Category: Geothermal


Ormat Technologies buys Hot Sulphur Springs II

March 15th, 2010 | Posted in Geothermal | No Comments

Ormat Technologies has announced last week the successful completion of acquisition of membership interests in the Hot Sulphur Springs II, including the Tuscarora project,  in Nevada (USA).

This acquisition puts Ormat in the position to harness more geothermal power from the Tuscarora project which is expected to provide a significant power output. The first phase of the upcoming development will bring 16 MW to the grid. Construction begins this year, with government funding options as financial support for the project.

Ormat is going to develop and operate the Tuscarora project, with completion scheduled sometime in 2012. Up to 40 MW of clean electricity from the power plant has been contracted under a 20-year PPA with Nevada Power Company.

[source: Ormat Technologies]


Petratherm Spain and Enel Green Power sign MoU for development of geothermal projects

March 4th, 2010 | Posted in Geothermal | No Comments

Petratherm Spain signed a memorandum of understanding with Enel Green Power for joint assessment and development of the company's geothermal projects in Spain, with plans for further expansion of the company's project portfolio in Spain.

Enel Green Power is a leading geothermal developer, with more than 800 MW of operational geothermal capacity, and about 300 MW lined up for development. Exploration and development costs for all upcoming joint projects will be split on a 50/50 basis between the two companies with special purpose vehicles (SPV).

The more advanced Tenerife geothermal project is subject to different conditions however, with Enel Green Power contributing 50% of all exploration costs to date, as well as ongoing costs, for a majority stake in the project in return. Enel will also fund the first production well.

[source: Petratherm]

Vulcan Power to continue drilling at Patua in Nevada

February 25th, 2010 | Posted in Geothermal | No Comments

Vulcan Power Company, a geothermal development company, has announced it has restarted drilling at the Patua geothermal well, located near Fernley, Nevada (USA).

The drilling project has been halted, but is now back in business, after the company received USD 108 million in equity investment from Denham Capital. The investment allowed the company to move on with the project, and over the next 24 months, Vulcan Power will work to complete Phase I of the Patua project. Once completed, it is expected Patua, the company's first geothermal project, will be capable of generating about 60 MW of power.

The focus within the project at the moment will be on geo-science activities, core hole drilling, and drilling of full-sized production wells, in order to evaluate the reservoir's full potential.

After these activities, the company will continue with construction, after obtaining the necessary permits and licenses. Commercial operation of the power plant is expected in Q1 2012. The entire power output of the Patua geothermal power plant will be sold through a 20-year PPA, which is currently being finalized in negotiations.

[source: Vulcan Power, image: Vulcan Power]

Geodynamics and Origin to form joint venture for exploring shallow geothermal potential

February 24th, 2010 | Posted in Geothermal | No Comments

Geodynamics and Origin Energy have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for exploration of geothermal potential in shallow geothermal resources in license areas that already exist for the joint venture, in Eromanoga Basin in South Australia.

The new MoU is a separate document from the already existing joint venture between the two companies, which has been referred to as Innamicka Joint Venture. This JV has now been renamed to Innamicka Deeps Joint Venture.

The new JV, dubbed Innamicka Shallows Joint Venture, is split right down the middle in terms of ownership. Origin Energy will assume the role of JV operator. The new project will focus on exploration at depths of about 3000 meters, where lower temperature reservoirs are expected to exist.

Both companies are hoping to achieve diversification in supplies of geothermal energy, providing investors with access to an extended geothermal portfolio.

[source: Geodynamics, image: Geodynamics]

Reservoir Capital granted three more permits for geothermal exploration in Serbia

February 24th, 2010 | Posted in Geothermal | No Comments

Reservoir Capital has received permits for three geothermal exploration drilling projects in northern Serbia, at Kupusina, Adorijan and Vrbica locations. The licenses have been granted based on the results previously obtained during oil, gas and geothermal exploration of the Pannonian Basin.

The Kupusina location, some 26 square miles, has been historically known to contain limestone and sandstone aquifiers at depths from 57 meters on to almost 1400 meters. Temperatures are estimated at about 80 degrees Centrigrade for most of the deep aquifiers, but there is potential for temperatures reaching 160 degrees centigrade.

The Adorijan and Vrbica locations, each having about 22 square miles and 48 square miles in area, are actually close to each other, and are near the norther border of Serbia with Hungary. Some 24 holes were drilled in the 1970's and 1980's as part of the oil and gas exploration efforts, and show potential for geothermal energy at depths from 421 meters to about 1800 meters. Reservoir temperatures are estimated at more than 90 degrees centigrade, with potential to reach as high as 200 degrees for a few of the deeper holes.

The three new licenses for geothermal exploration, along with the recently granted Vranjska Banja license, now total four licenses that Reservoir Capital currently holds for geothermal drilling in Serbia.

