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Monday, May 26, 2008
Method to Identify New Sources of Geothermal Energy Discovered
The field of geothermal energy is hotting up, to use a pun! And it is interesting to know that there could be new sources of geothermal energy.
Currently, most developed geothermal energy comes from regions of volcanic activity, such as The Geysers in Northern California. A team of geochemists have come up with a tool that can point to geothermal energy clusters that are far removed from the volcanic regions. This could mean that the world could derive far more energy from the geothermal source that it is doing currently.
In a survey of the northern Basin and Range province of the western United States, geochemists Mack Kennedy of the Department of Energy's Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and Matthijs van Soest of Arizona State University have discovered a new tool for identifying potential geothermal energy resources. The potential resources identified arise not from volcanism but from the flow of surface fluids through deep fractures that penetrate the earth's lower crust, in regions far from current or recent volcanic activity.
Kennedy and van Soest made their discovery by comparing the ratios of helium isotopes in samples. Helium-three is made only in stars, and Earth's mantle retains a high proportion of primordial helium-three left over from the formation of the solar system. Earth's crust, on the other hand, is rich in radioactive elements that decay by emitting alpha particles, which are helium-four nuclei. Thus a high ratio of helium-three to helium-four in a fluid sample indicates that much of the fluid came from the mantle.
High helium ratios are common in active volcanic regions. But when Kennedy and van Soest found high ratios in places far from volcanism, they knew that mantle fluids must be penetrating the ductile boundary by other means.
Accessible geothermal energy in the United States, excluding Alaska and Hawaii, has been estimated at 9 x 1016 (90 quadrillion) kilowatt-hours, 3,000 times more than the country's total annual energy consumption! Determining helium ratios from surface measurements is a practical way to locate some of the most promising new resources. The tool developed by the geochemists could help figure out other areas in the United States that could be sources of geothermal energy. Depending on future successes with their tool, this could turn out to be a very important finding indeed.
Source: Physorg
Currently, most developed geothermal energy comes from regions of volcanic activity, such as The Geysers in Northern California. A team of geochemists have come up with a tool that can point to geothermal energy clusters that are far removed from the volcanic regions. This could mean that the world could derive far more energy from the geothermal source that it is doing currently.
In a survey of the northern Basin and Range province of the western United States, geochemists Mack Kennedy of the Department of Energy's Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and Matthijs van Soest of Arizona State University have discovered a new tool for identifying potential geothermal energy resources. The potential resources identified arise not from volcanism but from the flow of surface fluids through deep fractures that penetrate the earth's lower crust, in regions far from current or recent volcanic activity.
Kennedy and van Soest made their discovery by comparing the ratios of helium isotopes in samples. Helium-three is made only in stars, and Earth's mantle retains a high proportion of primordial helium-three left over from the formation of the solar system. Earth's crust, on the other hand, is rich in radioactive elements that decay by emitting alpha particles, which are helium-four nuclei. Thus a high ratio of helium-three to helium-four in a fluid sample indicates that much of the fluid came from the mantle.
High helium ratios are common in active volcanic regions. But when Kennedy and van Soest found high ratios in places far from volcanism, they knew that mantle fluids must be penetrating the ductile boundary by other means.
Accessible geothermal energy in the United States, excluding Alaska and Hawaii, has been estimated at 9 x 1016 (90 quadrillion) kilowatt-hours, 3,000 times more than the country's total annual energy consumption! Determining helium ratios from surface measurements is a practical way to locate some of the most promising new resources. The tool developed by the geochemists could help figure out other areas in the United States that could be sources of geothermal energy. Depending on future successes with their tool, this could turn out to be a very important finding indeed.
Source: Physorg
Labels: geothermal
PermaLink - Method to Identify New Sources of Geothermal Energy Discovered posted by Ecacofonix : 4:21 AM
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Google's Next Investment is in...Geothermal Energy
Trust Google to spring really cool surprises (make that warm surprises in this case).
According to reports, Google is in discussions with Israeli geothermal company Ormat Technologies, a relationship that could lead to an investment. The Israeli newspaper Haaretz quoted an interview this past weekend with Google co-founder Sergey Brin, who praised Ormat and the other Israeli companies working in alternative energy. Google co-founder Larry Page also visited an Ormat geothermal plant in Nevada, the newspaper reported.
Google's philanthropic arm, Google.org, has pledged to invest hundreds of millions of dollars in clean-energy companies.
Via: CNET
According to reports, Google is in discussions with Israeli geothermal company Ormat Technologies, a relationship that could lead to an investment. The Israeli newspaper Haaretz quoted an interview this past weekend with Google co-founder Sergey Brin, who praised Ormat and the other Israeli companies working in alternative energy. Google co-founder Larry Page also visited an Ormat geothermal plant in Nevada, the newspaper reported.
