Archive for February, 2011
Ground Source Game Changer: Lose the up front costs with a PPA-like agreement
Try as they might, despite government give backs and promises of environmental friendliness, ground source heating and cooling systems continue to live in an energy backwater. Now, a New Hampshire company has come up with an ingenious plan to change that.
Saddled with high up front costs, builders and renovators have reverted to old-school boilers [...]
GTherm in talks for Costa Rica pilot project
In Costa Rica, the Costa Rican Institute of Electricity is talking to U.S.-based GTherm about using their Single-Well Engineered Geothermal System technology in a 12 MW geothermal pilot project. The closed-loop system does not need significant water quantities to operate. The country now has five geothermal plants producing 165.5 MW of electricity at the Miravalles [...]
SNC-Lavalin joint venture to build New Zealand project
In Canada, SNC-Lavalin said the McConnell Dowell/SNC-Lavalin/Parsons Brinkerhoff joint venture has been awarded an engineering, procurement, construction (EPC) contract for the construction of the 166 MW Te Mihi geothermal project by Contact Energy in New Zealand. Two new 83 MW power units will be built near the Wairakei geothermal power station, northwest of Taupo. The [...]
Indonesia setting aside millions for geothermal development
In Indonesia, the government is setting aside $127.6 million from the budget for geothermal energy development and exploration. In addition, the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry says it will set aside $38.5 million to compensate for failures in geothermal exploration in 2011. State run energy company PLN is focusing on developing geothermal energy in eastern [...]
School district ground source system is saving money
In Illinois, the Superintendent Tom Akers of Cambridge schools said that the combined electric, gas and water bills for two buildings now using a ground source heating and cooling system was over $11,000 less over the last 6 months of 2010 compared to the previous year. He added that additional variables will need to be [...]
NGP turns a profit; Ormat slips a bit
In Canada and Nevada, Ormat Technologies and Nevada Geothermal Power Inc. released results for the quarter ended December 31, 2010. Ormat, which saw a 15.5% increase in electricity segment revenue, had total revenues were $373.2 million for the year ended December 31, compared to $412.0 million in the previous year. Net income dipped from $68.6 [...]
DOE loan guarantee finalized for unique U.S. Geothermal project
In Idaho, the Department of Energy (DOE) finalized a $96.8 million Recovery Act supported loan guarantee for U.S. Geothermal, Inc.’s Neal Hot Springs, Oregon geothermal power project. The 23 MW project is expected to create some 150 construction jobs, over a dozen permanent jobs and many more supply chain jobs across several states. The project [...]
GEA sets first Honor Awards
In Washington, D.C., the Geothermal Energy Association (GEA) has announced a call for entries for the first-ever GEA Honors award program. In this inaugural year, awards will be given to GEA member companies in the categories of Technological Advancement, Environmental Stewardship and Economic Development. Further, the GEA Honors will be accepting nominations for special recognition [...]
Opinion: A land grab for renewable energy?
Writing for the Denver Post, Joanne Ditmer says “Solar energy, wind power, geothermal, gigantic transmission lines are all magic solutions that will make life better, we’re told. But a conference held in Denver earlier this month gave a sobering preview of major land decisions ahead for this nation. Experts at CLE International’s convention on Historic [...]
California lawmakers OK renewable energy rules
In California, the state’s Senate approved a law that sets new rules for utilities to meet aggressive renewable energy standards. The rules would give them 10 years to get one third of their power from renewable sources and eliminates an in-state requirement for those sources. The new bill also establishes the renewable energy goal [...]
