Tesla Turbines proposed for geothermal energy

From American Antigravity...

Hayes claims 55% conversion efficiency; highest in its class

"Former Rockwell Engineer Jeff Hayes proposes that Tesla Turbines can be used to tap geothermal energy from underground salt-brine in locations all over the world. Hayes is part of the International Tesla Turbine Builders Society, and well-versed in the potential of this often-overlooked but commercially viable technology.

Hayes comments that the Salton Sea in California contains enough geothermal energy locked in salt-brine to meet the entire electrical needs of the United States 20 times over, if only it could be harnessed electrically. That requires spinning a turbine, and only the Tesla Turbine is durable enough to undertake this challenge. Hayes focus is on the engineering challenges involved with making Tesla Turbines a practical tool, as well as the unique characteristics of this technology that allow it to outperform conventional bladed turbines."

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Calpine up 17% on buyout rumors

From Renewable Energy Journal...

"Calpine has been in bankruptcy reorganization for some time and has steadily been divesting assets over the past 18 months."

"It is widely rumored that the Carlyle Group and AES have bid to buy Calpine and its $26B in assets. A key asset Calpine holds is the Geysers geothermal power plant complex in Northern California of which Calpine owns 20 of the 22 plants producing around 700MW, or 5.5 gigawatt hours of electricity, enough to power San Francisco each year."

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U.S. Senate actions indicate that coal is here to stay

From Forbes.com...

"Coal is here to stay as a significant part of the national fuel mix even as there is increased investment in wind, nuclear and geothermal projects. In a study on the future of coal released earlier this month by MIT, experts said, "We believe that coal use will increase under any foreseeable scenario because it is cheap and abundant."

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Presentation: "Future of Geothermal Energy"

The following summary points were given on March 1, 2007 as part of a slideshow presentation at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). Advantages of enhanced geothermal systems (EGS) — power plants in 'low grade' settings where the hot rock source is deeper in the earth — are listed as follows:

1. Large, indigenous, accessible base load power resource — 14,000,000 EJ of stored thermal energy accessible with today’s technologies. Key point — extractable amount of energy that could be recovered is not limited by resource size or availability
2. Fits portfolio of sustainable renewable energy options — EGS complements the existing portfolio and does not hamper the growth of solar, biomass, and wind in their most appropriate domains.
3. Scalable and environmentally friendly — EGS plants have small foot prints and low emissions — carbon-free and their modularity makes them easily scalable from large size plants.
4. Technically feasible — Major elements of the technology to capture and extract EGS are in place. Key remaining issue is to establish inter-well connectivity at commercial production rates — only a factor of 2 to 3 greater than current levels.
5. Economically favorable — projections favorable for high grade areas now with a credible learning path to provide competitive energy from mid- and low-grade resources
6. Deployment costs modest — an investment of $200-400 million over 15 years would demonstrate EGS technology at a commercial scale at several US field sites to reduce risks for private investment and enable the development of 100,000 MWe.
7. Supporting research costs reasonable — about $40 million/yr needed for 15 years — low in comparison to what other large impact US alternative energy programs will need to have the same impact on supply.

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Report: Geothermal industry in the U.S. remains up-beat for future expansion

From Business Wire...

"Geothermal heat is a significant provider of energy in a small number of countries, all located in regions subject to earthquakes and volcanoes. This report provides an excellent introduction and understanding of the three technologies for exploiting geothermal energy: 1) power generation, 2) ground source heat pumps, and 3) direct use."

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Editor's Note: The Research and Markets report does not include innovations such as Geothermal Canal that make power production possible in a wider range of geological settings.

West Coast Geothermal Finance and Development Workshop

May 10, 2007 ~ San Francisco

"Leading finance, development, and energy experts will share their knowledge at the first annual West Coast Geothermal Energy Development and Finance Workshop. The event will take place May 10, 2007 at the Hyatt Regency San Francisco..."

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Geothermal power plants could also consume CO2

From NewScientist.com...

Pumping carbon dioxide through hot rocks

"Pumping carbon dioxide through hot rocks could simultaneously generate power and mop up the greenhouse gases produced by fossil fuel power stations, according to a new study....Karsten Pruess, a hydro-geologist at Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory in the U.S., carried out the study and says carbon dioxide could theoretically boost the amount of energy produced by hydrothermal plants by 50% or more. At the same time, Pruess calculates that the technique could be used to dispose of the carbon dioxide produced by conventional power plants, which contribute to global warming."

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U.S. military leads renewable charge

According to Montara Energy Ventures, the Coso geothermal installation on the China Lake Naval Station in southern California is an example of a common pattern:

"The U.S. military is actually leading the way in the installation and use of renewable energy. The military has large chunks of space with renewable resources available coupled with enormous utility bills. This combination leads the military to the obvious conclusion that using the renewable resources will free up dollars for use elsewhere...

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U.S. Geothermal wins Idaho Power bid

From RenewableEnergyAccess.com...

"U.S. Geothermal Inc. has been named as the successful bidder for Idaho Power Company's request for proposals (RFP, which was sent out last August for up to 100 megawatts (MW) geothermal electricity, enabling negotiations for a 25-year power purchase agreement (PPA) between the two companies for an annual average of 45.5 megawatts (MW)...."

