Archive for October, 2010
Kenyan Energy World: 2 GW plan lacks credit and is behind schedule, but drilling goes on
In Kenya, sitting on a wealth of geothermal energy in the Rift Valley, the country’s move to tap the power source seems to be a roller coaster ride of (successful) drilling and a good deal of stumbling around waiting for actual power production.
State-owned Geothermal Development Co. (GDC), formed in 2009 to explore for geothermal [...]
New geothermal drilling rig under test down under
In Austalia, Globe Drill Pty Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of Coretrack Ltd., has started drilling a test hole with its geothermal drill rig, the GT3000, in Merredin, Western Australia. The test hole is now nearly 800 feet deep on its way to a target depth of between 6,500 and 10,000 feet. Fuel burn and [...]
Russia talking to Iceland about geothermal in Kamchatka
Russia and Iceland talking about cooperation on the development of geothermal resources in the Kamchatka region of Russia’s Far East. The region is rich in nonferrous metal ores, silver, nickel, copper and platinum, and is thus good potential for metals production. “We are discussing a large project to build a geothermal station and possible construction [...]
Ireland developing geothermal exploitation framework
In Ireland, the publication of the Geothermal Energy Development Bill (GEDB) 2010 signals that the country is creating a comprehensive and coherent regulatory framework that will underpin the exploitation of its geothermal energy resources. A European Union directive requires Ireland to generate 16% of its gross energy consumption from renewable resources by 2020 and 12% [...]
Ensign Drilling gets contract for Blue Mountain expansion
In Canada, Nevada Geothermal Power Inc. has contracted Ensign Drilling to drill up to three new injection wells in areas north and south of the core production area of the Blue Mountain Geothermal Project. The finished wells are expected to allow energy production to be significantly increased from current output levels of about 48 MW. [...]
Opinion: Caribbean States must share the lessons of renewable energy development
On the island of Nevis, the new Chairman of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States Environment Policy Committee Carlisle Powell said the Nevis Island Administration’s will share its experience developing renewable energy with the rest of the Caribbean. “We have always made it clear that the experience and expertise we gained in hammering out [...]
Research may connect asteroid impact to geothermal resource
In Australia, a University of Queensland researcher has found evidence of a major asteroid impact that occurred near the Queensland-South Australia border more than 300 million years ago. Dr Tongu Uysal discovered the asteroid impact during studies of the Cooper Basin, a large geothermal energy resource being developed on the border between Queensland and South [...]
Yellowknife a step closer to using GT heat from defunct mine
In Canada, the city council of Yellowknife got a report from a Vancouver-based resource management firm on the potential to use geothermal heat from a former gold mine to heat dozens of buildings in the downtown. It can be done and the council will vote in November on whether to move forward with the $60 [...]
State making GT installation moneys available
Residents of Pennsylvania can take advantage of a new loan program to make geothermal heating and cooling more affordable for home owners. The loans can be for as much as $15,000 at 4.99% with up to 10 years to repay. Officials say that because it’s a loan and not a grant or rebate program, the [...]
Calpine reports strong third quarter
In Texas, Calpine Corp. reported third quarter 2010 adjusted earnings of $663 million, up $77 million, or 13%, over the third quarter of 2009. The company also raised its cash flow by $57 million. Net income dropped 9% to $217 million, or $0.45 per diluted share. Calpine said it produced 28.2 million MWh of power [...]
