2010 Jan 28
The United States continues to lead the world in geothermal energy capacity and growth, the Geothermal Energy Association (GEA) said this week in a report that details gains and milestones over the past year.
Geothermal energy supplies a total installed capacity of 3,152.72 MW to the United States, in states including Alaska, Hawaii, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming.
The report identifies up to 6,442.9 MW of new geothermal power plant capacity under development in the United States in those states as well as Oregon, Colorado, Florida, Louisiana and Mississippi. This pushes the prospects of nearly 10 GW of installed capacity in the coming years over a broad section of the nation. At that level, geothermal power will satisfy the needs of over 10 million people in 14 states and still have tremendous growth potential.
The report, which highlights the geothermal industry's growth, status as a green energy source, job creation and investment potential, comes on the heels of GEA's Geothermal Energy Finance Forum, an event that brought geothermal development experts and major financial players together in New York City's financial district.
"The Geothermal Energy Industry is experiencing unprecedented growth with future years's promising double-digit, year-over-year expansion," said Karl Gawell, GEA Executive Director. "While stimulus money has been driving much of our recent growth, we are also seeing that as geothermal technology pushes forward the economics of these projects really make sense."
A major source of the geothermal industry's 46% growth in confirmed new power projects over the past year and 33% increase in employment was the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009, which expanded tax credits for new projects to include a 30% investment credit and a "cash grant" alternative. ARRA also "laid the foundation for sustained future growth" according to Gawell by providing up to $400 million in new funding to implement a wide range of research, development, demonstration and deployment activities. The amount of Federal funding provided to the geothermal industry through ARRA is unprecedented and is spurring the continued development of domestic geothermal resources.
Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/idUS4562100020100128
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Showing posts with label Geothermal. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Geothermal. Show all posts
Feb 8, 2010
Jan 21, 2010
Indian tribe sees bright future in solar power
2010 Jan 13
JEMEZ PUEBLO, N.M.
A poverty-stricken Indian tribe that holds the sun and nature's other gifts sacred sees a brighter future for itself in solar power.
The 3,000 members of the Jemez Pueblo are on the verge of building the nation's first utility-scale solar plant on tribal land, a project that could bring in millions of dollars.
Experts say tapping into the sun, wind and geothermal energy on Indian land could generate the kind of wealth many tribes have seen from slot machines and blackjack tables.
"We don't have any revenue coming in except for a little convenience store," says James Roger Madalena, a former tribal governor who now represents the pueblo in the state Legislature. "It's very critical that we become innovative, creative, that we come up with something that will last generations without having a devastating impact on the environment."
The 30-acre site where 14,850 solar panels will be set up has been selected, and after four years of arduous planning and negotiations, a contract to sell outsiders the electricity produced by the four-megawatt operation is at hand. The plant would be capable of cranking out enough electricity to power about 600 homes.
The project — which would cost about $22 million, financed through government grants, loans and tax credits — could bring in around $25 million over the next 25 years. That could help the tribe improve its antiquated drinking water system and replace the lagoons it uses to treat wastewater.
Renewable energy is a new option for bringing revenue to Indian country, where many communities are poverty-stricken and unemployment is often double the national rate. Jemez Pueblo's effort comes after the federal government in 2008 turned down a request to let it build a casino because the proposed site was too far away from the community.
"Not every tribe is a gaming tribe, but every tribe is an energy tribe," says Roger Fragua, a Denver-based consultant who works with the Council of Energy Resource Tribes.
Indian tribes control more than 55 million acres of land across the nation, and those lands are capable of producing an estimated 535 billion kilowatt hours of electricity per year from wind power, according to the U.S. Department of Energy's Tribal Energy Program. Solar has even greater promise, at 17 trillion kilowatt hours per year, or more than four times the amount of electricity generated annually in the U.S.
Read more: http://www.csmonitor.com/Environment/2010/0114/Indian-tribe-sees-bright-future-in-solar-power
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JEMEZ PUEBLO, N.M.
A poverty-stricken Indian tribe that holds the sun and nature's other gifts sacred sees a brighter future for itself in solar power.
The 3,000 members of the Jemez Pueblo are on the verge of building the nation's first utility-scale solar plant on tribal land, a project that could bring in millions of dollars.
Experts say tapping into the sun, wind and geothermal energy on Indian land could generate the kind of wealth many tribes have seen from slot machines and blackjack tables.
"We don't have any revenue coming in except for a little convenience store," says James Roger Madalena, a former tribal governor who now represents the pueblo in the state Legislature. "It's very critical that we become innovative, creative, that we come up with something that will last generations without having a devastating impact on the environment."
