Geothermal Power Archives – The Green Optimistic

36 Countries Launch Global Alliance to Promote Geothermal Energy

Michelle Lutz — Thu, 10 Dec 2015 18:53:21 +0000

Monday marked the official start day for the Global Geothermal Alliance to begin its promotion of geothermal energy within developing economic regions. The alliance, which consists of thirty-six countries, was founded in 2014 for the sole purpose of introducing the world to more clean fuel alternatives to coal, gas and oil. The Alliance is sure […]

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Promoting Geothermal as Base Load is Becoming Off Base

Ari Luis — Thu, 02 Oct 2014 11:13:58 +0000

After years of citing its advantage as a base load resource, geothermal power advocates must take a new tact in promoting the advantages of this form of renewable energy. Like coal and natural gas power plants, geothermal plants can provide stable power for long periods of time without emitting a whole lot of greenhouse gases. […]

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Company Uses Stored CO2 to Harvest Geothermal Power

Leigh Hutchens — Sun, 15 Dec 2013 07:34:46 +0000

At the American Geophysical Union meeting on Friday, December 13, scientists from Ohio State University, University of Minnesota, and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), debuted a geothermal power plant that will lock away unwanted carbon dioxide underground and use it as a tool to boost electric power generation by at least 10 times that of […]

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Alaska Champions Geothermal Power, Plans Leasing Rights Public Offering

Leigh Hutchens — Tue, 12 Feb 2013 04:15:04 +0000

In Alaska’s Lower Cook Inlet, home of the active Augustine Volcano, the Division of Oil and Gas plans to offer the public the chance to bid for leasing rights on the entirety of Augustine Island, its tidelands, and surrounding waters. This amounts to close to 66,000 acres of state-owned land. On May 8, the lease […]

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Only 2% of US Geothermal Energy Needed to Supply 2500x Power Demand

Janina Lazo-Cruz — Tue, 04 Dec 2012 12:46:40 +0000

Unlike solar and wind powers, geothermal power is cost-effective and a reliable source, 24/7 whole year round at a consistent and predictable rate. What’s more, according to the estimates of MIT, only 2% of the available heat energy at three to ten kilometers below the grounds of US would suffice to supply 2,500 times of […]

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Pacific Northwest’s Klamath Basin a Possible Site for Geothermal Energy Plant

Leigh Hutchens — Wed, 28 Nov 2012 07:19:28 +0000

There are currently three high-volume, low-heat geothermal energy plans in the world. These are located in Japan, Germany, and Iceland. By the end of 2013, if all goes according to plan, there may be a fourth plant, located in the Klamath Basin which spans parts of California and Oregon. In mid-November, two potential plant locations […]

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Geothermal Power a Possible Solution for Japan’s Energy Crisis

Leigh Hutchens — Wed, 07 Nov 2012 06:10:20 +0000

While unquestionably tragic, the meltdown at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant in March 2011 has Japan reconsidering previously feared forms of renewable energy. Long-neglected geothermal energy is now being considered thanks to the country’s massive energy shortage. Even onsen (hot spring) resorts, major Japanese tourist attractions, once vehemently against the use of geothermal power, are […]

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Development of Philippines Geothermal Energy, Helped by NZ Scientists

Janina Lazo-Cruz — Thu, 25 Oct 2012 04:22:44 +0000

Among the renewable energy industries in the Philippines, geothermal energy is the one able to keep on expanding. What’s more, it ranks second among other providers of geothermal power in the world. Along with the sector’s development is the continuing support of New Zealand’s Institute of Geothermal and Nuclear Sciences (GNS Science), which evaluates current […]

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Newberry Volcano in Oregon to Become Geothermal Power Source

Mila Luleva — Tue, 16 Oct 2012 16:28:42 +0000

Nearly one million people could benefit from a new project in Oregon, where deep waters would be turned into steam by deep geothermal activity of dormant volcanoes and the turbines will be powered without producing greenhouse gases. Altarock, the company in charge of drilling, managed to get approval for the project by the U.S. Bureau […]

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Lithium Extracted From Geothermal Power Plants to Make Cheaper Batteries

Janina Lazo-Cruz — Tue, 02 Oct 2012 05:51:32 +0000

Simbol Materials of Pleasanton, California has proposed a new method of acquiring lithium for batteries by extracting the element from post-production brine solutions of geothermal power plants. Lithium is an expensive key component of batteries, hybrid vehicles, and electric vehicles; and according to Jonathan lee, an analyst at Byron Capital Markets in Toronto, its price […]

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MIT Scientists Scavenging the Power of Volcanoes… Safely, They Say

Ovidiu Sandru — Mon, 13 Aug 2012 17:02:24 +0000

An MIT report submitted to the DOE forwards the idea of scavenging the power of volcanoes for electricity, safely. In short, they want to inject water inside a dormant volcano in Oregon at pressures that could trigger earthquakes. However, MIT claims that the new technologies they use will not generate any crust movement. The MIT […]

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Could Fracking for Methane Have Caused the Recent Italy Earthquakes?

