are heavily dependent upon the use of fuel oil to generate electricity.  Having greater access to cleaner, affordable energy we believe can only translate into reduced costs for the hotel and manufacturing sectors and other businesses and ultimately and most importantly for the consumers. It will stimulate economic growth and reduce socio-economic problems.”

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GRC Annual Meeting & GEA Geothermal Expo: Exhibit at the Biggest Geothermal Event of the Year!

Fifty Exhibitors Sign Up for Geothermal Event

So far 50 exhibitors have signed up to display their products and services at the 40th GRC Annual Meeting & GEA Geothermal Expo. The biggest geothermal event of the year will be held October 23-26, in Sacramento, California, USA. The Geothermal Energy Association organizes the trade show portion of the geothermal event.

3J Tech	PM International Suppliers, LLC
AMSA, Inc.	POWER Engineers, Inc.
Baseload Power Generation Parts and Service, LLC	PowerChem Technology
BS&B Safety Systems, LLC	Quantec Geosciences Ltd.
Cooling Tower Depot, Inc.	Rotork Controls Inc.
Dewhurst Group	REXA
EvapTech, Inc	Schlumberger
Exergy SpA	Sinclair Well Products
Expro	SNC-Lavalin Power
Fuji Electric Co., Ltd.	SPX Corporation
Geologica Geothermal Group	Thermochem, Inc.
Geothermal Development Associates	TIMET
Geothermal Institute	TNG Energy Services
Global Power Solutions	Torishima Pump Mfg. Co., Ltd
GNS Science	Toshiba American Energy Systems Corporation (TAES)
Horizon Well Logging	Turboden
Indar Electric, S.L.	US Department of Energy  Geothermal Technologies Office
Industrial Cooling Solutions	U.S.-East Africa Geothermal  Partnership (EAGP)
International Cooling Tower USA, Inc.	Val-Matic Valves
Kuster Company	Veizades & Associates, Inc.
KMS Technologies	Vooner FloGard Corporation
Mill Man Steel, Inc	Well Analysis Corporation
Mitsubishi Hitachi Power Systems	Wieland Thermal Solutions
Nalco Company	Wolseley Industrial Group
Ormat Technologies, Inc.	WWT International

If you are interested in exhibiting at the GEA Geothermal Energy Expo please visit the GEA website.

The GRC Annual Meeting & GEA Geothermal Energy Expo is the industry’s largest annual gathering of leading geothermal energy scientists, producers, renewable energy industry stakeholders, regulators, utilities, and key associated business leaders. The four-day event will offer technical, policy, and market conference sessions, educational seminars, tours of local geothermal and renewable energy projects, a trade show and numerous networking opportunities. Registration also includes entry to the GEA Geothermal Energy Expo.

More information at: http://www.geothermal.org/meet-new.html