The 30-acre site where 14,850 solar panels will be set up has been selected, and after four years of arduous planning and negotiations, a contract to sell outsiders the electricity produced by the four-megawatt operation is at hand. The plant would be capable of cranking out enough electricity to power about 600 homes.
The project — which would cost about $22 million, financed through government grants, loans and tax credits — could bring in around $25 million over the next 25 years. That could help the tribe improve its antiquated drinking water system and replace the lagoons it uses to treat wastewater.
Renewable energy is a new option for bringing revenue to Indian country, where many communities are poverty-stricken and unemployment is often double the national rate. Jemez Pueblo's effort comes after the federal government in 2008 turned down a request to let it build a casino because the proposed site was too far away from the community.
"Not every tribe is a gaming tribe, but every tribe is an energy tribe," says Roger Fragua, a Denver-based consultant who works with the Council of Energy Resource Tribes.
Indian tribes control more than 55 million acres of land across the nation, and those lands are capable of producing an estimated 535 billion kilowatt hours of electricity per year from wind power, according to the U.S. Department of Energy's Tribal Energy Program. Solar has even greater promise, at 17 trillion kilowatt hours per year, or more than four times the amount of electricity generated annually in the U.S.
Read more: http://www.csmonitor.com/Environment/2010/0114/Indian-tribe-sees-bright-future-in-solar-power
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Jan 16, 2010
Boiling Point: High Hopes for Geothermal Energy
2010 Jan 14
The industry is adding 144 geothermal power plants in 14 states, says Karl Gawell, executive director of the Geothermal Energy Association. That’s up from 121 projects on the books last March and a 73% increase from the 83 projects underway two years ago.
“We’ve added 200 megawatts in the last year,” said Mr. Gawell, during a stop at The Wall Street Journal’s New York office on Wednesday ahead of the industry’s big finance forum today. “Compared to wind, it’s not much. But it is a lot for a small industry with only 3,000 installed megawatts.”
One big shot in the arm: The federal stimulus, which is chanelling $400 million to the geothermal industry in the form of tax incentives and cash grants. The trade group has seen member ship swell to about 150 from just 30 members five years ago.
Another big key: Technology. Geothermal companies are developing new technologies that allow lower-temperature water in the earth’s core to be turned into geothermal energy. That makes development possible in more place, putting states such as Texas, Mississippi, and Louisiana on the map in addition to traditional geothermal heartlands such as California.
Geothermal’s potential, thanks to advanced technologies, could be huge. The U.S. Geological Survey notes about 6,000 megawatts of discovered geothermal supplies (that’s like six nuclear power plants), with undiscovered potential between 8,000 and 73,000 megawatts. New technology could—theoretically—open the door to a whopping 800,000 megawatts.
Read more: http://blogs.wsj.com/environmentalcapital/2010/01/14/boiling-point-high-hopes-for-geothermal-energy/
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By Paul Glader
Geothermal is boiling hot these days. Wind and solar might even want to watch out.The industry is adding 144 geothermal power plants in 14 states, says Karl Gawell, executive director of the Geothermal Energy Association. That’s up from 121 projects on the books last March and a 73% increase from the 83 projects underway two years ago.
“We’ve added 200 megawatts in the last year,” said Mr. Gawell, during a stop at The Wall Street Journal’s New York office on Wednesday ahead of the industry’s big finance forum today. “Compared to wind, it’s not much. But it is a lot for a small industry with only 3,000 installed megawatts.”
One big shot in the arm: The federal stimulus, which is chanelling $400 million to the geothermal industry in the form of tax incentives and cash grants. The trade group has seen member ship swell to about 150 from just 30 members five years ago.
Another big key: Technology. Geothermal companies are developing new technologies that allow lower-temperature water in the earth’s core to be turned into geothermal energy. That makes development possible in more place, putting states such as Texas, Mississippi, and Louisiana on the map in addition to traditional geothermal heartlands such as California.
Geothermal’s potential, thanks to advanced technologies, could be huge. The U.S. Geological Survey notes about 6,000 megawatts of discovered geothermal supplies (that’s like six nuclear power plants), with undiscovered potential between 8,000 and 73,000 megawatts. New technology could—theoretically—open the door to a whopping 800,000 megawatts.
Read more: http://blogs.wsj.com/environmentalcapital/2010/01/14/boiling-point-high-hopes-for-geothermal-energy/
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Dec 29, 2009
Why the U.S. Needs Nuclear Power Other clean energy sources can't meet the needs of a growing economy.