Ovidiu Sandru — Mon, 04 Jun 2012 14:06:04 +0000

You probably heard about Italy’s recent earthquakes and their aftermath. While it’s highly possible that the event had natural causes, there is also the possibility that methane extraction facilities nearby the epicenter have something to do with it. They employ a method called “hydraulic fracking” to crack the rocks beneath the soil by means of […]

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How Old Oil Wells Could Become Geothermal Energy Sources

Ovidiu Sandru — Thu, 24 Nov 2011 10:10:27 +0000

One of the main costs when harvesting geothermal energy is the digging itself. Just like oil wells, geothermal wells have to be several kilometers deep, because temperature rises along by 50 degrees Celsius with every kilometer. This is where abandoned oil wells could help generate clean electricity. A team of researchers from the Chinese Academy […]

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Siemens Designs New 60 MW Steam Turbine for Geothermal Applications

Mike Sandru — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 09:52:16 +0000

Siemens Energy has recently developed a new 60 MW steam turbine for geothermal power plants at the GEA Geothermal Energy Expo in San Diego. Designed for geothermal applications, the new steam turbine combines the casing and turbine-generator package with the steam path technologies developed, tested and applied by TurboCare, the steam turbine service provider. The […]

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U.S. to Become World's Main Geothermal Energy Producer by 2020, Research Says

Ovidiu Sandru — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 13:21:42 +0000

The United States is about to become the world’s first geothermal energy producer. New statistics from Pike Research says that the goal will be reachable within the next 10 years or less. Pike Research says that the total geothermal output in the U.S. will reach 4.2 GW, which is about 36 percent more than the […]

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Conventional Geothermal in Japan Could Replace All Existing Nuclear Power Plants

Mike Sandru — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 06:48:43 +0000

According to some reports, only 16% of Japan’s energy is generated domestically, but being located on the ring of fire, Japan is considered the third country in the world with the most geologically active terrain. Facing threats such as earthquakes, tsunamis, and volcanic eruptions, Japan is the perfect location for geothermal energy development. Japan’s Geothermal […]

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Berkeley Project Stores CO2 Underground and Harvests Geothermal Energy

Ovidiu Sandru — Tue, 09 Aug 2011 16:50:09 +0000

A new project aimed at sequestering CO2 and at the same time extracting energy from geothermal resources is being developed by Berkeley Lab researchers. Their plan is to build a CO2-enabled geothermal system in Cranfield, Mississippi a year from now. “This is the first project intended to convert geothermally heated CO2 into useful electricity,” says […]

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Earthquake-Free Geothermal Drilling Technology Proposed by GTherm

Ovidiu Sandru — Tue, 17 May 2011 13:26:51 +0000

Earthquakes are a serious drawback and side effect of geothermal drilling and that could be damaging to the industry, especially after Japan's nuclear experience. GTherm, a Connecticut-based company founded in 2008, thinks they can overcome the issue through their proprietary geothermal extraction process that doesn't involve fracturing rock, which is apparently causing the quakes.

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Elysian Fields as Elysian Sewers: Paris and Its Geothermal Potential

Mike Sandru — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 14:16:52 +0000

The past, present and future of Paris are closely tied to the city's underground. The sewers network that today serves as the shooting ground for movies, could be used to harness hydrokinetic and geothermal energy.

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New Report Says Nevada Has Most Geothermal Power Plants

Mike Sandru — Sun, 03 Apr 2011 06:19:02 +0000

One source of alternative energy the world is not really aware of is the geothermal one: large quantities of hot water, whose energy can be turned into electricity ÃƒÂ¢€Ã¢â‚¬Å“ much like underground jacuzzis.

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Energy Produced from Geothermal Sources to See Significant Increases by 2020

Mike Sandru — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 19:30:09 +0000

Currently, the United States generate about 3.1 gigawatts of electricity from geothermal systems. On the other hand, as the report claims, 88 percent of the world's geothermal energy systems currently in operation are used in just 8 countries.

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Enel Green Power Increases Italy's Geothermal Capacity By 20 MW

Mike Sandru — Thu, 11 Nov 2010 20:19:50 +0000

Enel Green Power (EGP), Italy's biggest renewable energy company, announced on Monday that the geothermal capacity of the country has been increased by 20MW. The additional power is supplied by a new unit, located at a plant in central Italy.

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Asteroid Impact To Have Created Geothermal Energy Reservoir In Australia 300 Million Years Ago

Ovidiu Sandru — Mon, 25 Oct 2010 05:36:46 +0000

An important geothermal resource area in Australia has been found to have a less known, asteroid-related history, as Dr. TonguÃƒÆ’§ Uysal from the University of Queensland did some research on the energy capabilities of the Cooper Basin.

