Geothermal r esource s c ouncil Bulletin · 2019. 10. 24. · So, in summary, we can anticipate a...

G e o t h e r m a l r e s o u r c e s c o u n c i lG e o t h e r m a l r e s o u r c e s c o u n c i l

Bulletin

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PAIDSACRAMENTO, CA

PERMIT #1698

Vol. 44, No. 1January/February 2015

38th GRC Annual Meeting & GEA Expo Part Two - The AwardsNew GRC PresidentNew GRC Board MembersNew Year for Geothermal

January/February 2015Bulletin Vol. 44, No. 1

Executive DirectorSteve Ponder

Email: [email protected]

Communications Director/EditorIan Crawford


Advertising CoordinatorAnh Lay


Office & Conference ManagerEstela Smith


LibrarianBrian Schmidt


Graphic DesignerChi-Meng Moua


The Geothermal Resources Council (GRC) Bulletin (ISSN No. 01607782) is published as a service to its members and the public, with six issues per annual volume. The GRC is an international, non-profit educational association whose purpose is to encourage research and environmentally sound exploration, development, and utilization of geothermal-energy resources worldwide through cooperation with governmental agencies, academic institutions, and the private sector. The GRC Bulletin provides a forum for information transfer to the public and among professionals in many fields related to geothermal resources, including geology, exploration, development, electric-power production, and direct-use technologies. The views and opinions expressed by authors in this publication do not necessarily reflect those of the GRC or its members. For changes of address or membership information, please contact us.

Geothermal Resources Council

P.O. Box 1350Davis, CA 95617-1350Phone: 530-758-2360

Fax: 530-758-2839www.geothermal.org

Printed with soy-based ink at a facility powered by alternative energy.

AdvertisersBarbour Well inc. ............................................6

capuano engineering ....................................4

Dewhurst Group ...................inside Back cover

eGs inc. .........................................................4

Geothermal resource Group......... Back cover

Geothermex, inc. ..........................................41

horizon Well logging ......................................6

imperial Valley summit ...................................3

Kenai Drilling ................................................17

nBmG ...........................................................40

ormat ............................... inside Front cover

thermasource ................................................8

thermochem, inc. ..........................................4

Weatherford Drilling tools & Fishing services ...................................................41

World Geothermal congress 2015................14

coVer: “the Bulldog” by andrew tiedeman - honorable mention in the 2014 Grc Photo contest. odin the bulldog at the 9,000’ Geothermal test hole 82-36 at nas Fallon, nevada, usa. taken october 2013. Drilling contractor Barbour Well.

January/February 2015 5

7 President’s Message by Paul Brophy

9 Executive Director’s Message by Steve Ponder

10 Communication from the GRC by Ian Crawford

15 Inside Geothermal: North America, Central & South America, Australasia, Asia, Africa, Europe, Education, Technology, Climate Change

by Ian Crawford

24 38th GRC Annual Meeting, Part Two: GRC Awards, Poster and Technical Session

Awards, Photo Contest Winners, Student Leadership Luncheon, Fieldtrip to Mount St. Helens, Fieldtrip to Klamath Falls and GEA Expo by Ian Crawford

36 Publications, Websites, Videos & Maps by Ian Crawford

37 Transitions

38 In Memoriam

39 Calendar of Events

Bringing You Up-to-Date with What’s Happening in the GRC

by Paul Brophy, President of the GRC

President’s Message

My first task as the new GRC President is a very simple one – that is to express gratitude and thanks to Lou Capuano for such an excellent job as the GRC President for the past two years (2013-2014). He now moves on to fill what he has always claimed as being the most enviable and restful job in the GRC, that of Past-President. Little does he know that I plan to have him retract that claim within the month. Lou has done a great job of steering our organization through a period of industry uncertainty and during his watch he oversaw the establishment of our new scholarship program, the selection of our permanent Executive Director Steve Ponder, and building of our student chapters amongst many other achievements. Again many thanks Lou.

We welcome to the GRC Board two new Directors, Katherine Young from NREL and Masami Nakagawa from Colorado School of Mines. Both will bring new perspectives to the Board and add significantly to our collective experience. We also welcome back Maria Richards from Southern Methodist University – Maria took a short break from the Board in 2012 but clearly she missed the thrill and unrivaled excitement of a GRC Board meeting and is now back in the fold. We congratulate and welcome all three newcomers while at the same time saying a hearty thank you to those who are leaving the Board.

This year will be an important one for geothermal for many reasons. First and foremost it is a World Geothermal Congress year. This quinquennial Congress, dubbed WGC2015, will be held in Melbourne, Australia from April 19th to 24th and will be hosted jointly by the New Zealand and Australian geothermal associations. Being on the Organizing Committee for this event I can assure you all that it will be a successful and memorable Congress and I can strongly recommend for those who have not yet “booked your passage” to do so as soon as possible. If you have not previously attended a World Geothermal Congress (the 2010 meeting was in Bali, Indonesia) the format is similar to that of our GRC Annual Meeting - Plenary and Technical Sessions, Field trips in both Australia and New Zealand, a Trade Show, an

Accompanying Persons program, Workshops and many more attractions. It lasts for a full week thus making the journey down under well worth the effort.

The GRC Annual Meeting this year will be in Reno, Nevada, at the Peppermill Hotel which has always been a successful venue for the GRC. Lisa Shevenell will be the General Chair so we are assured of a great meeting. We hope to see many of you there. Other domestic GRC events will occur as usual during 2015 but with a much stronger focus from the GRC on our Education programs. We would like to establish workshops on more specific technical topics and also extend our education programs to outside of North America.

Of course, the most critical issue we need to address is the lack of growth and development of our U.S. domestic market. I am certain it is somewhat of a puzzle to many of us in the industry as to why geothermal has not been able to thrive in a marketplace where renewables are in growing demand. My personal opinion is that there is more than a single answer to this question and we need to address the problem on a number of fronts rather than expecting a single solution. The GRC will work with, and strongly support efforts of the Geothermal Energy Association to help the industry overcome these barriers and substantially improve its place in the renewables marketplace .

So, in summary, we can anticipate a busy and active time ahead. My personal goals as President for the 2015-2016 term will be twofold. Firstly, to further develop GRC’s education programs so that they better satisfy the needs of our industry and secondly, to help promote the development of younger members so that they can begin to take a more significant role in the running of our organization. What I can assure everyone is that I will be willing at all times to listen to, and act on, any suggestions you may have to better provide services to our membership. Please feel free to contact me at any time by phone at (707) 544 0955 or by email at [email protected] if you have any suggestions or ideas on how we can improve the GRC experience for you. n


Executive Director’s Messageby steve Ponder

A New Direction for the GRC


The GRC faces great opportunities and challenges in 2015. But first let’s start the New Year by thanking outgoing President Louis Capuano, Jr. President Lou was a tireless worker and was always available for guidance to our Davis staff. He was very hands on and visited our office at least once a month to coordinate activities between the Board and the staff. As immediate Past President Lou will remain an active Board member.

There are also several other Board members who will now focus on other activities in the GRC. Lisa Shevenell and Charlene Wardlow have spent many years of service on the GRC Board and their contributions are appreciated. However, both will remain active in the GRC; Lisa is the Chair of the 2015 GRC Annual Meeting in Reno and Charlene will continue to support the industry as an active GRC member.

Every other year the torch of leadership at the GRC passes to a new President. Paul Brophy has been elected as the President of the GRC for 2015-2016 and he is already off and running. This is the second tour of duty for Paul. He has over 30 years of experience in the geothermal industry and brings to the GRC a wealth of technical and business expertise. Paul also serves on the International Geothermal Association (IGA) Board. This service will benefit the GRC as Paul helps us spread the geothermal message to all corners of the world. Lou and Paul started this transition early last year and Paul was consulted on all major decisions.

The GRC staff is looking forward to working with Paul, Lou, and the new Board of Directors. I know we are all on the same page and it will be an exciting year.

The GRC is looking forward to working with all the members of the GRC on numerous projects this year:

• Establish relationships with institutions in East Africa, Indonesia, Turkey and Latin America that are interested in receiving geothermal instruction and training from the GRC

• Conduct a Geology and Geochemical one week seminar and field trip in Yellowstone National Park this summer (see page 12)

• Support legislation in the western U.S. and in Washington D.C. that is favorable to existing and future geothermal endeavors

• Host informational booths at the Imperial Valley Renewable Energy Summit in California and the World Geothermal Conference in Melbourne, Australia

• Host a great GRC Annual Meeting and GEA Expo, September 20-23 in Reno, Nevada

• Continue to support the growth of student sections and corporate and general memberships of the GRC

Happy New Year! Your thoughts and suggestions are welcome. I look forward to working with all of you in 2015. n

Communicationfrom the GRCby ian crawford, Director of communications

10 GRC Bulletin l www.geothermal.org

In this issue we complete our report of the 38th GRC Annual Meeting & GEA Geothermal Energy Expo held in Portland, Oregon, USA from September 28 – October 1, 2014 and announce our next event in Reno, Nevada, USA in addition to an exciting new GRC Workshop at Yellowstone National Park .

The event in Portland attracted a sizeable international contingent with over 1,400 attendees from 39 different countries gathering for the largest annual meeting of the global geothermal community. See the report starting on page 24.

The theme for the next Annual Meeting is “Geothermal: Always On”

Call for PapersThe GRC invites you to present your latest

technical work in geothermal research, exploration, development and utilization at the 39th GRC Annual Meeting to be held in Reno, Nevada, USA.

Successful selection to present at the 2015 GRC Annual Meeting is prestigious and recognizes the presenter as a top industry expert. International participation is key to the success of the GRC Annual Meeting technical programs and we encourage geothermal researchers and experts from around the world to submit their work for consideration to be presented.

Authors may submit an oral technical presentation and/or poster at the 2015 GRC’s Annual Meeting. The Draft Paper submission deadline is April 10, 2015.

More information can be found on the GRC Annual Meeting webpage at: www.geothermal.org/meet-new.html.