[source: Reservoir Capital]

Ormat Technologies to increase capacity of the Olkaria III geothermal plant

February 18th, 2010 | Posted in Geothermal | Comments (1)

Ormat Technology and Kenya Power & Lighting Company (KPLC) have signed a letter of intent, which prepares the conditions for Ormat to eventually increase the capacity of the Olkaria III geothermal power plant by up to 52 MW. The increase could potentially increase the total output capacity of the plant to 100 MW.

Olkaria III geothermal power plant in Kenya.

The expansion is to be done in two phases, the first one with 36 MW being added withing 3.5 years, and the optional second phase with up to 16 MW withing 4.5 years from the start of commercial operation of the first phase. All these plans and the power purchase agreement for the second phase are subject to approval by the government and consent by lenders who will provide financing for the project.

Olkaria III is located in Naivasha, Kenya, and is currently capable of generating 48 MW of power. The first phase of the existing plant began commercial operation in 2000, while the second phase of about 35 Mw, began operation in January 2009.

[source: Ormat Technologies]

NV Energy signs PPA for Nevada geothermal power plant

February 15th, 2010 | Posted in Geothermal | No Comments

NV Energy announced last week the company has signed a power purchase agreement with a subsidiary of Ram Power Corporation for energy that will be produced at the company's geothermal power plant in Nevada. The 32 MW Clayton Valley Geothermal Project is planned to start producing electricity in 2014.

The terms of the PPA were not disclosed, as it's still awaiting approval by the Public Utilities Commission of Nevada.

The power plant is one of five planned at various land areas acquired by Ram Power Corporation. According to the company, some 160 MW of untapped geothermal energy potential lie beneath the surface in these areas. This could be enough to generate clean electricity for about 96,000 average households in the area.

[source: NV Energy]

Chile ends bidding for geothermal power – awards concessions for USD 106 million in investments

February 4th, 2010 | Posted in Geothermal | Comments (1)

chile-fuming-geothermal-wellLast week the Chilean government successfully closed the bidding process for geothermal energy development, awarding concessions for development totalling USD 106 million in investments. Both national and international companies were invited to participate in the bidding process for more than 700,000 hectares of land.

Geothermal exploration concessions were presented by the Chilean Minister of Mining, Santiago González, who pointed out geothermal development is a challenge for the government, involved in promoting this renewable energy resource.

The process involved nine companies, of which five are subsidiaries of foreigh companies, with significant experience in the development of geothermal energy projects around the world. The amount of USD 106 million has been pledged by the companies over the next two years.

In addition to the new concessions, Chile has already given the go ahead for two geothermal projects totalling in 125 MW and USD 452 million in investments to GGE Chile SpA and ENERCO Company.

[source: Chilean Ministry of Mines, via: Think GeoEnergy]

Sinopec turns further towards geothermal energy development

January 28th, 2010 | Posted in Geothermal | No Comments

sinopec

Sinopec Group, or China Petrochemical Corporation, the leading oil refiner from China, is turning its attention towards geothermal energy development. According to this news piece, Sinopec has established a joint venture in 2006 through its subsidiary, Sinopec Star Petroleum, and Enex Kina (Iceland), called Shaanxi Green Energy Geothermal Development. The new JV is engaged in geothermal exploration and exploitation as well as the development of related wokrmanship and technologies.

The company is now planning to provide geothermal heating coverage for about 4 million square meters of housing area by the end of 2010, with plans to increase the area to 10 million square meters in the next five years, but also to add geothermal power generation and waste water treatment.
Many oil companies turn towards geothermal eventually, since the technology for getting to underground heat reservoirs is basically the same as the technology for drilling towards oil and gas deposits.

Sierra Geothermal drilling deeper at Silver Peak – targets multiple high interest zones

January 22nd, 2010 | Posted in Geothermal | No Comments
Silver Peak, Nevada

Silver Peak, Nevada

Sierra Geothermal (SG) has announced it has begun drilling at its fully owned Silver Peak project site. The drilling is planned to reach 2133 meters (about 7000 feet) and is targetting multiple zones of geolofical interest. The Silver Peak project is located in Esmeralda County, Nevada, 240 km (150 miles) northwest from Las Vegas, and there are indications that deep reservoirs may be holding water at temperatures of around 227° C (441°F). It is estimated that the project, once developed fully, could supply as much as 15 MW of clean electricity.

For the drilling job, SG has contracted Major Drilling Group International. Core samples are being collected from the top of the competent bedrock to the bottom of the hole. Sample data will be used to determine subsurface rock types, faults and fractures.

Following this phase, the company is hoping to proceed onto drilling the first production assessment well. If assessments prove to be positive, SG will continue to drill production wells to feasibility, and enter a power purchase agreement, also securing plant permits.

[source: Sierra Geothermal]