2009 Nov 8
By ARIS CANDRIS
As America climbs out of one of its worst recessions in decades, we must keep in mind that long-term economic growth requires an abundant, affordable supply of electricity.
By 2030, electricity demand in the U.S. is expected to grow by 21% from its current level, according to the U.S. Energy Administration. To meet our needs we have several options.
One is to increase our dependence on fossil energy sources. Unfortunately, this will only add to the environmental burden caused by burning carbon-based fuels. Another option, the Obama administration's goal, is to increase the supply of energy sources that reduce the country's carbon footprint. These sources include solar, wind, hydro, biofuels and geothermal energy, as well as new domestic sources of natural gas, which burns cleaner than oil or coal.
Toward that end, the proposed Senate climate-change bill, sponsored by Sens. Barbara Boxer (D., Calif.) and John Kerry (D., Mass.), provides incentives to electric companies to use energy sources that reduce carbon emissions. The bill also expands federal loan guarantees to support the financing of new nuclear plant projects.
These loan guarantees are crucial for providing the financial security that's needed to build advanced nuclear energy plants. These new plants will promote energy independence, improve our country's economic competitiveness, and help provide a cleaner environment for future generations.
To be sure, the U.S needs to embrace all forms of renewable and sustainable energy technologies whenever possible. But the simple, unavoidable truth is that all renewable energy sources produce only a small percentage of our total electricity output. Wind and solar combined, for example, account for less than 5% of the total U.S. electricity supply. It is doubtful that they can be scaled up to a degree that would make a significant impact on rising electricity demand over the short or intermediate term.
Greater energy efficiency and conservation also make good business and environmental sense. But a 21% growth in demand for electric power, compounded by the need to replace aging power plants, is too great to satisfy with energy efficiency and conservation alone.
Nuclear energy, therefore, must play a larger role in our effort to become and remain energy independent, and to reduce carbon emissions. The growth of nuclear power will also have peripheral benefits, as it constitutes an economic stimulus package in and of itself.
Read more: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704224004574489702243465472.html
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Dec 22, 2009
The Case For More Geothermal Power
2009 Dec 15
Research, discovery, creativity and innovation have a way of coming forward with seemingly high user costs that come down as ideas grow into larger markets. A prime example is wind power that we’ve seen grow from nearly invisible to forests of wind turbines across swaths of North America. Many wonder what is so slow about geothermal.
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Research, discovery, creativity and innovation have a way of coming forward with seemingly high user costs that come down as ideas grow into larger markets. A prime example is wind power that we’ve seen grow from nearly invisible to forests of wind turbines across swaths of North America. Many wonder what is so slow about geothermal.
The answer is fundamental. It’s the cost to get to the heat source. In geologically active areas of the world like Iceland, Indonesia, and Chile the heat is very close to the surface requiring low access costs. Iceland can take advantage of this low-hanging energy by directly circulating that heat from naturally occurring hot fluids through buildings for heating. While there is heat to had for the taking across much of the planet’s land surface area – it’s not so easy as the heat is found deeper.
But geothermal is impervious to weather conditions. That independence means it provides excellent base load electricity. Geothermal is going to grow, here’s why.
Using enhanced geothermal systems (EGS) that are in development now will offer two major advancements. First are hot rocks that are artificially fractured, perhaps even at great depths. Then water, other fluids and perhaps gases are injected to contact the hot rocks and then drawn back to the surface where the heat energy is captured and used to generate electricity. So far, these are very expensive ventures, with costs in excess of $10 million dollars. That’s ten times the cost of a conventional shallow geothermal well, 2 to 5 times the cost of a shale formation natural gas well. It’s a major investment.
It’s worth it though. In Australia, a relatively advanced EGS experimental systems in granites produces high heat due to radioactive decay at depths greater than 3 km, are seen as viable geothermal reservoirs. In fact for South Australia alone, some 23 companies have filed for licenses covering 110,000 sq km where suitable hot granite is believed to exist at accessible depths. The key there is once the system is built on a good site it will be tapped into a constant, virtually limitless supply of energy that’s available without cost. The investments are in getting to the heat and the plant to handle it. As more plants are built and improved from experience the investment and operating costs will come down.
Read more: http://newenergyandfuel.com/http:/newenergyandfuel/com/2009/12/15/the-case-for-more-geothermal-power/Want to help with Global-Warming? Please visit http://www.whiteearth.org
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