Reserve Your Hotel RoomReservations can now be made for rooms at

the venue for the 39th GRC Annual Meeting & GEA Expo, being held in Reno, Nevada, USA, September 20-23.

All the events and accommodation are in one location, the luxurious Peppermill Resort Spa Casino, the only resort in the United States whose heating source is totally provided from geothermal energy produced on the immediate property.

There is a choice of three room styles at discounted rates. At the newly remodeled Peppermill North and West Wings the room rates start at an affordable $79 a night. The award winning luxurious Tower Rooms offer panoramic views of the majestic Sierra Nevada mountains and are available from $99 a night. Top of the line are the lavish accommodations of the new Tuscan Suites at $139 a night. The discount ends September 29.

Attendees can make their reservations on a secure website prepared especially for the GRC and GEA. The link is available from the GRC Annual Meeting website at: www.geothermal.org/meet-new.html.

One of the Tower Rooms at the Peppermill. courtesY PePPermill resort sPa

Get the latest information on the GRC Annual Meeting & GEA Expo at:

www.geothermal.org/meet-new.html


Paul Brophy is New President of the GRCPaul Brophy has been elected by his peers on

the GRC Board of Directors to be the next President of the Geothermal Resources Council (GRC). He replaces Louis E. Capuano, Jr., who remains on the Board of Directors as Past President.

Paul is currently President of EGS Inc. based in Santa Rosa, California and has over 45 years worldwide experience in the field of energy and natural resources, of which 35 years has been in the geothermal industry. He has worked on projects in numerous countries such as Australia, Costa Rica, Mexico, Russia, Peru, Chile, Indonesia, Montserrat, and the Philippines.

Paul has previously served as President (2007-2008) and Vice President of the Geothermal Resources Council, and also serves on the Board of Directors of the International Geothermal Association (based in Germany) and chairs its Finance Committee.

In 2011, Paul Brophy was awarded the Joseph W. Aidlin Award, recognizing outstanding contributions to the Geothermal Resources Council and to the development of geothermal resources.

Paul Brophy earned an M.S. in Mining and Exploration from the University of N. Queensland, Australia, a M.S. degree in Geophysics from the University of Leeds, England, and a B.S. (Honors) in Geology from the Chelsea College, University of London, England.

The passing of the baton….new GRC President Paul Brophy (left) receives the 2011 Joseph W. Aidlin Award from past-president Louis E. Capuano, Jr.

GRC Board ElectionsThe Geothermal Resources Council (GRC) is

governed by a Board of Directors, elected by the general membership to 2-year terms. To provide continuity, half the Board is elected every year. All GRC members are eligible for election to the Board of Directors.

The global GRC membership took part in the ballot in the late fall, and the result was that three new members of the Board were elected:

• Katherine Young: Senior energy analyst for the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Golden, Colorado, USA.

• Maria Richards: Geothermal laboratory coordinator in the Huffington Department of Earth Sciences, Southern Methodist University (SMU), Dallas, Texas, USA.

• Masami Nakagawa: Associate professor at Colorado School of Mines (CSM), Golden, Colorado, USA.

These new members join the seven others who have been re-elected to the Board of Directors: Richard Campbell, James Lovekin, Joseph Moore, Louis Capuano III, Dennis Gilles, Roy Mink and Shigeto Yamada.

At the end of 2014, the GRC membership stood at almost 1,450 with members from 49 countries.

Photos of the new Board of Directors can be seen on the GRC Website at:

www.geothermal.org/BOD.html

Maria RichardsKate Young Masami Nakagawa

Communication from the GRC


GRC Workshop in Yellowstone National Park

June 21-26, 2015 – Sunday through Friday

GRC is pleased to announce a mid-summer GRC Workshop to Yellowstone National Park. The workshop will include a tour of the major geologic features of the Park, the site of the greatest concen-tration of geothermal features in the world, and discussions of its volcanic history, geochemistry, and hydrology.

The trip will be led by Duncan Foley, Gene Suemnicht, and Joe Moore. Duncan has led geo-logic and photographic tours of the park since the 1970’s and is familiar with its features, moods and history. Gene and Joe each have more than 30 years experience in geothermal systems worldwide.

Highlights include:• The 13 MW net capacity U.S. Geothermal

Raft River geothermal power plant and the Raft River Enhanced Geothermal System (EGS) site where stimulation activities are being conducted.

• The geological and geothermal features of the Yellowstone super volcanic system

• 300 plus geysers – more than half of all the geysers in the world

• More than 10,000 thermal features comprised of brilliantly colored hot springs, bubbling mudpots, and steaming fumaroles

• Grand Teton National Park

The final costs have not yet been finalized. It is estimated to be approximately $1,500 per person. The price will include travel by bus round-trip from Salt Lake City and 4 nights double-occupancy accommodation in West Yellowstone. Also included are 4 lunches and one dinner.

Not included are the cost of flights to, and accommodation in Salt Lake, and the cost of breakfasts each day and 3 dinners.

This will be an excellent opportunity to see this remarkable geothermal system with guides who are intimately familiar with the park and its features. We look forward to you joining us on the trip.

Reserve your place on this exciting GRC Workshop/Field Trip opportunity by contacting the GRC at [email protected] or phone 530-758-2360.

Go to www.geothermal.org/workshops.html for the latest information.

GRC MembershipIt’s time to renew your GRC membership!Notices were sent out in October. Please

complete the form and send it back as soon as possible. Alternatively, you can go online on the GRC website and renew your membership quickly and easily. There is also a PDF file of the Membership Application form to download and print.

To be included in the 2015 GRC Membership Roster & Registry of Geothermal Services & Equipment, you must submit your membership application form by February 28.

Grand Geyser and visitors on boardwalk in Upper Geyser Basin. courtesY Jim Peaco, national ParK serVice

GRC Scholarships 2015The Geothermal Resources Council (GRC) is

pleased to announce the availability of the 2015 GRC Scholarship Awards.

To qualify for one of these awards a student must be a GRC member as well as a student in an accredited academic institution. Selection of recipients will be based upon a variety of factors, including the individual’s academic record, student activities, geothermal industry experience, and career goals.

The following awards are available:• Two (2) GRC Undergraduate Scholarship

Awards of $1,500 – to be eligible for one of these awards, the candidate must be a third or fourth year undergraduate majoring in engineering or geosciences at the time of the award (Fall 2015).

• Three (3) GRC Graduate Scholarship Awards of $2,500 – to be eligible for one of these awards, the candidate must be enrolled in a graduate-level program in engineering or geosciences at the time of the award (Fall 2015).

• One (1) Student Geothermal Project Award of $4,500 – selection of recipient will be based primarily upon the creation and description of a geothermal-focused project, though other factors such as the individual’s academic record, student activities, geothermal industry experience, and career goals will factor into the determination as well. The project can represent a variety of academic subjects, including, but not limited to, geosciences, engineering, and economics. The primary requirement is that the project be focused on some aspect of geothermal power production, geothermal direct use applications or geothermal heat pumps.

Applications must be received by May 4, 2015 to be considered. Successful recipients will be notified by June 2, 2015.

For application instructions and other details see the announcement on the GRC website at: www.geothermal.org/students.html

Please direct questions regarding the scholarship awards to: Brian Schmidt, [email protected] or 530-758-2360, ext. 107

GRC Annual Charity Golf Tournament Helps Make a Wish Come True

The golf tournament at the GRC Annual Meeting is one of the best social and networking events in the geothermal industry calendar. The 2014 edition was no exception. This year’s event at the Heron Lakes Golf Club in north Portland, Oregon raised funds for the local chapter of the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

The GRC office received a thank-you note from the charity detailing how some of the money was spent: “Many thanks for including Oregon wish-kids among your lucky recipients of generosity. This smile says it all – wishes are powerful medicine. Thanks for recognizing that and making more magic!”

Mr. Incredible and his side-kick say thanks. courtesY maKe-a-Wish FounDation


Have Your Say!If you would like to comment on any column

or article in the GRC Bulletin or have an opinion or suggestion on a topical subject

that will interest our readers, please email the editor, Ian Crawford at [email protected] or mail to Geothermal Resources Council,

P.O. Box 1350, Davis, CA 95617-1350. n

InsideGeothermal


NORTH AMERICA

AltaRock Hopes Water Hammer Drilling Will Speed EGS Project

AltaRock Energy, based in Seattle, Washington, USA and ON Energy, the exclusive U.S. drilling services partner of South Korean company Hanjin D&B, have announced a partnership to “further the commercialization of Enhanced Geothermal System (EGS)”, reports Digital Journal. AltaRock has said it will use the technology to speed up drilling at the Newberry Volcano EGS demonstration project in Oregon, USA.

Daniel Lee, CEO of ON Energy replied to a GRC request for more information: “The structure of business has not been decided and a joint venture is one of many options. Currently we have entered into a joint marketing partnership and will see how it goes and think about the next phases.

However, we definitely hope to use our drilling technology to further advance geothermal energy and EGS. To do that, we thought AltaRock would be the best partner with their technology and their Newberry project.”

The CEO at AltaRock Energy, Aaron Mandell, said that “ON Energy has demonstrated excellence

in bringing down the cost of hard rock drilling and we see this as the critical next step in deploying geothermal power at a scale that can displace coal.”

According to the joint marketing partnership agreement, AltaRock’s Stimulation

Services LLC business unit will contribute stimulation technology and ON Energy will provide deep drilling services utilizing a novel “water hammer” drilling machine, the D&B-350W. The technology boasts ten times the drilling speed of conventional drilling and as much as 50% lower cost. The water hammer is tailored for hard rock and can handle a wide variety of geologic conditions.

Number of Renewable Energy Jobs Continues to Grow

While employment in the U.S. electrical generation industry overall has fallen in recent years the renewable energy sector, including geothermal energy has continued to employ more.

The latest data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that the U.S. electric power generation sector lost more than 5,800 jobs from January 2011 through June 2014. However, there was a gain of nearly 1,800 non-hydro renewable electricity generation jobs in the same period.

