THE HEAT IS ON: 1500 will tour power plant

2009 Nov 16

By Alex Johnson

A $1.2 BILLION geothermal power plant at Koroit will be feeding green electricity into the grid and work will have started on several others across the south-west within six years.

This is the vision from the company planning the region's first geothermal power plant, which will greet a 1500-strong delegation of the world's top geothermal experts when they tour the area in 2015.

The image of the region's steam-driven future emerged yesterday when the State Government announced it had won the rights to host the World Geothermal Congress in Melbourne.

The event, expected to attract delegates from 65 countries, will showcase geothermal exploration and infrastructure across the state, with the south-west tipped to be a major focus.

Mark Elliott, managing director of Queensland-based Hot Rock Limited, welcomed news of the congress coup.

"We would be hoping by then to have about 200 megawatts (in production)," he said.

"By that time we would certainly have carried out exploration of some of the other permits in that area and have other projects well advanced and coming into production as well."

By 2020, the company hopes to have doubled its geothermal energy production to 400 megawatts across the south-west, which translates to an investment of about $2.4 billion, Dr Elliott said.

Read more: http://www.standard.net.au/news/local/news/general/the-heat-is-on-1500-will-tour-power-plant/1677855.aspx

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Ethiopia opens 300 MW dam, starts producing 80 MW

2009 Nov 13

* Six hydropower projects being built

* Government says will spend $12 billion over 25 years

ADDIS ABABA, Nov 14 (Reuters) - Ethiopia opened a dam on Saturday that it says will produce 300 MW of hydropower as part of efforts to overcome chronic energy shortages and become one of Africa's only power exporters, state media said.

Power shortages are common in Africa and have hindered investment, even though the continent has abundant potential resources of solar, hydro, oil, gas, coal and geothermal power.

The Tekeze Dam has started producing 80 MW and that will rise to 300 MW, state-run Ethiopian Television said. It did not say when the dam would reach full capacity.

The dam is on the country's Tekeze river and its $356 million cost was financed by the China National Water Resources and Hydropower Engineering Corporation.

At 185 metres, it is the tallest hydroelectric dam on the world's poorest continent.

Outages have been common in Ethiopia for five years.


Read more: http://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKLE15957020091114

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Philippines Targets $2.5 Billion Geothermal Development

2009-11-06

Geothermal energy is a core climate solution (as discussed here). The U.S. currently has 3 gigaWatts (3000 megaWatts) of geothermal, one third of the world’s capacity, generating $1.8 billion electricity sales. The US Geological Survey estimates the US could generate 150,000 megawatts of geothermal. A major 2007 study by MIT on Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS) found that it could be a provider of substantial baseload (24/7) power. MIT’s panel concluded that “with a combined public/private investment of about $800 million to $1 billion over a 15-year period” — “less than the cost of a single, new-generation, clean-coal power plant” — “EGS technology could be deployed commercially on a timescale that would produce more than 100,000 MWe or 100 GWe of new capacity by 2050.”

The Philippines has almost 2,000 MW of geothermal and are looking to harness another 620 MW. Above is a view of the National Power Corp.’s Makiling-Banahaw Geothermal plant in Laguna province south of the capital Manila.

Read more: http://tinyurl.com/ykmbc99

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A Powerful Economic Engine Fueled by the Sun

2009-09-03

MANUFACTURE AND GENERATE CLEAN ENERGY LOCALLY. RECIRCULATE YOUR ENERGY DOLLARS LOCALLY. It’s a concept that’s pretty hard to argue. Most recognize that taking advantage of the Sun's energy addresses greenhouse gas emissions, but this post isn’t aimed at making more sweeping claims that solar will save the planet. Rather, what’s often overlooked is that manufacturing clean energy locally yields economic benefits to the community.

Applied Materials’ fab2farm solar deployment model links communities, utilities and solar panel manufacturers to meet peak energy needs while generating billions in local economic development.

Read more: http://tinyurl.com/ybsr6vc

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California Hwy 101 Goes Electric

2009-10-01
The process of turning California’s Highway 101 into an electric roadway is beginning, and for a short period of time the charging stations that will be installed can be used for free. Beginning in October, Solarcity will be installing vehicle charging stations alogn Highway 101 between San Francisco and Los Angeles in order to reward those who have already made a move to adopt a cleaner lifestyle with clean technology in their vehicles.

Unfortunately, the free charging stations will be operable only for those driving Tesla Roadster electric vehicles over the next couple of months, but after the first stage of the implementation is complete, universal plugs will be installed to make the electric highway convenient to all drivers with various types of electric vehicles. Of course, once the charging technology becomes fully available to all drivers, the charging service will come at a cost.

Read more: http://cleantechnica.com/2009/10/01/highway-101-in-california-goes-electric/

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