by piotr | Sep 5, 2010 | Geothermal
WASHINGTON, D.C.– As Sacramento, Calif., prepares to host the 2010 Geothermal Energy Expo, the geothermal energy industry’s largest annual event, the Geothermal Energy Association (GEA) recognizes the 50th anniversary of utility-scale geothermal power in the United States. Half a century ago, just north of San Francisco, construction began on The Geysers, the nation’s first commercial geothermal site. Now an extensive complex of geothermal energy production, the Geysers has come a long way from its beginnings as a single 11-megawatt power plant. It set both the state of California and the nation on a path toward strong and steady geothermal growth during the ensuing five decades, and now produces enough electricity to power a city the size of San Francisco. Since the Geysers began operation, the United States has become the world leader in geothermal energy production and geothermal energy is the largest renewable source of energy in the state of California, providing 5% of the state’s electric power. “As we celebrate the 50th anniversary of The Geysers, we are working to ensure that it remains a viable and valuable power source for generations to come,” said Mike Rogers, senior vice president of regional operation at Calpine Corporation (NYSE: CPN), the largest operator at The Geysers. “In addition to piping treated wastewater from nearby communities to replenish the geothermal resource, we have completed eight new exploratory wells and are evaluating the feasibility of adding at least 40 megawatts of capacity to help meet California’s trendsetting goals for renewable energy production.” And California is no longer alone in geothermal production. Approximately 3,086 Megawatts of installed capacity is produced by 77 plants...
by piotr | Nov 8, 2009 | Geothermal
An investment bank report says geothermal energy is now cheaper per kilowatt-hour than coal-derived power. But there are lots of caveats. By Christopher Mims Although the environmental benefits of burning less fossil fuel by using renewable sources of energy—such as geothermal, hydropower, solar and wind—are clear, there’s been a serious roadblock in their adoption: cost per kilowatt-hour. That barrier may be opening, however—at least for one of these sources. Two recent reports, among others, suggest that geothermal may actually be cheaper than every other source, including coal. Geothermal power plants work by pumping hot water from deep beneath Earth’s surface, which can either be used to turn steam turbines directly or to heat a second, more volatile liquid such as isobutane (which then turns a steam turbine). Combine a new U.S. president pushing a stimulus package that includes $28 billion in direct subsidies for renewable energy with another $13 billion for research and development, and the picture for renewable energy—geothermal power among the options—is brightening. The newest report, from international investment bank Credit Suisse, says geothermal power costs 3.6 cents per kilowatt-hour, versus 5.5 cents per kilowatt-hour for coal. That does not mean companies are rushing to build geothermal plants: There are a number of assumptions in the geothermal figure. First, there are the tax incentives, which save about 1.9 cents per kilowatt-hour. Those won’t necessarily last forever, however—although the stimulus bill extended them through 2013. Second, the Credit Suisse analysis relied on what is called the “levelized [sic] cost of energy,” or the total cost to produce a given unit of energy. Embedded within this figure is an...
by piotr | Sep 25, 2009 | Geothermal
RENO, Nev.—A Reno casino has hit the jackpot: An underground geothermal water source just north of one of its new 17-story hotel tower that will generate enough heat and hot water for all 2.1 million square feet of the resort’s space. The Peppermill Resort Spa casino recently gambled on an $8 million project to drill a deep hole on their property in search of the hot water, which hovers around 170 degrees. “The Peppermill, they really did hit a nice temperature of water,” said Lowell Price, oil, gas and geothermal manager for Nevada’s Division of Minerals, which oversees the permitting process of geothermal wells on private property. “It is really not hot enough for the big players … for the generation of electricity, but what they are trying to do, they have a real nice find there, very nice,” Price told the Reno Gazette-Journal. The new green-energy system is schedule to go online in January. It will be used to heat all restaurants, casino floors, the expansive spa, plus every shower and sink in 1,600-plus hotel rooms year-round. The move will save $1 million a year in energy costs, resort officials said, adding project expenses should be recovered through those savings in eight years. “Through the course of the drilling, we were all concerned about if there was going to be enough water down there and if it was hot,” said Alan Bailey, geologist and drilling engineer with Geothermal Resource Group, Inc. “Only in the final stages was it real clear that they had an excellent well here.” Peppermill executives are cheering now, but they were concerned during the...
by piotr | Sep 24, 2009 | Geothermal
U.S. Geothermal Inc. has initiated development drilling at the Neal Hot Springs Geothermal Project in eastern Oregon. Well NHS-5, the first well in this new program, is currently drilled to a depth of 300 feet. The depth of the well is anticipated to reach approximately 2,800 feet where it is expected to encounter a large aperture fracture containing geothermal fluid. Up to three large diameter wells, ranging in depth from 2,300 to 3,800 feet are planned in this drilling program. President and CEO, Daniel Kunz said, “These drilling programs are expected to maintain our current project development schedule and help define a geothermal reservoir needed to construct a power plant that will deliver 22 MW of electricity.” (Source: U.S. Ge othermal, September 22, 2009) Contact: Saf Dhillon, Investor Relations, U.S. Geothermal, (866) 687-7059, saf@usgeothermal.com,...
by piotr | Sep 23, 2009 | Geothermal
Researchers at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) are investigating the use of nanomaterials to boost geothermal efficiency at lower temperatures. PNNL plans to have a functioning system in the laboratory producing electricity by the end of the year, researcher Peter McGrail said. If laboratory tests are successful, the technology could be ready for use on existing geothermal systems within five years, according to McGrail. (Source: Seattle Post Intell igencer, September 22, 2009) Contact: Peter McGrail, Energy and Environment Directorate, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, (509) 371-7077, pete.mcgrail@pnl.gov,...
by piotr | Sep 10, 2009 | Geothermal
A $10,200,000 US research project with the Energy & Geoscience Institute of the University of Utah, U.S. Geothermal and APEX Hi Point LLC of Littleton, Colorado, will look at boosting geothermal energy production at the Raft River geothermal plant near Malta, Idaho. The five-year study will test the feasibility of injecting one of U.S. Geothermal’s dry wells with both cool and pressurized water to crack hot underground rocks. “Using these techniques to increase pathways in the rock for hot water and steam would increase availability of geothermal energy across the country,” says Energy & Geoscience Institute Director, Ray Levey. The Raft River power plant currently produces 10.5 to 11.5 MW of electricity, which it sells to Idaho Power. Researchers estimate its capacity could be increased to 110 MW if the plant had access to temperatures that range from 275 to 300 degrees Fahrenheit at depths of 4,500 to 6,000 feet. The project is funded through a $7,400,000 US grant from the U.S. DOE, $1,100,000 US from the University of Utah and $1,700,000 US in discounts and in-kind donations from U.S. Geothermal and Apex HiPoint. Earlier project details were provided in our October 15, 2008 edition. (Source: Idaho Business Review, September 9, 2009) Contact: Ray Levey, Director, Energy & GeoScience Institute, University of Utah, (801) 585-3826, rlevey@egi.utah.edu, www.egi.utah.edu; Saf Dhillon, Investor Relations, U.S. Geothermal, (866)-687-7059, saf@usgeothermal.com, www.usgeothermal.com; Brian Fuller, Manager, Apex HiPoint, (303) 962 8201, bfuller@apexhp.com,...