Solar has led the way, with a 201% increase in the number of jobs. Wind jobs increased 16% but there are still more than twice as many wind jobs as solar jobs in the electric power sector. Jobs in the geothermal energy sector have grown by a steady 9% since 2011 to just over 1,100.

Revenue from Geothermal Production Funds Local Services

The U.S. Department of the Interior’s Office of Natural Resources Revenue (ONRR) has announced that $4,087,527 was disbursed to counties in eight states from geothermal energy production on federal land.

Counties in California received $2,657,177 and those in Nevada received $1,138,109. Local governments apply the revenues to meet a variety of needs, ranging from school funding to infrastructure improvements and water conservation projects.

Geothermal Electric Power Generation Revenue Almost $1 billion in 2012

For the first time revenue from renewable energy electric power generation has been reported in the U.S. Economic Census. The 2012 statistics shows that geothermal power companies generated almost $1 billion, approximately 10% of the total renewable energy revenue.

The deep hole drilling rig used in water hammer drilling. courtesY on enerGY

InsideGeothermal


Revenues for electric power generation industries that use renewable energy resources rose 49.0% from $6.6 billion in 2007 to $9.8 billion in 2012, according to the new economic census statistics released by the U.S. Census Bureau. Geothermal electric power generation had revenues of $995.4m in 2012.

Production Tax Credit Extended Through End of 2014 Only

President Obama signed the Tax Increase Prevention Act of 2014 (H.R. 5771) into law in December. Among other things, the act will provide a one-year retroactive extension for numerous energy tax provisions, reports JD Supra.

Notably, it will revise the Section 45 production tax credit (PTC) such that facilities for which construction has begun prior to January 1, 2015, will be eligible for the PTC, including wind facilities, closed biomass facilities, open-loop biomass facilities, geothermal or solar energy facilities, landfill gas facilities, trash facilities, qualified hydropower facilities, and marine and hydrokinetic renewable energy facilities. If construction of these facilities begins prior to January 1, 2015, taxpayers

courtesY u.s. census Bureau

may alternatively elect to claim the investment tax credit (ITC).

The renewable energy industry had urged a multi-year extension.

California Governor Asks for More Renewable Energy

Jerry Brown started a record fourth term as governor of the Golden State in January and re-affirmed his commitment to combating climate change and developing renewable energy.

As reported by the Sacramento Bee, Brown said he would push to increase from a third to a half the Renewables Portfolio Standard (RPS), the required proportion of electricity produced from renewable energy sources; reduce petroleum use in cars by up to 50 percent; and make heating fuels cleaner – all within 15 years.

Another City Signs on with Sonoma Clean PowerThe Petaluma Argus Courier reports Petaluma

City Council voted unanimously to join Sonoma Clean Power, the latest Sonoma County city to take part in the startup public electricity agency in Northern California that sources much of its renewable energy from The Geysers geothermal field.

The 33,400 Petaluma electric customers will be enrolled in the program this summer, at the same time as Rohnert Park and Cloverdale. The three cities sat out the initial launch of Sonoma Clean Power, which began serving customers in May.

Sonoma Clean Power offers electricity that is 33% renewable, mostly geothermal energy from The Geysers and solar plants, compared with regional utility PG&E’s 22%.

U.S. Geothermal Completes Acquisition of Earth Power Resources

First reported in the November/December GRC Bulletin, U.S. Geothermal Inc. of Boise Idaho, a GRC Member company, completed the previously announced acquisition of Earth Power Resources (EPR) of Tulsa Oklahoma on December 12, 2014. Under the terms of the Agreement, EPR was merged with and into U.S. Geothermal.

The assets acquired from EPR include geothermal leases covering 26,017 acres in Nevada, representing three projects that have an estimated energy potential in the range of 158 to 359 MW.


SunZia Transmission Line Will Help Distribute Renewable Energy

The U.S. federal government is one step closer to approving a proposed $2 billion electric transmission line between Arizona and New Mexico that could help deliver geothermal and other renewable energy to the west coast.

The Bureau of Land Management released its environmental assessment of a compromise reached with the U.S. Defense Department over the 515-mile-long line’s location.

The SunZia project aims to tap into stranded wind resources in central and western New Mexico as well pockets of solar and geothermal potential in New Mexico and Arizona, including the 10 MW Cyrq Energy Lightning Dock Geothermal facility south of Lordsburg. The line will export the generated electricity to larger markets in the West.

Pagosa Springs Geothermal Project Gets a BoostThe Pagosa Verde geothermal project in

Colorado has received a financial boost. According to the Pagosa Springs Sun, the Pagosa Area Geothermal Water and Power Authority (PAGWPA) has accepted a grant for nearly $2m from the Colorado Department of Local Affairs to “confirm the presence of geothermal resources whereby such geothermal resources can be developed as a possible power source for the area.”

According to the contract, PAGWPA will hire Pagosa Waters to perform exploratory geothermal well drilling and data analysis for confirmation of geothermal resources in Archuleta County using on-site exploration, testing and analysis.

DOSECC Exploration Services, LLC is drilling six test holes consisting of one 2,000-foot-deep well and five 1,000-foot-deep wells. Exploration hole drilling was scheduled to be completed by end of December, 2014.

Puna Geothermal Venture Plans to Drill New WellOrmat-run Puna Geothermal Venture plans to

drill a new geothermal well at its Big Island, Hawaii location to maintain production levels.

Mike Kaleikini, director of Hawaiian Affairs for Ormat, says drilling could begin in January and take about three months to complete, reports West

Hawaii Today.The new well is

intended to make up for decreased production at one of its five operating production wells and bring output back up to 38 MW, he said. It’s currently producing 30 MW. It’s not yet clear what caused the decrease, Kaleikini said.

He said the well could be between 4,000 and 8,000 feet deep, depending on where a geothermal resource is found.

Alternative routes of the Sunzia transmission project. courtesY sunZia southWest transmission ProJect

InsideGeothermal


CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA

Geothermal Development Facility for Latin AmericaA Geothermal Development Facility (GDF) for

Latin America was officially launched at the COP20 Sustainable Innovation Forum in Lima, Peru in December with the aim of developing geothermal power plants in South and Central America to a combined generating capacity of 350 MW.

Twelve development and financial institutions are participating in the organization, including the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the World Bank and the Inter-American Development Bank.

The agencies will work to improve policy frameworks necessary for promoting development in such countries as Costa Rica, Bolivia, Ecuador, Peru and Colombia. They will also cultivate human resources and provide technology related to operating and maintaining geothermal facilities.

It will involve more than $1 billion in funding and include tests at seven candidate sites in five countries.

St. Lucia Geothermal Project Moves ForwardThe St. Lucia government announced

in December that its Geothermal Resource Development Project has received $2.8m in grants from the World Bank and the New Zealand government, reports Fox News Latino.

courtesY mauricio GarrÓn DeVeloPment BanK oF latin america

Minister for Sustainable Development, Energy, Science and Technology, Dr. James Fletcher said that if successful, the country’s geothermal resource has the potential to produce about 50 per cent of the country’s energy demand.

“It all depends on what the exploration finds, but we believe that we can get as much as 30 megawatts, which is about 50 per cent of our demand right now,” he said. “We are looking at anywhere between a 15 and 30 megawatt plant for Soufriere.”

The government has reached an advanced stage in its negotiations with the developing company— Ormat Technologies Inc.

According to a 2008 study by the Trinidad branch of the University of the West Indies, St. Lucia’s estimated geothermal potential is 680 MW.

Enel to Sell LaGeo StakeBloomberg reports that Italian geothermal power

company Enel will sell its 36% stake in geothermal energy group LaGeo to the El Salvadoran government for $280m, citing an agreement between Enel and El Salvador.

Enel had filed for international arbitration in 2008 after it was denied a $100m purchase for control of LaGeo. In September 2014, the French Supreme Court upheld the ruling and recognized the right of Enel Green Power to increase, through the investments it executed, its equity stake in

LaGeo, through the subscription of new shares in the joint venture, as well as the right to receive the company’s earnings in the form of dividends.

However, now Enel is looking to sell its stake in LaGeo.

Nicaragua, Iceland to Partner on Geothermal Projects

President Daniel Ortega of Nicaragua received a delegation of government officials and businessmen from Iceland in November exploring new

investments in the energy sector. The Minister of Industry and Innovation of Iceland, Ragnheiður Elín Árnadóttir, who led the delegation, signed an agreement on scientific and technical cooperation and one on geothermal and hydroelectric project development.


President Ortega said that Iceland is interested in exploring opportunities to develop geothermal projects in the Santiago and Mombacho Volcanic areas.

Costa Rica President Opposes Geothermal in National Parks

Inside Costa Rica reports that President Luis Guillermo Solis will not support geothermal energy generation in Costa Rica’s national parks during his time in office, calling such a measure unnecessary.

Despite the president’s opposition, there are currently three bills making their way through the Legislative Assembly that aim to significantly expand geothermal energy production in the country, including inside national parks. With an installed capacity of 200 MW, geothermal power is the country’s second energy source. Promoters of geothermal projects in national parks claim that the nation’s production will be increased up to 350 MW if new plants could be built in national parks.

Peru to Unveil Plans for Renewable Power AuctionAccording to Bloomberg, Peru’s government

will soon hold a renewable-energy auction and allow bids for solar, wind, biomass and geothermal energy projects, said Pedro Gamio, energy coordinator for the United Nations-organized climate talks held in Lima in December.

The country is seeking to double its renewable-energy capacity and reduce its use of fossil fuels. Renewable energy produces about 2.7% of the country’s power, according to Gamio. The government has set a goal of 5 percent.

AUSTRALASIA

Mighty River Power to Exit Geothermal Investments in Chile & Germany

New Zealand utility Mighty River Power has announced that the company will exit its geothermal development interests in Chile and Germany, while keeping its stake in operating U.S. interests.

The company announced earlier this year that it was undertaking a review of international geothermal investments as part of a broader strategic planning process.