Google's philanthropic arm, Google.org, has pledged to invest hundreds of millions of dollars in clean-energy companies.
Via: CNET
Labels: geothermal
PermaLink - Google's Next Investment is in...Geothermal Energy posted by Ecacofonix : 4:10 AM
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Monday, March 26, 2007
Benefits of geothermal power eyed in Japan
Benefits of geothermal power eyed in Japan
Shigeyuki Koide / Yomiuri Shimbun Senior Writer
Geothermal energy, which is generated from the Earth's internal heat, is again attracting attention in Japan and elsewhere. An advisory panel to the economy, trade and industry minister in Japan that has been studying energy resources last month compiled a report calling for an expansion in the use of geothermal power.
Following a number of oil shocks, geothermal power generation rapidly grew in importance in Japan. By the mid-1990s, facilities capable of generating up to 530,000 kilowatts in geothermal power were built at 18 locations, mainly in the Kyushu and Tohoku regions. But as circumstances changed, such as a fall in crude oil prices, the focus on geothermal power decreased...
Read the full article from here @ Daily Yomiuri Online
Shigeyuki Koide / Yomiuri Shimbun Senior Writer
Geothermal energy, which is generated from the Earth's internal heat, is again attracting attention in Japan and elsewhere. An advisory panel to the economy, trade and industry minister in Japan that has been studying energy resources last month compiled a report calling for an expansion in the use of geothermal power.
Following a number of oil shocks, geothermal power generation rapidly grew in importance in Japan. By the mid-1990s, facilities capable of generating up to 530,000 kilowatts in geothermal power were built at 18 locations, mainly in the Kyushu and Tohoku regions. But as circumstances changed, such as a fall in crude oil prices, the focus on geothermal power decreased...
Read the full article from here @ Daily Yomiuri Online
Labels: geothermal
Geothermal power is hot stuff
Geothermal power is hot stuff
Submitted by Jorge Sosa on March 16, 2007
George and Donna Pavelek love their renewable energy.
Since 2003, the couple have used a geothermal system to heat and cool their home. “I’m not into all this global warming (stuff) or anything,” Donna said. “It just made sense. We’re not radical by any means, just practical.”
Donna said four or five years ago, the cost-versus-payback equation on wind energy didn’t make sense for them. However, they expect their geothermal heating and cooling system to pay for itself in the next two or three years.
Read the full news report from here @ Hutchinson Leader
Submitted by Jorge Sosa on March 16, 2007
George and Donna Pavelek love their renewable energy.
Since 2003, the couple have used a geothermal system to heat and cool their home. “I’m not into all this global warming (stuff) or anything,” Donna said. “It just made sense. We’re not radical by any means, just practical.”
Donna said four or five years ago, the cost-versus-payback equation on wind energy didn’t make sense for them. However, they expect their geothermal heating and cooling system to pay for itself in the next two or three years.
Read the full news report from here @ Hutchinson Leader
Labels: geothermal
Improving Geothermal Plants - Promoting Geothermal Energy
Improving Geothermal Plants - Promoting Geothermal Energy
17 Mar 2007
In the debate over alternative energy resources, geothermal technology has received scant media attention. 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 Dina Lopez is working to change that.
The Pacific "Ring of Fire" provides some of the hottest spots on the planet for geothermal power. Because of this, Central America is a prime building area for geothermal power plants and draws researchers such as Lopez.
Read the full report here @ Tech News
17 Mar 2007
In the debate over alternative energy resources, geothermal technology has received scant media attention. 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 Dina Lopez is working to change that.
The Pacific "Ring of Fire" provides some of the hottest spots on the planet for geothermal power. Because of this, Central America is a prime building area for geothermal power plants and draws researchers such as Lopez.
Read the full report here @ Tech News
Labels: geothermal
PermaLink - Improving Geothermal Plants - Promoting Geothermal Energy posted by Ecacofonix : 2:59 AM
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Making geothermal energy cheaper
Making geothermal energy cheaper
22 March 2007
The US Geothermal Resources Council has awarded the ‘best paper award’ to a study by associate professor Dina Lopez from the Ohio University. She studied silica scaling which tends to clog up geothermal plants.
Lopez hopes the study will help guide efforts to control silica scaling, which may help reducing the maintaining costs of geothermal plants.
Read the full report from here @ Green Prices
22 March 2007
The US Geothermal Resources Council has awarded the ‘best paper award’ to a study by associate professor Dina Lopez from the Ohio University. She studied silica scaling which tends to clog up geothermal plants.
Lopez hopes the study will help guide efforts to control silica scaling, which may help reducing the maintaining costs of geothermal plants.
