Two firsts in Stillwater: A visit by a head-of-state and a one-of-a-kind power plant

Article by Ed Pearce in KOLO8 news now.

Italian company creates a unique geothermal plant augmented by solar panels to increase the output of the electric turbines. Among the many geothermal facilities in Nevada, this plant is unique. It is a triple hybrid plant that combines geothermal, photovoltaic and thermal power generation. The output of the plant at the moment powers 11,000 homes. However, this can be expanded as can almost all geothermal electrical facilities. A Stanford University article concludes that this integration will increase daytime peak generation significantly.

Perhaps the most interesting aspect of this project is the idea that a geothermal plant is a heat conversion machine. Which means its capacity can be expanded through additional geothermal wells or increased solar arrays.

Developing countries outpace developed world in renewable energy investment

Article in Think Geoenergy translated from El Pais.

"In a recent report published by the United Nations Program for the Environment (UNEP) it is reported that “for the first time in 2015, investments in renewable energy were higher in the developing country than in developed countries”, according to Achim Steiner, Executive Director of UNEP."

Presentation of the UNEP report towards a green economy, that highlights that renewable energy is now being seen as a short cut towards solving energy problems. Contray to what has been said these energies are job creators and strengthen countries economies.

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David Suzuki: Tapping Earth's abundant geothermal energy

David Suzuki's article in the Georgia Straight highlights the enormous potential of geothermal energy especially in BC where hydro dams are twice as expensive to build.

Despite the many benefits of geothermal, Canada is the only “Pacific Ring of Fire” country that doesn’t use it for commercial-scale energy. According to the Desmog Blog: “New Zealand, Indonesia, the Philippines, the United States, and Mexico all have commercial geothermal plants.” More accurately 70 countries around the world use geothermal, and the technology has been used for over 100 years.

What the article does not mention is the technology to extract Lithium and other valuable minerals from the water before it is reinjected has been developed in a number of location. This could mean safe environmentally friendly extraction of minerals, without having to mine for the minerals.

The article also does not expand on how local economies flourish using the hot water by-product from these power plants. In some cases, the hot water is used to heat city apartments, provide hot water for city showers keep sidewalks free of snow, grow bananas in cold climates, heat greenhouses, facilitate local brewing operations, etc.

India Aims to Become 100 Percent Electric Vehicle Nation by 2030: Power Minister

Story from Press Trust India March 26, 2016

The government is working on a scheme to provide electric cars on zero down payment for which people can pay out of their savings on expensive fossil fuels, with the aim of becoming 100 percent electric vehicle nation by 2030.

"India can become the first country of its size which will run 100 per cent of electric vehicles. We are trying to make this programme self financing. We don't need one rupee support from the government. We don't need one rupee investment from the people of India," Power Minister Piyush Goyal said at an event organised by CII Young India.

Mexico Fifth Largest Geothermal Producer in the World

Could Mexico become the a geothermal giant? Article in Bloomberg BNA with audiovisual show by Emily Pickrell. Mexico is looking at opening up their geothermal fields to private investment and partnerships with the state-owned energy companies. They are hoping that geothermal, in the end, will make up 70 percent of Mexicos renewable energy.

Valemount Looks Toward Geothermal to Revitalize their Community

Article from the Rocky Mountain Goat News
McBride and Robson Valley

http://www.therockymountaingoat.com/2016/03/geothermal-gains-momentum-in-community/

“We were down there again today and we’re hitting temperatures in excess of 50 degrees Celsius,” says David Craig, asking if Council could find funding to start a drill program, or anything to get this off the ground. “It would be a great asset to our community.”

“I think it’s wonderful that Council is considering this geothermal thing,” says Elke Germain. “We want our children to come home, we want jobs, we want them back in our community, and that is one way to do it.”

Why Natural Gas is not a Transitional Form of Fossil Fuel

The points made in the video point out the methane leaks from natural gas fracking are 80% worse than CO2 from burning gas. Methane leaks from all wells. Furthermore, over 30 years 50% of all wells leak into ground water. This says nothing of the health issues to people who live near the wells.