Chief Executive, Fraser Whineray, said the international geothermal development options in all three countries have positive characteristics, but were now not in line with the company’s investment objectives.

“We will be commencing a sale process for the assets in Chile and Germany. In the U.S., where we have an interest in a 50 MW operating plant [the John L. Featherstone plant in Imperial County, California] and a minority stake in a geothermal development company, no further development capital will be committed.”

Geothermal Beats Natural Gas in New ZealandFor the first time more electricity in New

Zealand comes from geothermal energy than natural gas. Electricity Authority figures show for the year ended October 30 geothermal generation accounted for 16.3% of the total and gas 15%. According to the New Zealand Herald the percentage of renewable generation had grown from 65% in 2008 to 79% in the year to June.

Mighty River Power generates around 55% of geothermal power in the country. Its chief executive Fraser Whineray said the rise of geothermal from fourth to second was significant for the country.

“It’s a great achievement for New Zealand to see hydro and geothermal at the front of the grid for the first time,” he said.

“Geothermal is the only true baseload renewable energy so a country not capitalizing on it would be mad.” said Contact Energy Chief executive Dennis Barnes.

ASIA

Taiwan Looks to Geothermal EnergyThe government of Taiwan has expressed an

interest in exploiting its geothermal resources, reports Taiwan Today.

The Bureau of Energy under the Ministry of Economic Affairs and New Taipei City’s Economic Development Department (EDD) are planning to erect a geothermal plant in the Datun Mountain range, just north of the capital Taipei, according to the municipal government.

The facility will be Taiwan’s first geothermal plant and the second such endeavor following the one started in Yilan County but suspended in 2012 over environmental concerns.

InsideGeothermal


Citing a study by the state-sponsored Industry Technology Research Institute, the EDD said the total installed capacity of the power plant could reach 100 MW.

Philippines Update:The Philippines Power Sector Assets and

Liabilities Management Corp. (PSALM) handed over the management of the contracts of the 2 X 54.24 MW Mt. Apo 1 and 2 geothermal power plants in Mindanao and strips of energy deals of the Unified Leyte geothermal power plants in Visayas to FDC Misamis Power Corp. of the Gotianun group on December 26.

The cooperation period for the Mt. Apo 1 and 2 plants covers 25 years and will expire on Feb. 15, 2022 and June 17, 2024, respectively.

PSALM is set to auction the government’s supply contracts for the bulk output of the Unified Leyte Geothermal Power Plants (ULGPP) in the first quarter of 2015. Up for auction are the IPPA or independent power producer administrator contracts for the 125 MW Upper Mahiao, 232.5 MW Malitbog, 180 MW Mahanagdong and 51 MW Optimization plants.

~~~~~~~Mario C. Marasigan, director of the Philippines

Energy department’s Renewable Energy Management Bureau, said the Philippines Energy department will offer four geothermal resource areas for development and utilization through an open and competitive selection process (OCSP) in January.

Marasigan said the 4 geothermal projects are the 40 MW Amakan geothermal field in Compostela Valley, Mindanao; the 20 MW prospect in Balut Island, Davao Occidental; another in Cabalian, Southern Leyte, and the Acupan-Itogon geothermal site in Benguet in Northern Luzon.

~~~~~~~~Mario C. Marasigan also said that Maibarara

Geothermal, Inc. (MGI) wants to expand its 20 MW power plant in Batangas by another 10 MW.

He said MGI has begun an onsite resource assessment in preparation for an expansion. “They are looking whether they will use the existing well or drill a new one,” reports BusinessWorld.

Petroenergy Resources Corp., which has a 65% interest in the Maibarara Geothermal power plant is poised to conduct a stock rights offer early this year to fund the expansion.

~~~~~~~In a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange,

Bacon-Manito (BacMan) geothermal plant owner Energy Development Corp. (EDC) said with all units now operational, “the facility is producing a gross output of approximately 130 MW.”

According to Philippine Star the company reported that “the permanent fixes have now been completed on both BacMan Unit 2 & Unit 3, whilst BacMan Unit 1 will continue to operate with its interim solution until 27 December 2014 when it will then be shut down to install the new steam turbine rotor from Toshiba. It is planned that BacMan Unit 1 will be returned to service by 20 March 2015.”

Claims filed against the contractors of the rehabilitation of the facility have also been settled after EDC filed an arbitration case before the International Court of Arbitration of the International Chamber of Commerce. EDC said it would discontinue the arbitration following the settlement of the claims.

Located in the towns of Bacon in Sorsogon province and Manito in Albay, BacMan consists of BacMan I with two 55 MW turbines while BacMan II has two 20 MW geothermal facilities.

In a separate disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange reported by InterAksyon, Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) and EDC announced that the Bacon-Manito geothermal plants would continue to supply the distributor with 50 MW of power for five years, which may be extended by another two years.


~~~~~~~EDC is to explore for geothermal resources on

Mt. Mandalagan, Negros Occidental, part of the Negros Volcanic Belt.

Sun Star reports that Vice Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson said that his office had received the project description for the Geoscientific Study on the Mandalagan Geothermal Prospect from EDC.

~~~~~~~Iran Geothermal Power Project Update

Iran has provided an update on development of what would be the first geothermal power plant in the country. Managing Director of the Renewable Energy Organization of Iran Yousef Armodeli said fifteen wells had been drilled at Meshkinshahr in the far north of Iran, with seven reaching geothermal reserves with water temperatures of 240˚C. Feasibility studies suggest the potential of electricity production in the region is about 250 MW.

A 5 MW pilot geothermal power plant is planned. An Iranian contractor has won the tender to build the plant which is projected to be operational in two years.

AFRICA

Kenya Update:Kenya’s geothermal power generation was the

country’s top power supply in October. According to investorintel.com, data show geothermal energy generated 339.4 m kilowatt-hours of electricity.

This equaled 43.8% of the energy mix in the month, ahead of hydro at 36% (279.02 m KWh) and thermal at 20.2% (156.66 m KWh). Geothermal was also the number one power source in July and September.

The increased geothermal generation has led to lower fuel cost charges on power bills – domestic and commercial – as more diesel generators are rested. The cost of geothermal power in Kenya is estimated at $0.09 (Sh8.15) per unit, compared to $0.31 (Sh28.06) per unit for diesel-fuelled thermal.

~~~~~~~Kenya Electricity Generating Company

(KenGen) announced in December that the entire 280 MW of Olkaria geothermal power has been connected to the national grid with the completion of Olkaria I Unit 5.

The 280 MW project comprises Olkaria IV (140 MW) commissioned by President Uhuru Kenyatta in October, 2014 and Olkaria I additional units 4 and 5 (each unit 70 MW).

“With the implementation of the 280 MW Olkaria geothermal project now behind us, we are focused on the next phase which includes the implementation of 350 MW comprising Olkaria I, Olkaria V and Olkaria VI projects,” said KenGen Chief Executive Officer Albert Mugo.

To further the development, KenGen announced it is seeking bids for the design and construction of a 140 MW Olkaria V geothermal power plant and another 70 MW plant in Olkaria I unit 6.