Read the full report from here @ Green Prices
Labels: geothermal, inventions, research
Geothermal Energy Data, Stats
Geothermal Energy Data, Stats
Geothermal power generation capacity worldwide rose from 7,972.7 MW in 2000 to 8,933 MW in 2005, with 8,035 MW running. This is about 0.2% of the total world installed power generating capacity.
Geothermal power generation capacity worldwide rose from 7,972.7 MW in 2000 to 8,933 MW in 2005, with 8,035 MW running. This is about 0.2% of the total world installed power generating capacity.
Labels: electricity, geothermal
Saturday, March 10, 2007
Geothermal Idea Stalls at Ground Level
Geothermal idea stalls at ground level
By Kay Lazar, Globe Staff | March 1, 2007
Alberta Bennett's determination to blaze a pollution-free path has become an odyssey of Homer-like proportions.
Just as Alberta Bennett is poised to have a geothermal system installed, a new hurdle has sprung up. City officials say this would be their first experience with a geothermal system, and with no regulations in place, they want to proceed carefully before issuing any permits.
Read more from this Boston Globe report
By Kay Lazar, Globe Staff | March 1, 2007
Alberta Bennett's determination to blaze a pollution-free path has become an odyssey of Homer-like proportions.
Just as Alberta Bennett is poised to have a geothermal system installed, a new hurdle has sprung up. City officials say this would be their first experience with a geothermal system, and with no regulations in place, they want to proceed carefully before issuing any permits.
Read more from this Boston Globe report
Labels: geothermal
Advocates Push for Geothermal Energy
Advocates push for geothermal energy
Gazette Washington Bureau
Geothermal resources could provide a significant share of Montana's and the country's energy needs, but only if state and federal policies begin supporting it, advocates of the clean, renewable technology said Thursday.
Karl Gawell, executive director of the Geothermal Energy Association, said the U.S. could triple its geothermal capacity in the next decade but only if research and development funding levels and government incentives put it on a level to compete with other emerging energy technologies.
Read the full news report from Billings Gazette, Mar 2007
Gazette Washington Bureau
Geothermal resources could provide a significant share of Montana's and the country's energy needs, but only if state and federal policies begin supporting it, advocates of the clean, renewable technology said Thursday.
Karl Gawell, executive director of the Geothermal Energy Association, said the U.S. could triple its geothermal capacity in the next decade but only if research and development funding levels and government incentives put it on a level to compete with other emerging energy technologies.
Read the full news report from Billings Gazette, Mar 2007
Labels: geothermal
Canton Votes to Install Geothermal Systems in Schools
Canton Votes to Install Geothermal Systems in Schools
March 7, 2007
Canton, Illinois - The Canton School Board voted to spend $1.8 million on geothermal heating and cooling systems at Eastview and Westview Elementary schools.
The systems will be installed this summer and should be operational at the start of the next school year.
Full news story from here, @ PJStar
March 7, 2007
Canton, Illinois - The Canton School Board voted to spend $1.8 million on geothermal heating and cooling systems at Eastview and Westview Elementary schools.
The systems will be installed this summer and should be operational at the start of the next school year.
Full news story from here, @ PJStar
Labels: geothermal
PermaLink - Canton Votes to Install Geothermal Systems in Schools posted by Ecacofonix : 9:43 AM
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Geothermal Energy Delivering Big Savings - Case Study
Geothermal energy delivering big savings
Ground-source heating attracts interest despite initial costs
By James Bow - Business Edge
09 Mar 2007
In only two months last year, Eric Lange's company, Lange Transportation and Storage Ltd. found $12,000 in energy savings beneath his company's 70,000-sq.-ft. Mississauga warehouse after installing a geothermal heating & cooling system.
Geothermal energy conjures up images of homes heated by volcanic hot springs in Iceland or Japan, but the system Lange installed, referred to as ground-source heating and cooling, works most places on the planet.
Geothermal power may not be for every building, and initial capital costs are an obstacle.
Read more from this report @ Business Edge Canada
Ground-source heating attracts interest despite initial costs
By James Bow - Business Edge
09 Mar 2007
In only two months last year, Eric Lange's company, Lange Transportation and Storage Ltd. found $12,000 in energy savings beneath his company's 70,000-sq.-ft. Mississauga warehouse after installing a geothermal heating & cooling system.
Geothermal energy conjures up images of homes heated by volcanic hot springs in Iceland or Japan, but the system Lange installed, referred to as ground-source heating and cooling, works most places on the planet.
Geothermal power may not be for every building, and initial capital costs are an obstacle.
Read more from this report @ Business Edge Canada
Labels: costs, geothermal
PermaLink - Geothermal Energy Delivering Big Savings - Case Study posted by Ecacofonix : 9:27 AM
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