News & Articles on Geothermal Energy
Geothermal is the ugly duckling of renewable energy and is often overlooked in preference to wind and solar. However, comprehensive renewable energy policy should include provisions for geothermal energy. In some regions, especially around the Ring of Fire, geothermal is a major source of renewably-generated electricity. Today, geothermal power plants supply 4% of California’s electricity consumption. It can do much more.
Small-scale ORC supplier ElectaTherm exceeds one million hours of cumulative fleet runtime
By
Alexander Richter
ElectraTherm utilizes Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) and proprietary technologies to generate up to 110kWe of electricity from low temperature water ranging from 77-122°C.
Switzerland announces higher feed-in-tariffs for geothermal power generation
By
Alexander Richter
New feed-in-tariffs for hydro-thermal and petro-thermal geothermal have been put forward that would lift maximum tariffs from up to $0.48 to $0.54/ kWh for plants sized 5 MW and below with lower values for installations of larger sizes.
Kenya considering auction system to replace feed-in-tariffs
By
Alexander Richter
Kenya is considering replacing its current feed-in-tariff system with an auction-based system in efforts to drive down electricity tariffs in the country. Auction systems have proven to favour price over base-load capacity, not favourable for geothermal energy.
Turkish Turcas Petrol plans doubling of its geothermal capacity in Turkey
By
Alexander Richter
Turcas Petrol wants to double its geothermal power generation capacity in the coming years and is asking for continued government support through either the FIT or another incentive program for the geothermal sector.
Geothermal development in Japan kept alive by small-scale projects
By
Alexander Richter
With continued opposition to larger-scale geothermal projects, developer of small-scale projects of around 100 kW show that development is possible and successful, as cases in Beppu, Oita Prefecture show.
Japan’s METI plans adaptations on required geothermal environmental impact studies
By
Alexander Richter
Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) is planning changes on requirements for environmental impact assessments for geothermal projects in efforts to help further growth of geothermal development in the country.
Taiwan increases feed-in-tariff for geothermal power to $0.206/ kWh
By
Alexander Richter
In order to accelerate geothermal development, the Ministry of Economic Affairs has increased the feed-in tariff to NT$6.1710 ($0.206/ kWh) from the proposed NT$5.6447 ($0.188/ kWh) for the first 10 years of the installations’ subsidiary period, it said, adding that the new tariff aims to help operators reduce their initial risk.
Geothermal Power Generation: Developments and Innovation–a Review
By
Paul Gipe
Geothermal energy is one of the dark horses of renewable energy. Few “renewable energy advocates” know much—if anything—about it. They don’t know what geothermal contributes today and have no clue what its role could be in a 100% renewable energy future. This is a grave mistake.
Taiwan sets tentative 2018 feed-in-tariff for geothermal and other renewables
By
Alexander Richter
Taiwan has set its tentative renewable energy feed-in-tariffs lowering it for all technologies apart from geothermal, which was increased by 5% to TWD 5.1956/ kWh, about USD 0.17224/ kWh.
Investment into geothermal development to Turkey to double until 2020
By
Alexander Richter
Today, Turkey is the seventh largest country when it comes to installed geothermal power generation capacity and has over the past five years increased its capacity by 50% each year.