KenGen plans to raise funds for the expansion through a Sh15 billion Rights Issue early this year, and an additional Sh15 billion through government means, yet to be decided.

~~~~~~~Also at Olkaria, Ormat Technologies, Inc.

said in December that its subsidiary had signed an amended and restated Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with Kenya Power and Lighting Company Limited (KPLC), paving the way for increasing the generating capacity of the Olkaria III geothermal plant by 24 MW, bringing the total capacity to 134 MW. The fourth plant is expected to come on line in the second half of 2016 and to sell electricity under a 20 years PPA with KPLC.

UN to Help Uganda Develop Geothermal EnergyThe newly created United Nations (UN) body on

climate, the Climate Technology Center Network (CTCN), has expressed interest in helping Uganda fully tap its geothermal potential of around 400 MW, reports StarAfrica.com.

Speaking in December at the UN Climate Change Conference in Lima, Peru officials from CTCN said Uganda is among the nine countries in the world that have sought their technical assistance in setting up geothermal power plants.

Rift Valley Power Grids to Get ConnectedKenya, Tanzania and Zambia have signed a

Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on a project to connect the countries power grids and help deliver renewable energy in the East African Rift Valley.

According to CNBC Africa the $1.2 billion power connector project will link the East African Power Pool (EAPP) to the Southern African Power Pool (SAPP) to boost trade and security of electricity supply.

InsideGeothermal


EUROPE

Bagnore 4 Geothermal Power Plant Begins Operation

Enel Green Power has announced the completion of the 40 MW Bagnore 4 geothermal power plant in the Italian region of Tuscany.

The new geothermal power station is composed of two 20 MW turbines, for a total installed capacity of 40 MW. The operating plant will be able to generate up to 310 m kWh of electricity per year, for a savings of 70 thousand TOE (tonnes of oil equivalent).

European Parliament City to be Heated by Geothermal Energy

Politicians from around the European Union will experience at first hand the power of geothermal energy when they gather for legislative sessions. Francetv reports that French energy company Fonroche has been awarded a research license to explore for geothermal resources in the city of Strasbourg, the capital and principal city of the Alsace region in eastern France and the official seat of the European Parliament.

Fonroche will start drilling early in 2015 to a depth of 3,500 meters with an aim of producing enough geothermal energy to heat 80% of Strasbourg.

UK Geothermal Project Comes Up ShortThe plan to heat Newcastle’s Science Central

site and parts of the city from geothermal sources has failed – because scientists can’t retrieve enough hot water. The flow rate of the 50oC water wasn’t high enough to exploit as an energy source.

However, it is hoped the Newcastle borehole will remain an important research site nationally and has at least shown the possibility to explore geothermal heat in the north-east of England.

Big Geothermal Heat Plant for Helsinki SuburbFinnish energy companies Fortum and St1 will

work together to build the country’s first industrial-scale geothermal heat plant. Fortum will buy the

heat energy produced by the plant for the district heating network in Espoo, the second largest city and municipality in Finland and a suburb of the capital Helsinki.

The geothermal heat plant will have a production capacity of up to 40 MW of geothermal heat energy enough for 10% of the district heat needs of Espoo. The project is estimated to be completed in 2016.

12 MWe Geothermal Power Plant to Be Built in Hungary

Hungary’s EU-FIRE is teaming up with Icelandic company Mannvit to build a €116 m geothermal power plant near Battonya in southeast Hungary, reports Budapest Business Journal.

The power plant, to be completed by the end of 2018, will generate an annual 12 MW of electricity and 60 MW of heat energy. EU-FIRE holds 95% of the project and Mannvit 5%.

The project, carried out with the cooperation of the Hungarian National Development Ministry and the National Economy Ministry, is supported by a €39.3 m European Union grant.

New District Geothermal Heat Project in RomaniaA new district geothermal heat project has been

announced in Romania. The municipality of Oradea in the north-west of the country, close to the border

Location of the new geothermal projects in Hungary and Romania


with Hungary, has signed an agreement to build a geothermal energy recovery project.

The Diplomat Bucharest reports the project is 85 per cent funded by the Government of Norway through the financing mechanism of the 2009-2014 European Economic Area grants, and the remaining 15 per cent coming from the Romanian Environment Fund Administration.

New 4 MW ORC Plant Online in BavariaA new Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) plant is in

operation in Bavaria, south Germany producing 4.3 MW of electricity and district heating.

“Already in the commissioning phase since the end of September, 2014, the ORC power plant in Laufzorn smoothly produces green energy,” announced geothermal energy development company Erdwärme Grünwald GmbH. “We have made the right decision with the right technique. The ORC power plant will produce electricity very efficiently – the essential prerequisite to permanently generate revenues. We have weighted our sustainable geothermal source – especially during the warmer seasons when less heating is needed. Above all, our concern was to provide a safe and economical supply of heat to our Grünwalder citizens.”

New Record for Geothermal Energy in ItalyEnel Green Power has announced that in 2014

geothermal power in Italy reached an annual generation of 5.548 GWh, bettering the 5,301 GWh record achieved in 2013. New developments in 2015 will keep up the pace. The Larderello district will continue growing, thanks to the new 38 MW net capacity from the Bagnore 4 plant, and the integration of the Cornia 2 hybrid bio-mass/geothermal plant that will overheat steam with forest waste, increasing geothermal energy efficiency and electricity generation.

CLIMATE CHANGE

Green Climate Fund Nears Funding Goal A United Nations (U.N.) fund to help poor

nations cope with global warming is within sight of a $10 billion goal, brightening prospects for a U.N. climate pact this year.

Reuters reports that Japan has promised up to $1.5 billion and the USA $3 billion to the Green Climate Fund (GCF). The pledges were made at the G20 meeting of world leaders in Australia in November.

The cash, to help emerging economies curb their greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to changes such as heatwaves, mudslides and rising sea levels, is widely seen as vital to unlock a U.N. climate deal meant to be agreed in late 2015 in Paris.

EDUCATION

New Videos Help Energy EducationThe U.S. Energy Department’s Office of Energy

Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) has partnered with the American Geosciences Institute (AGI)’s Center for Geoscience and Society and the National Center for Science Education (NCSE) to produce a series of new videos to help improve energy literacy in the U.S.

The videos focus on the seven essential principles and fundamental concepts established in EERE’s Energy Literacy Framework, an interdisciplinary approach to teaching and learning about energy (see the image above).

The first four videos have been launched. They can be used as educational tools in the classroom and are intended for all ages. Videos about the remaining three energy literacy principles are expected by the summer.

The videos can be seen at: http://energy.gov/eere/education/downloads/energy-literacy-videos n

38th GRC Annual Meeting, Part Two“Geothermal: A Global Solution”

T he latest edition of the GRC Annual Meeting and GEA Geothermal Energy Expo was held in late September/early October in Portland, Oregon, USA.

Over 1,400 attendees from 39 countries around the world convened in the “City of Roses” and by all accounts had a very fruitful and enjoyable meeting.

We are documenting the meeting in two parts. In the last GRC Bulletin we reported on the Opening Session, Golf Tournament, International Luncheon and one of the Field Trips. In this issue we write about the GRC Awards, other GRC Fieldtrips, Student Leadership Luncheon, Poster and Technical Session awards, GEA trade show and the 34th Geothermal Photo Contest.

Membership Meeting &Awards Luncheonby ian crawford

As a climax to the celebrations, distinguished colleagues in the geothermal community from around the world were honored at the GRC Awards Luncheon.

Attendees gather for the biggest annual geothermal event in the world.

AWARDSWINNERS

The

are:


Ben Holt AwardJohn R. Brugman

For lifetime achievement and innovation in geothermal power plant and process design.

Geothermal Special Achievement AwardColin Goranson

For outstanding geological interpretation, well testing, and reservoir and drilling engineering contributions to the characterization and development of geothermal prospects.

Geothermal Special Achievement AwardJill Robinson Haizlip

For her contribution to geochemistry, her efforts to expand the use of geothermal worldwide, and for mentoring young geoscientists.

Joseph W. Aidlin AwardMarilyn Nemzer

For her long-term commitment to the Geothermal Resources Council and extraordinary devotion to the promotion of geothermal energy through education.

Geothermal Pioneer AwardJoseph LaFleur

For lifetime achievement in the exploration and development of geothermal resources worldwide.

Henry J. Ramey Jr. AwardAnthony (Tony) J. Menzies

For innovation in geothermal reservoir engineering and leadership and dedication in supporting the geothermal industry worldwide.


Joe LaFleur receives his award from Karl Urbank (far left), award presenter and GRC Annual Meeting Chair Alex Sifford (second left) and GRC President Louis Capuano, Jr. (right).

John Brugman gives thanks for his Ben Holt Award

Marilyn Nemzer accepts the Joseph W. Aidlin Award with Awards Program Chair Karl Urbank (left) and Award presenter Dennis Gilles (center) applauding in the background.

Tony Menzies beams with delight as he waits for his award to be presented.

Award presenter Marcelo Lippmann (left) looks on as Colin Goranson receives applause for his Geothermal Special Achievement Award.

Jill Haizlip receives her award from Karl Urbank (far left), award presenter Sabodh Gard (second left) and GRC President Louis Capuano, Jr. (right).

Geothermal Special Achievement AwardAnn Robertson-Tait

For her great contribution to the study of geothermal systems around the world and for her leadership in the geothermal community.

~~~~~~~

~~~~~~~For more photos of the Awards

Luncheon, go to https://flic.kr/s/aHsk4szrkh

GRC Annual Meeting:Awards Luncheon


Ann Robertson-Tait smiles as she waits to accept her award with Louis Capuano, Jr. looking on.

The 2014 GRC Award Winners. From left to right: Colin Goranson, John Brugman, Jill Haizlip, Marilyn Nemzer, Joe LaFleur, Ann Robertson-Tait and Tony Menzies.

Jay Hepper accepts his first place certificate in the GRC Geothermal Photo Competition from Karl Urbank (left). The winning photos can be seen on page 29.

Poster Session Awards

Best Student PosterThe History of Lightning Dock KGRA: Identifying a

Blind Geothermal Resource,James Crowell, & Anna M.Crowell.

Best Non-Student PosterCan Deep Stratigraphic Reservoirs Sustain 100 MW

Power Plants? by Rick Allis & Joe Moore.

For more photos of the Poster Session, go to

https://flic.kr/s/aHsk4v1gRS

James & Anna Crowell (center) are flanked by award presenters GRC Board Members Toni Boyd (left) and Charlene Wardlow (right).

Rick Allis explains the research behind his poster presentation.

Andrea Aguirre of Cornell University talks to Joe Moore, GRC Annual Meeting Education Chair about her poster presentation.


Basin & Range - Regional Crustal Discontinuities as Guides for Geothermal Exploration, Siler, Drew & Kennedy, B. Mack & Wannamaker, Philip.

Business Development - Geothermal Power for Integration of Intermittent Generation, Edmunds, Thomas & Sotorrio, Pedro & Buscheck, Thomas & Bielicki, Jeffrey.

Case Studies - The Don A. Campbell Geothermal Project, Orenstein, Rahm & Delwiche, Ben.

Direct Use/Heat Pump - Enhanced Agricultural Production From an Intensive Bottom Heat System Using Waste Geothermal Hot Water and Steam Condensate in Iceland, Dell, Robert & Unnthorsson, Runar & Wei, C.S. & Foley, William.

Drilling - Downhole Power Source for Geothermal Drilling and Well Development Enabled by a Novel Extreme High Temperature (200°C+) Ultracapacitor, Brambilla, Nicolo & Martini, Fabrizio.

EGS 1 - The ECOGI EGS Project in Rittershoffen, France, Baujard, Clement & Genter, Albert & Maurer, Vincent & Dalmais, Eleonore & Graff, Jean- Jacques & Schmittbuhl, Jean.

EGS 2 - Utilization of PVA Flakes in Promoting Self-degradation of Temporary Cementitious Fracture Sealing Material, Sugama, Toshifumi & Pyatina, Tatiana.

EGS 3 - Numerical Thermo-Elastic Simulation for Change in Fracture Aperture Associated With Cold Fluid Injection, Kaneta, Kosuke & Mukuhira, Yusuke & Ito, Takatoshi.

Exploration 1 - Prospecting for a Blind Geothermal System Utilizing Geologic and Geophysical Data, Seven Troughs Range, Northwestern Nevada, Forson, Corina & Faulds, James & Wannamaker, Philip.

Exploration 2 - Toward a Continuum Geothermal Model to Explain Variety of Medium to High Temperature Geothermal Systems in Martinique and Guadeloupe (French Lesser Antilles), Bouchot, Vincent & Gadalia, Alain & Traineau, Herve & Caritg, Severine.

Finance/Economics - Uncertainty Analysis of Geothermal Well Drilling and Completion Costs, Silverman, Rachel & Lukawski, Maciej & Tester, Jefferson.

Geochemistry - Mineral Selection for Multicomponent Equilibrium Geothermometry, Palmer, Carl & Ohly, Sara & Smith, Robert & Neupane, Ghanashyam & McLing, Travis & Mattson, Earl.

Geology - Determination of Geothermal Anomalies Through Multivariate Regression of Background Variables at Yellowstone National Park Using Landsat 5 TM Thermal Band Data, Karki, Sita & Kobs Nawotniak, Shannon & Bottenberg, Carrie & McCurry, Michael & Welhan, John.

Geophysics - Imaging the Roots of High-Temperature Geothermal Systems Using MT: Results From the Taupo Volcanic Zone, New Zealand, Lindsey, Nathaniel & Bertrand, Edward & Caldwell, Grant & Gasperikova, Erika & Newman, Gregory.

Instrumentation - Test-Stand for Geothermal Borehole Probes, Holbein, Benedict & Isele, Jorg & Spatafora, Luigi.

International - Geothermal Water for Mining, Ussher, Greg & Parker, Cameron & Catane, John Patrick & Urzua, Luis & Mills, Tracy.

Nevada - Alternatives to Reduce the High Cost and Risk of Exploration, Drilling For Geothermal Development Case Study - Northern Nevada 2010-2012, Banta, Mathew.

Oil & Gas - Analysis of Sedimentary Geothermal Systems Using an Analytical Reservoir Model, Augustine, Chad.

Plant Chemistry - Control and Online Removal of Metal Sulfide Deposits, Muller, Logan & Gill, Jasbir & Rodman, David & Brown, Kevin & Robinson, Ray.

Plant Design - Optimization of NCG System Lineups, Harvey, William & Fishman, Matthew.

Outstanding Technical Session Presentation Awards Awarded by Session Chairs

Plant Operations - Increased Reliability and Availability of a Geothermal Steam Turbine, Archambeault, David & Larsen, Garth & Layton, Mark.

Plant Turbines - The Geothermal Radial Outflow Turbine, Spadacini, Claudio & Xodo, Luca & Quaia, Matteo & Frassinetti, Marco & Rizzi, Dario.

Power Cycle - Combined Cycle Strategies for High Enthalpy, High Non-Condensable Gas Resources, Dunford, Tim & Lewis, Bill & Wallace, Kevin & Harvey, William.

Power Solar - Design and Implementation of the Gumuskoy Hybrid Geothermal and Solar Thermal Power System, Kuyumcu, Ozgur Caglan & Serin, Onur & Ozalevli, Camil Cihan & Baker, Derk Keith & Somek, Sulejman Kazim.

Regulatory/Environmental/Policy - Social and Political Consequences of Geothermal: A Case Study from the Nereidas Valley, Colombia, Dewhurst, Kara S.

Reservoir Engineering - 3D Poro-thermo-elastic Numerical Model for Analyzing Pressure Transient Response to Improve the Characterization of Naturally Fractured Geothermal Reservoirs, Abdel Azim, Reda & Gholizadeh Doonechaly, Nima & Rahman, Sheik & Tyson, Stephen & Regenauer-Lieb, Klaus.

Resource Assessment - Smart Tracers for Geothermal Reservoir Assessment, Du Frane, Wyatt & Vericella, John & Duoss, Eric & Smith, Megan & Aines, Roger & Roberts, Jeff.

Resource Management - Summary of Historical Production for Nevada Binary Facilities, Hanson, Hillary & Mines, Greg.

Sedimentary Basin 1 - Can Deep Stratigraphic Reservoirs Sustain 100 MW Power Plants, Allis, Rick & Moore, Joseph.

Sedimentary Basin 2 - High Heat Flow in the Idaho Thrust Belt: A Hot Sedimentary Geothermal Prospect, Welhan, John & Gwynn, Mark.