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World Bank promotes geothermal energy

From the World Bank...

"The Europe and Central Asia (ECA) - Geothermal Energy Development Program aims to systematically promote the use of geothermal energy in the ECA region by removing barriers to the development of renewable energy."

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Nevada lawmakers hear good news from solar, geothermal power companies

From the Associated Press via the Las Vegas Sun...

"Nevada is making steady progress toward becoming a national leader in solar and geothermal energy, state lawmakers were told Thursday..."

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‘Geothermal’ stocks & mutual funds, specialized searches

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Related Companies

• AMP Resources
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• California Department of Conservation
• Calpine Corporation (CPNLQ)
• Edeco Petroleum Services Limited
• Electric Power Development Co., Ltd
• Enel North America, Inc. (ENA)
• Geothermal Resources Limited (ASX:GHT)
• Green Mountain Energy Company
• Idemitsu Kosan Co., Ltd.
• Kiewit Industrial Co.
• Mitsubishi Power Systems, Inc.
• Nabors Industries Ltd. (NBR)
• Oxbow Corporation
• Polaris Geothermal Inc. (GEO)
• Raser Technologies (RZ)
• Shaw Group (SGR)
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• Sterling Planet, Inc.
• US Geothermal Inc (CVE:GTH)
• WFI Industries Ltd. (WFI)

International firm acquires major geothermal company

From RenewableEnergyAccess.com...

In an acquisition that includes one operating and four advanced stage geothermal development projects in Nevada, California and Utah, Italian-based Enel, through its subsidiary Enel North America, Inc.(ENA) acquired AMP Resources, LLC from AMP Capital Partners....

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Stopping the coal rush

From the Sierra Club/Environmental Law Program...

Coal plants are the dirtiest, most regressive source of energy. —The Sierra Club

The United States is facing "an unprecedented rush to build new coal-fired power plants," according to the Sierra Club. "These plants," the leading environmental group claims, "are poisoning our communities and our wilderness."

The Sierra Club opposes the onrush of new coal-burning plants. Their web page on "Stopping the Coal Rush" shows a map of 83 proposed sites, a portion of the 114 slated for construction.

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Geothermal potential

From the Climate Crisis Coalition: Daily News

New geothermal power projects by 2050 could provide 100,000 megawatts of electricity—enough to power about 80 million US homes, or as much as US nuclear power plants make today, the MIT study said. But US geothermal development will ...

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A step toward inexpensive geothermal energy

From Ohio State University, via Science Daily...

Advocates call it one of the cleanest, sustainable energy resources available. However, steep construction, equipment and drilling costs have prevented more widespread development of geothermal technology. An Ohio University hydrothermal systems expert is working to change that...

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White House seeks to cut geothermal research funds

From Reuters...

The Bush administration wants to eliminate federal support for geothermal power just as many U.S. states are looking to cut greenhouse gas emissions and raise renewable power output. The move has angered scientists who say there is enough hot water underground to meet all U.S. electricity needs without greenhouse gas emissions.

"[Geothermal] is far from a mature technology." —Roy Mink, former geothermal program director at the U.S. Dept. of Energy

The Department of Energy has not requested funds for geothermal research in our fiscal-year 2008 budget," said Christina Kielich, a spokeswoman for the Department of Energy. "Geothermal is a mature technology. Our focus is on breakthrough energy research and development."

The administration of George W. Bush has made renewable energy a priority as it seeks to wean the United States off foreign oil, but it emphasizes use of biofuels like ethanol and biodiesel for vehicles and nuclear research for electricity. In spite of its enormous potential, the geothermal option for the United States has been largely ignored,' a recent study led by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology said.

Last year, the DOE requested no funding for geothermal for the 2007 fiscal year, after funding averaged about $26 million over the previous six years, but Congress restored $5 million. This year, the DOE's $24.3 billion budget request includes a 38 percent federal spending increase for nuclear power, but nothing for geothermal.

Advocates say they hope Congress can restore at least $25 million in funding to keep geothermal research on track...

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Lawyers Say Energy Clients Getting Green

From the Daily Report (legal news and information)...

"RENEWABLE ENERGY makes up only a small fraction of U.S. energy use — 6 percent, according to the most recent figures from the Energy Information Administration — but the buzz over renewables is huge, and the number of renewable deals being done is increasing rapidly..."

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Southern California Edison Once Again the Nation's Leading Renewable Energy Purchaser in 2006

From BusinessWire.com...

In 2006, Southern California Edison (SCE) once again let the nation in renewable energy purchases and deliveries to customers. SCE reports that it delivered 12.6 billion kilowatt-hours (kWh) of renewable energy during 2006...enough to serve 1.8 million homes for the entire year.

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Colorado called the "Saudi Arabia" of geothermal energy

From the Grand Junction Sentinel - Grand Junction,CO

"Colorado is the “Saudi Arabia” of geothermal energy, and Mesa State College is leading the way in exploiting it, Tom Plant, director of [Colorado] Gov. Bill Ritter’s Office of Energy Management and Conservation, said Friday."

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