Ormat Technologies announced the company has signed a 20-year power purchase agreement (PPA) with Kenya Power and Lighting Company (KPLC) for the extension on the Olkaria III geothermal power plant. The extension, basically a new power plant with 36 MW of capacity, will be built adjacent to the existing 48 MW Olkaria III power plant, located near Lake Naivasha.
Toshiba has won an order from the McConnell Dowell, SNC-Lavalin, Parsons Brinkerhoff joint venture, for geothermal power equipment for the Te Mihi geothermal power station in Taupo, New Zealand. The company is to supply two 83 MW geothermal turbines, along with generators and condensers. The equipment is to be delivered in 2012.
Magma Energy announced the company has been awarded two geothermal concessions in Italy, PR Mensano and PR Roccastrada. Both concessions are located in western Tuscany, near Lardarello, a region known for its geothermal power potential, and home to many operational geothermal power projects.
Ram Power announced the company is to sign a power purchase agreement (PPA) for its Geysers Geothermal Field, in Northern California (USA). The PPA was signed with Western GeoPower, a subsidiary of Northern California Power Agency, for all the electrical energy generated at the power plant. Geysers geothermal power plant is to be completed in 2013, and is anticipated to be able to produce 26 MW of net power, once fully operational.
Geothermal energy as a viable option for adding more power generation capacity in South Africa, is slowly but steadily gaining momentum. Growind energy prices and focus on sustainability issues have prompted the formation of the South African Geothermal Association (SAGA). According to people involved in the creation of SAGA, the organization's objective will be to create a forum-like environment in which participants will share and discuss topics related to geothermal development and implementation, but also take lessons from other geothermal associations which reside in established and developed markets, where this form of energy has been used for decades. Another role of SAGA in the future will be to establish and uphold standards and represent the interests of the geothermal industry in South Africa.
Earth Heat Resources, an Australian geothermal development company, and Drake & Scull Water and Power, part of Drake & Scull International (based in Abu Dhabi, UAE), have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to jointly explore, bod for and secure geothermal development opportunities in the MENA region (Middle East and North Africa).
NV Energy announced the company is waiting for approval from the Public Utilities Commission of Nevada in order to enter into PPAs for 50 MW of solar electrical energy from proposed solar power projects in southern Nevada, and another 51 MW of geothermal electrical energy from a new geothermal power plant to be built in Churchill County. That's not all, as Nv Energy is also seeking permission to purchase Renewable Portfolio Standard credits from solar projects built by Amonix in North Las Vegas.
Gradient Resources, developer of geothermal power plants, announced the company has executed an EPC contract with Benham Constructors (owned by Science Applications International Corporation – SAIC) under which Gradient Resources is to deliver a new 60 MW geothermal binary cycle power plant in southern Nevada. Construction on the Patua project is to begin in Q2 2011, while commercial operation is to begin in Q3 2012.
TAS Energy has been awarded the contract to build a geothermal power plant by US Geothermal in eastern Oregon. The Neal Hot Springs project is to have up to 25 MW of installed capacity, and is to be commissioned by mid-2012.
Nevada Geothermal Power (NGP) announced the company is purchasing 100% of geothermal assets currently owned by Iceland America Energy (IAE) in Imperial Valley, California (USA). The assets include the New Truckhaven, East Brawley and South Brawley projects. NGP will pay a total of USD 4.5 million for these assets. IAE is owned by Orkuveita Reykjavikur (Iceland) with a majority stake (83.7%). Under the terms of the agreement, NGP will pay an upfront cash sum of USD 100,000, while the remaining balance will be payed through NGP shares. This will make the Icelandic company a significant shareholder of NGP.