~~~~~~~

The GRC has added all the papers associated with the 2014 GRC Annual Meeting Technical Session presentations, including the winning presentations listed above, to the GRC Geothermal Library at www.geothermal-library.org. Papers from the 2014 Annual Meeting are available for members only. Papers from previous years are available for all.

GRC Annual Meeting, Part Two

Call for Papers

The GRC invites you to present your latest technical work in geothermal research, exploration, development and utilization at the 39th GRC Annual Meeting to be held in Reno, Nevada, USA, September 20-23.

Successful selection to present at the 2015 GRC Annual Meeting is prestigious and recognizes the presenter as a top industry expert. International participation is key to the success of the GRC Annual Meeting technical programs and we encourage geothermal researchers and experts from around the world to submit their work for consideration to be presented.

Authors may submit an oral technical presentation and/or poster at the 2015 GRC’s Annual Meeting. The Draft Paper submission deadline is April 10, 2015.

More information can be found on the GRC Annual Meeting webpage at:

www.geothermal.org/meet-new.html.



Photo Contest Winners

In total, 47 photos were entered in the 35th Annual Amateur Geothermal Photography Contest where they were judged for impact, relevance, composition and technical quality.

In appreciation of their achievement, GRC awarded cash prizes to photo contest winners. GRC appreciates the creativity and quality of all contest submissions and looks forward to next year’s photo contest to be announced and showcased at the 39th Annual Meeting, September 20-23, 2015 at the Peppermill Resort Spa, Reno, Nevada, USA.

1st Place: Coil Tubing from 125 ft. Manlift by Jay Hepper, Cobb, California, USA.

2nd Place: Nga Awa Purua Pipes by Sarah Milicich, Lower Hutt, New Zealand.

3rd Place: El Tatio Dawn by James Stimac, Santa Rosa, California, USA.

Honorable Mention: The Bulldog by Andrew Tiedeman, Fallon, Nevada, USA.

Honorable Mention: Steaming Pilgrim Lagoon, Fall Colors and Kiqluiak Mountains by Dick Benoit, Reno, Nevada, USA.

Honorable Mention: Man Made Rainbow by Sam Abraham, Nairobi, Kenya.

~~~~~~~To see all the photos in the Geothermal

Photo Contest, go to https://flic.kr/s/aHsk2rXKcg

1st Place

2nd Place

3rd Place

Honorable MentionHonorable Mention Honorable Mention


Student Leadership LuncheonA highlight of the Annual Meeting, the GRC

Student Leadership Luncheon attracted more than 60 students and geothermal leaders to discuss job opportunities in the industry.

~~~~~~~To see more photos from the GRC Student

Luncheon go to:https://flic.kr/s/aHsk5777Kx

GRC Field Trip to Mount Saint HelensThe most popular GRC Field trip from the

GRC Annual Meeting was the one-day excursion to Mount Saint Helens in neighboring Washington State. 43 attendees spent an enjoyable day exploring the sleeping volcano, notorious for its catastrophic eruption on May 18, 1980, the deadliest and most economically destructive volcanic event in the history of the United States. Expert guides from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Richard Waitt and Willie Scott led a fascinating tour of the still recovering area.

~~~~~~~To see more photos from the GRC Fieldtrip to

Mt. St. Helens go to: https://flic.kr/s/aHsk67mqJt

Charlene Wardlow (left), Director Business Development at Ormat Nevada Inc. talks to a student about her work. Photo ian craWForD

Paul Brophy, GRC President imparts his geothermal wisdom. Photo ian craWForD

The trippers gather for a first look at the slumbering volcano. courtesY Duncan FoleY

Richard Waitt (left) and Willie Scott (right) are loud and clear! courtesY Duncan FoleY

GRC Board member Gene Suemnicht (at one o’clock at the table) leads the discussion. Photo ian craWForD


GEA Geothermal Energy ExpoIn conjunction with the GRC Annual Meeting

the Geothermal Energy Association (GEA) ran the Geothermal Energy Expo. The GRC/GEA Opening Reception in the Expo Hall is one of the social highlights of the meeting.

Unless otherwise attributed, all GRC Annual Meeting photos by Naim Hasan Photography LLC of Portland, Oregon.

The GRC/GEA Opening Reception is a networking nirvana.

The folks at the Power Engineers booth give a warm welcome.

Angel Pedraza, Eduardo Reyes of Solenis and Isaac Silva of CFE represent Mexico in Portland, Oregon.

Paul Brophy (left) president of EGS, Inc. and the GRC President for 2015-16 with Juliet Newson, President of the International Geothermal Association (IGA) 2013-2016.

Desmond Stubbs (left) of Oak Ridge Associated Universities enjoys a chat.

Steve Ahn (left) of Chicago Title National Services visits Rahm Orenstein and Tatum Jackson (right) at the Ormat booth.

~~~~~~~To see more photos from the GRC\GEA

Opening Reception go to: https://flic.kr/s/aHsk4t7Tss n

scan the Qr code to the left to display the membership page on the Grc website.

Renewal is easy!

It’s Time to RenewYour 2015

GRC Membership!

www.geothermal.org /membership.html


Oregon Odyssey -The GRC Field Trip Experience

by ian crawford

GRC Annual Meeting:Field Trip

Contrary to expectations the weather in Oregon at the beginning of October was warm and sunny. The GRC Annual Meeting had again confirmed expectations as the premier annual event for the global geothermal community. Another GRC Field Trip would set off again with high hopes for education and networking.

From Portland, Oregon three full mini-buses travelled over 700 miles to Klamath Falls and back and saw some of the superb natural beauty and geothermal potential of the state.

Such is the prestige of the GRC Field Trips that the Canadian Geothermal Energy Association

(CanGEA) brought along a group on a direct use trade mission from Canada to pick up pointers on how to develop the technology back home.

In total 21 had an experience of a lifetime: Rob Baron, Bill Cocks, Laura Garchar, Silvio Gislemberti, Marc Goudreau, Curtis Jabusch, David Kunz, Duc Luong, Roman Przysiezniak, Cheryl Schell, Julia Simone, John Sisler, Junichi Takayama, Alison Thompson, Tim Thompson, Garry Umbrich, Jake Windsor along with GRC leaders and (bus drivers!) Toni Boyd, Andy Sabin and Ian Crawford.