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Google-Funded Project Explores Major Geothermal Resource In West Virginia

Mike Sandru — Thu, 14 Oct 2010 17:37:08 +0000

West Virginia has recently discovered, though a project funded by Google, that it is lying on top of a major resource: geothermal power. The finding is even more significant taking in consideration the state's high dependence on fossil fuels.

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Central America's Plans to Extract Geothermal Energy From Its Unique Volcanoes

Mike Sandru — Thu, 23 Sep 2010 06:58:10 +0000

eing gifted with many active volcanoes, Central America wants to tap them for producing green energy which will cut its dependence on oil imports and also help reduce the CO2 emissions.

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Bali Governor Refuses Geothermal Project On Island, Quoting Religious Beliefs

Ovidiu Sandru — Thu, 16 Sep 2010 09:50:34 +0000

Geothermal wells can offer tremendous energy quantities, yet there are people who, in the name of their religious beliefs, think geothermal as something evil and contrary to their lifestyle. Such a statement comes from Bali governor Made Mangku Pastika.

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170 MW Geothermal Plant Built In Carribean Island of St. Lucia

Mircea Sandru — Sat, 21 Aug 2010 05:53:51 +0000

Being only the half the size of Los Angeles, the St. Lucia island has a decent infrastructure and tends to attract the interest of many investors. St. Lucia's government decided to sign this agreement with Qualibou Energy, to keep up with world's renewable energy trends.

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Renewable Energy from Volcanoes to Power Island of St. Lucia

Mike Sandru — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 14:31:08 +0000

According to a new study, the Caribbean islands represent one of the perfect location for the development of renewable energy.

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Global Geothermal Power Capacity Increased by 20% During Last Five Years

Mike Sandru — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 10:26:58 +0000

According to a new report made by Geothermal Energy Association (GEA), the geothermal energy is growing rapidly worldwide. Between 2005 and 2010, the U.S. maintained its leading position in production, with the most MW installed, while Germany had the fastest growth.

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Indonesia Planning to Get Another 4,000 MW from Volcanic Geothermal Plants by 2014

Ovidiu Sandru — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 14:10:44 +0000

Indonesia, the world's third greenhouse gas contributor, wants to diversify its clean energy production potential by using the active volcanoes in the archipelago of 17,000 islands. If finished, this would be the world's biggest geothermal energy project, adding another 4,000 MegaWatts of geothermal capacity to the existing 1,189 MW... all of this by 2014.

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New Technology Extracts Lithium from Geothermal Waste Water

Mike Sandru — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 15:06:57 +0000

The new technique developed by California-based Simbol Mining could make geothermal wells even more valuable. Extracting lithium with old technologies has up to now been considered impractical.

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Injecting CO2 Instead of Water in Geothermal Wells Could Triple-Serve the Environment

Ovidiu Sandru — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 14:43:42 +0000

When we hear about carbon dioxide, it's like hearing of a serial killer. LBNL (Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory), and a CA-based company Symyx Technologies, instead, aided by several U.S. universities, have changed the image of this greenhouse gas a bit by putting it into a green job: geothermal energy harvesting.

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Turkish Company Begins Exploitation of 60MW Geothermal Field

Ovidiu Sandru — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 21:01:34 +0000

The group already owns a 17.4 MW plant on a field where it has operating rights since September last year, so this new geothermal field can bring them a total of 77.4MW of power.

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Unused Old Mines Could Be Used as Geothermal Power Sources

Cristi — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 18:47:56 +0000

Geothermal energy has a lot of potential worldwide. As it is not dependent on many factors, geothermal energy could be the cleanest power source of near future. Two scientists from University of Oviedo, Spain, have concluded that geothermal energy could be provided by mine shafts.

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Geothermal Efficiency Boosted Up to 30% by Newly Discovered Liquid

Ovidiu Sandru — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 19:12:06 +0000

Scientists from the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory in Richland, WA, announce they developed a new type of heat extracting liquid that could absorb much better the heat coming from the hot water in the geothermal wells.

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European Supergrid Concept of Using Green Energy

Cristi — Sat, 30 May 2009 19:00:44 +0000

Even if it may sound like science fiction, the vision of the European Union is to be able to power the entire Continent with Green Energy: from solar panels to wind and wave turbines, from geothermal to hydroelectric power stations.

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Michael Strizki`s Solar/Hydrogen/Geothermal Powered House – Amazing!

Ovidiu Sandru — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 06:59:10 +0000

Michael Strizki's house is the most low impact house I've ever seen. He lives his life off-grid, because his home system feature solar panels, 10 hydrogen tanks filled with the excess energy from the solar panels, with the hydrogen taken out of water, and a 15 year-old geothermal system, that covered its price 8 times since it was installed.

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