Most of the GRC Field Trip attendees gather outside the Klamath Falls campus of the Oregon Institute of Technology. Photo ian craWForD


Toni Boyd led the trip south through the forests of Oregon and then up to Crater Lake. There were gasps on the bus as the body of water suddenly came into view. It is truly one of the most beautiful lakes in the world made especially gorgeous under clear blue skies.

Toni was a generous host in her home town of Klamath Falls, home of the world-renowned Geo-Heat Center at the Oregon Institute of Technology. We were given close up views of the Klamath Falls district heating system which processes 200-220oF

geothermal water from 5 wells at 500 gpm through two heat exchangers to heat city buildings. Another heat exchanger then takes the water to keep the sidewalks free of snow and ice during the winter. The water is re-injected back into the geothermal reservoir at 170oF.

John Lund, co-founder of the Geo-Heat Center and a former president of the Geothermal Resources Council, met with the group to impart his considerable wisdom on direct and indirect uses of geothermal energy.

The deep blue waters of Crater Lake under the clear blue skies of Oregon. The lake is the deepest in the USA at 1,943 feet and occupies a dormant volcanic crater. Photo ian craWForD

At the ‘Gone Fishing’ operation run by Ron Barnes, Tilapia white fish thrive on the warm geothermal spring water. The fish sell well in markets in big cities along the west coast of USA and Canada. Photo ian craWForD

Andy Sabin of the U.S. Department of the Navy Geothermal Program Office listens to the manager at Liskey Farms explain how the greenhouse operation uses geothermal heat to grow organic micro greens and heirloom tomatoes. We were allowed to sample the tasty produce. Photo ian craWForD

Curtis Jabusch (left) and Laura Garchar try to locate the Newberry EGS Demonstration site from the 7,984 foot Paulina Peak at Newberry National Volcanic Monument. The weather was so clear that we were able to see from Mount Shasta to the south in California to Mount Adams in southern Washington, a distance of almost 200 miles in each direction along the chain of Cascade Range volcanoes. Photo ian craWForD

GRC Annual Meeting:Field Trip


~~~~~~~The GRC wishes to thank Toni Boyd for

guiding the GRC Fieldtrip and to John Lund and the Geo-Heat Center at the Klamath Falls campus of the Oregon Institute of Technology for allowing us access. Thanks also to Andy Sabin for volunteering to drive the 700 miles there and back again! n

A very popular stop at the Klamath Basin Brewing Company, one of only two known brewing operations in the world that uses geothermally heated water for beer production. Photo ian craWForD

Roman Przysiezniak looks over Lost Lake at the edge of the Big Obsidian Flow. The lake sits in the crater of a tuff ring partially filled by a lobe of the Big Obsidian Flow where it spilled over the tuff-ring’s southern rim from the Newberry Volcano just 1,300 years ago. Photo ian craWForD

The Three Sisters are a cluster of glaciated strato-volcanoes extending for 12 miles along the crest of the Cascade Range that formed within the Quaternary age (within the past one million years). Photo ian craWForD

Mount Hood appears to be active again! The last stop before returning to Portland. Photo ian craWForD

Toni Boyd (left) of the Geo-Heat Center at the Oregon Institute of Technology in Klamath Falls explains the workings of the new 1.75 MW organic rankine cycle binary geothermal power plant that together with an existing 280 kW power plant will produce enough heat and electricity for the entire campus and a neighboring Medical Center. The project cost $14 m to build, but saves $1.5 m a year in heating and electricity costs. Photo ian craWForD

For more photos of the GRC Field Trip to Klamath Falls go to

https://flic.kr/s/aHsk551zq7


New Assessment of South America’s Geothermal Potential

A research study has been recently published with updated data on 1417 South American localities with the purpose of assessing the geothermal resources of the continent. According to the authors, the analysis of these data has allowed to better estimate the geothermal resource base and recoverable resources of 13 South American countries.

The paper Progress in the evaluation of the geothermal resources of South America by Fabio Pinto Vieira and Valiya Mannathal Hamza from Brazil, can be found at: www.scirp.org/journal/PaperInformation.aspx?PaperID=51945 (thanks to Marcelo Lippmann)

Deep Geothermal Energy in GermanyAccording to the authors, the geothermal

market [in Germany] is growing so fast that there is currently a juxtaposition of professional planning on the one hand and information demand on the other. The brochure Deep Geothermal Energy – Application Possibilities in Germany provides

Distributions of geothermal resource base (left panel) and recoverable resources (right panel) in the South American continent. Dots indicate locations of observational data and crosses indicate estimated values. courtesY FaBio Pinto Vieira anD ValiYa mannathal hamZa

technical information and recommendations for action for investment decision in favor of deep geothermal applications.

All essential aspects of this field of knowledge have been summarized in 80 pages by the Leibniz Institute for Applied Geophysics and its partners. International target and user groups are decision makers in politics and economy as well as journalists, teachers, students and people interested in natural sciences and new technologies. The easily understandable presentation of the physical and systems engineering principles and relationships makes a contribution to the quality

management of deep geothermal energy projects.

Deep Geothermal Energy - Application Possibilities in Germany (English edition) can be downloaded at: www.geotis.de/homepage/Ergebnisse/Deep_Geothermal_Energy.pdf

Swiss Study Recommends Pursuing Geothermal Energy

Despite recent seismic events related to drilling for geothermal power sources, a new study has concluded that Switzerland should continue to pursue geothermal energy as part of its future strategy.

The study from the Centre for Technology Assessment TA-SWISS argues that energy production from geothermal sources is environmentally friendly, reliable and well-priced. However, the organization also found certain risks involved.

Exploratory geothermal power projects in St Gallen and Basel were recently stopped after unusual seismic activity was found to have been linked to the drilling. However, despite those incidents, TA- SWISS urged Swiss officials not to

write off geothermal energy as a power source too quickly.

The 526 page report Energy from the Earth: Deep Geothermal as a Resource for the Future? Can be downloaded at: www.vdf.ethz.ch/service/3654/3655_Energy-from-the-Earth_OA.pdf

Publications, Websites, Videos & Maps by ian crawford


Energy Outlook for Asia-PacificAsia’s continued prosperity is intrinsically

bound to the major ongoing conversation in the energy markets. Simply put, what needs to happen to ensure energy security at an affordable price for an ever increasing population in Asia? This question has become increasingly important for governments and key stakeholders to answer.

Fuelling the future: Energy outlook for Asia-Pacific roadmaps the major challenges facing the Asia-Pacific region in securing its long-term energy needs and some of the possible answers to these challenges. The report dives deep into the mindset of energy sector practitioners to offer insightful data into what does the short to long-term look like for investors in the Asia-Pacific region. It seeks to understand how new technologies, a changing

fuel mix, and a shifting regulatory landscape will shape this sector over the next twenty years.

The report can be downloaded at: http://mergermarketgroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/Fuelling_the_future_APAC.pdf n

Transitions

Doug Hollett, Director of the Geothermal Technologies Office (GTO) in the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) at the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has taken a new position at DOE effective November 21. He is now the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Renewable Power taking over from Steven Chalk.

Doug Hollett speaking at the Opening Session of the GRC Annual Meeting


The U.S. Geological Survey has announced the selection of GRC Member Dr. Stephen Hickman to serve as the new director of the USGS Earthquake Science Center, headquartered in Menlo Park, California. Dr. Hickman succeeds Dr. Thomas Brocher,

who served in the position for the past six years.“Steve Hickman’s decades of experience in

the USGS as a research geophysicist will serve the Survey and the American people well as he embarks on his new leadership position,” said USGS Pacific Region director Mark Sogge.

“He has led or participated in numerous scientific projects in the United States and abroad, and was co-principal investigator on the San Andreas Fault Observatory at Depth, a major component of the National Science Foundation's EarthScope facility. His extensive science and leadership skills will be invaluable as he guides the Center and works with our partners to address new scientific and technical challenges ahead.”

Dr. Stephen Hickman’s research focuses on borehole and laboratory studies of the interaction between stress, fractures, and fluid flow in high-temperature geothermal systems and the physical and chemical processes controlling faulting and earthquake generation within active faults. n

In his new role, he’ll have responsibility for the Solar, Wind and Water, and Geothermal portfolios as well as the Grid Team. Jay Nathwani, currently Chief Engineer, will be Acting Director of GTO as the DOE works to find a replacement.

The Geothermal Resources Council (GRC) wishes Doug well in his new position.

~~~~~~~Geothermal Development Company (GDC)

chief executive officer Silas Simiyu is to retire.

~~~~~~~


Valles caldera and John suddenly appeared bringing his fabulous “elder” experience from his research days with the Los Alamos Hot Dry Rock project. John not only knew how to drill with every conceivable type of rig, mud, and tool, he also knew how to navigate the LANL contracting and procurement office.

By July 1984 we were drilling the first continuously cored, hot hole in the Valles, a 24/7 endeavor spent during a spectacular summer thunderstorm season. I still remember John’s infectious smile, his wet hard hat, and his form backlit by lightning strikes. Naturally, he was wearing his trademark New Mexico bolo tie. He knew this coring project would be the first of several more in the Valles and would result in “great science” publications for several years to come. And of course, he was right.” (Fraser Goff – Los Alamos National Laboratory-retired)

~~~~“John was one of most important members

of the geothermal community from the scientific and technical points of view, and because of the way he interacted with people, particularly with his colleagues no matter their age and experience. He was not only a superb scientist, but also an extraordinary human being. John’s departure is truly a great loss for the world’s geothermal community. He will be missed.” (Dr. Raffaele Cataldi)

William Livingston D’Olier, Jr. (1925-2014)

Long-time GRC Member Bill D’Olier has passed away. A full trib-ute will appear in the March/April GRC Bulletin.

Robert T. Forest (1929-2015)

Long-time GRC Member Robert T. Forest of Sparks, Nevada, died of Leukemia on January 14. A full trib-ute will appear in the March/April GRC Bulletin.

CorrectionA photo of Alfred Truesdell that accompanied

his obituary in the last GRC Bulletin was not credited accurately. Ron DiPippo very kindly provided the photo of Alfred and his camera. Our apologies to Ron. n

In Memoriam

John Rowley (1927-2013)We have only just learned that

long-time GRC Member and Board Member Emeritus John Rowley passed away October 24, 2013 at his home in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

John was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan on July 22, 1927. He later obtained his Ph.D in Physics at the University of Michigan. During those

years he met and married the love of his life, Mary Livingstone McClean.

John and Mary moved west to the “secret city” of Los Alamos in 1957 when John accepted a research position at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) as a geophysicist. Later, they moved to the then newly developing area of White Rock, where they lived for 40 years.

John continued his work at LANL until his retirement in 1998, at which point he continued to be involved in geothermal research as a consultant nationally and internationally as Pajarito Enterprises Consulting Services, Inc.

In 1992 he was the recipient of the Joseph W. Aidlin Award from the GRC recognizing outstanding contributions to the association and to the development of geothermal resources. (Courtesy Santa Fe New Mexican)

~~~~“John Rowley was a man of many talents

who was involved with the GRC almost from the beginning. He served on the GRC Board of Directors for over 30 years. Throughout this time he provided guidance to the staff on technical matters and without doubt he was the go-to guy for sage advice. Even after his eye-sight began to fail, the quality of his input never waned. He will not be easily forgotten as his involvement and perseverance in the early years contributed to the overall development and growth of the GRC to become the strong association we see today.” (Dave Anderson, ex GRC Executive Director)

~~~~~~~“I really got to know John in 1983 during the time

of increased momentum within the U.S. Continental Scientific Drilling Program. I was embarking on a high-temperature, slim hole, drilling program in the


4th ITB International Geothermal Workshop16-20 March, Institut Teknologi Bandung (ITB), West Java, Indonesiahttp://geothermal.itb.ac.id/workshop2015/

20th Annual POWER Conference on Energy Research and Policy20 March, Energy Institute at Haas, Berkeley, California, USAhttp://ei.haas.berkeley.edu/index.html

World Geothermal Congress 201519-25 April, Melbourne, Australiawgc2015.com.au

2015 Joint Assembly - American Geophysical Union, CGU, GAC, & MAC3-7 May, Montréal, Canadahttp://ja.agu.org/2015/

GTO Peer Review 201511-15 May, Westminster, Colorado, USAhttp://energy.gov/eere/geothermal/geothermal-technologies-office

Power Plays: Geothermal Energy in Oil and Gas Fields18 May – Workshop19-20 May – Conference SMU Campus, Dallas, Texas, USAhttp://www.smu.edu/Dedman/Academics/Programs/GeothermalLab/Conference

GEA National Geothermal Summit3-4 June, Reno, Nevada, USAwww.geo-energy.org

World Renewable Energy Congress 2014 – WREC XIV8-12 June, Bucharest, Romaniawww.wrenuk.co.uk

Indonesia International Geothermal Conven-tion & Exhibition (IIGCE) 201519-21 August, Jakarta, Indonesiawww.iigce.com

39th GRC Annual Meeting & GEA Expo20-23 September, Reno, Nevada, USAwww.geothermal.org/meet-new.html

Iceland Geothermal Conference (IGC 2016)26-29 April, 2016, Reykjavík, Icelandwww.geothermalconference.is/ n

Calendar of Events

Expo Geothermal 201522-24 January, Ankara, Turkeywww.demosfuar.com.tr/demos-fuar-sayfasi/Expo%20Geothermal%20/98/001/

Stanford Workshop on Geothermal Reservoir Engineering26-28 January, Stanford, California, USAhttp://pangea.stanford.edu/ERE/research/geoth/conference/workshop.html

4th Global Geothermal Energy Summit18-19 February, Reykjavik, Icelandwww.wplgroup.com/aci/conferences/eu-egt4.asp

GEA 2015 State of the Geothermal Industry Briefing24 February, Washington D.C., USAwww.geo-energy.org/events/2015/Geothermal_Indus-try_Briefing_2015.aspx

Energy and Materials Research Conference (EMR2015)25-27 February, Madrid, Spainwww.emr2015.org

ENREG – Energia Regenerabila4-6 March, Arad, Romaniawww.enreg-expo.com/trade-fair-themes.html

GeoTHERM - Expo & Congress5-6 March, Offenburg, Germanywww.geotherm-germany.com

XXII Annual Meeting of the Mexican Geothermal Association10-11 March, Morelia, Mexicowww.geotermia.org.mx/geotermia

RENEXPO Central Europe - 9th International Energy Trade Fair11-12 March, Budapest, Hungaryhttp://renexpo-budapest.com/index.php

11th Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Exhibition and Conference for South-East Europe11-13 March, Sofia, Bulgariahttp://viaexpo.com/en/pages/ee-re-exhibition

8th Annual Imperial Valley Renewable Energy Summit11-13 March, Winterhaven, California, USAhttp://ivres.ivedc.com/summit

ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR – Geothermal Specialist (tenure track)

The Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology (NBMG) at the University of Nevada, Reno seeks applicants with expertise in geothermal energy research. Nevada is one of the most exciting regions in the world to do research in the geosciences and one of the best in the U.S. for the study of geothermal resources.

Position Responsibilities:

The primary responsibilities of this position will be to develop broad programs in research and education in the field of geothermal energy while serving as Director of the Great Basin Center for Geothermal Energy. The applicant is expected to conduct a nationally competitive research program that will include innovative approaches to understanding the complexities of fluid flow in the crust with a concentration on Nevada and the surrounding Great Basin region. The successful candidate will also be expected to contribute to the development of datasets and reports on Nevada’s geothermal resources, maintain geothermal databases as part of NGDS (National Geothermal Data System), and provide state resource assessments. Education will include teaching courses in geothermal related topics in the Department of Geological Sciences and Engineering (DGSE), supervising graduate students, and contributing to developing a geothermal curriculum. Research and educational efforts will involve multi-departmental and multi-institutional efforts, with scientists from academia, industry, other institutions, and government labs. The successful candidate will be asked to communicate effectively with the public and community leaders regarding the geothermal resources of Nevada.

Qualifications:

Applicants must have a doctorate in geology, geologic engineering, geophysics, or a related geoscience field by the time of hire and a demonstrated record of research on topics related to geothermal energy as indicated by dissertation research, industry experience, and/or peer-reviewed publications. The successful candidate must have at least 5 years of postdoctoral experience (either in industry or academia) in geothermal research in such

NBMG Employment Opportunityareas as rock mechanics, 3D modeling, geophysical techniques, reservoir engineering, and/or geochemistry. Excellent communication skills, as demonstrated in written application materials; commitment to public service; potential for, or established record of publications; and ability to attract funding are essential. The successful candidate must also have demonstrated ability to develop/coordinate programs and work in teams to accomplish major goals.

Because the individuals will be competing for funding from a variety of sources, including industry and federal agencies, for fundamental and applied geoscience research (e.g., NSF, DOE, and USGS), preference will be given to candidates who explain achievable plans for funded research on Nevada-focused topics in geothermal energy in their letters of interest. In addition, preference will be given to candidates who understand NBMG’s role as the state geological survey of Nevada, especially to those who can articulate a plan of how NBMG can better serve stakeholders (citizens, government, and industry) on issues related to geothermal resources.

Salary and Date of Appointment: The position will be a tenure-track faculty appointment at the associate professor level with an academic-year base salary that is competitive with other research universities. Starting date will be July 1, 2015 or shortly thereafter, depending on availability of the successful candidate.

Application:Please submit a letter expressing your interest

in the position, research plans; names, e-mail, postal addresses, and telephone numbers of at least three references; a complete vita; and electronic copies of up to three of your publications to https://www.unrsearch.com/postings/16685. Application deadline is March 1, 2015. For further information about NBMG, please consult our website (http://www.nbmg.unr.edu).

The University of Nevada, Reno is committed to Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action in recruitment of its students and employees and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, creed, national origin, veteran status, physical or mental disability, and sexual orientation. The University of Nevada employs only United States citizens and aliens lawfully authorized to work in the United States. Women and under-represented groups are encouraged to apply. n


scan the Qr code to the left to display the membership page on the Grc website.

Renewal is easy!

It’s Time to RenewYour 2015

GRC Membership!

www.geothermal.org /membership.html

GENERATING GEOTHERMAL

SUCCESS

www.geothermex.com

56 Countries

7,000 MW Developed

$12 Billion Financed

FOR 40 YEARS

First production from a powerful well in Indonesia

the Geothermal resources council (Grc) is pleased to announce the availability of the 2015 Grc scholarship awards.to qualify for one of these awards a student must be a GRC member as well as a student in an accredited academic institution. selection of

recipients will be based upon a variety of factors, including the individual’s academic record, student activities, geothermal industry experience, and career goals.

The following awards are available:

•Two(2)GRCUndergraduateScholarshipAwardsof$1500 to be eligible for one of these awards, the candidate must be a third or fourth year undergraduate majoring in engineering or geosciences at

the time of the award (Fall 2015).

•Three(3)GRCGraduateScholarshipAwardsof$2500 to be eligible for one of these awards, the candidate must be enrolled in a graduate-level program in engineering or geosciences at the time

of the award (Fall 2015).

•One(1)StudentGeothermalProjectAwardof$4500 selection of recipient will be based primarily upon the creation and description of a geothermal-focused project, though other factors such

as the individual’s academic record, student activities, geothermal industry experience, and career goals will factor into the determination as well. the project can represent a variety of academic subjects, including, but not limited to, geosciences, engineering, and economics. the primary requirement is that the project be focused on some aspect of geothermal power production, geothermal direct use applications or geothermal heat pumps.

Applications must be received by May 4, 2015 to be considered. Successful recipients will be notified by June 2, 2015.

For application instructions and other details, see the announcement on the Grc webpage at: www.geothermal.org/students.html Please direct questions regarding the scholarship awards to: Brian schmidt at: [email protected] or call (530) 758-2360, ext.107.

2015 SCHOLARHIPSGEOTHERMAL RESOURCES COUNCIL ANNOUNCES

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