Category Archives: Geothermal

Geothermal

Magnetotelluric Measurements in Hawaii

Geothermal is cheap, proven technology and emits no greenhouse gases. It is firm power, which the electric utility needs for 80 percent of its usage. This is where one can get bang for the buck. Cheap electricity can even be used for transportation.

The opposition to geothermal was very successful in stopping geothermal development. But things are changing. Oil prices doubled from $25 per barrel to $50 per barrel, and then doubled again to $100 per barrel – just in the last 11 years. If electricity and water costs double and double again in the next 11 years, our people will not be able to cope. A $300 monthly electricity bill would be toward $600 and then $1200 in 11 years. That is why we need to move to stable, cheap geothermal as fast as we can.

We have lots of catching up to do. Magnetotelluric (MT) measurements have been used in other parts of the world for decades.

Dr. Don Thomas is the process of getting a grant to implement MT techniques for the whole state. We will need to drill “slim holes” to prove the resource. These slim holes are much like water wells.

Even if one were to hit molten lava, the lava would not come back up the hole and shoot into the air!

We may have more geothermal resources than we even know. On our recent trip to the Philippines, we were told that one of that country’s geothermal energy sources is an extinct volcano 100,000 years old. By contrast, Mauna Kea last erupted 4,500 years ago.

We need good information so we can make sound decisions. We do not have much time.

From Wikipedia:

Resistivity and Magnetotellurics

Magnetotellurics (MT) measurements allow detection of resistivity anomalies associated with productive geothermal structures, including faults and the presence of a cap rock, and allow for estimation of geothermal reservoir temperatures at various depths. MT has successfully contributed to the successful mapping and development of geothermal resources around the world since the early 1980s, including in theU.S.A. and countries located on the Pacific Ring of Fire such as Japan, New Zealand, the Philippines, Ecuador, and Peru.

Geological materials are generally poor electrical conductors and have a high resistivity. Hydrothermal fluids in the pores and fractures of the earth, however, increase the conductivity of the subsurface material. This change in conductivity is used to map the subsurface geology and estimate the subsurface material composition. Resistivity measurements are made using a series of probes distributed tens to hundreds of meters apart, to detect the electrical response of the Earth to injection of electrical impulses in order to reconstruct the distribution of electrical resistance in the rocks. Since flowing geothermal waters can be detected as zones of low resistance, it is possible to map geothermal resources using such a technique. However, care must be exercised when interpreting low resistivity zones since they may also be caused by changes in rock type and temperature.  Read the rest

Geothermal, Peak Oil, Philippines

Dispatch from the Philippines: Visited a Geothermal Production Site

I’m still in Ormoc City. We visited the Energy Development Corporation (EDC) geothermal production site the other day. It generates 700 MW in the Ormoc City area. Its five projects range from 50 to 230 MW in this area, and they have other geothermal projects in other areas.

This is a company that knows what it’s doing. They have expertise in steam field geothermal, the kind that would be most applicable in Hawai‘i.

We toured the Tongonan field, which has a plant capacity of 112 MW. It consists of 17 production wells and 7 reinjection wells. Its source is a volcano that last erupted 100,000 years ago.

EDC is impressive because of its years of experience and because of the social and environmental component of its business philosophy. At EDC, they have been doing this as a part of their business model for many years. They work with the surrounding communities in many areas of mutual benefit – from tax credits, to schooling, reforestation, etc. Each of the plants has a nurse on station. They are very safety conscious.

However, I must note Hawai‘i’s standards for hydrogen sulfide emissions are much more stringent than either the Philippines or the Icelandic operations’.

Puhagan geothermal plant

Palinpinon Geothermal power plant in Sitio Nasulo, Brgy. Puhagan, Valencia, Negros Oriental. Photo by Mike Gonzalez (TheCoffee). Licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license. 

The Philippines, which lies alongside the Pacific Ring of Fire, is the second largest geothermal producer in the world. They are actively developing more geothermal there than the 1,400 MW that exists today. Using this stable, low-cost and proven technology resource will pay enormous dividends to its society in the future.

It is clear to see that as the price of oil rises, and they bring more geothermal on line, individual Filipinos will start to see their standard of living rise. If we in Hawai‘i took similar bold steps, our standard of living could also rise.

Geothermal, Peak Oil, Philippines, Renewable Energy Sources

Dispatch from the Philippines: Why We’re Here

I’m in Ormoc City, Philippines right now. I wrote before about Ormoc City:

…which has an economy similar to the Big Island’s. Its population is close to the population of the Big Island. They produce 700MW of geothermal, which they share by cable with other islands. We only produce 30MW.

The mayor wants to see how they do it. Since “if they can do it, we can do it.”  Read the rest here

 

Ormoc City and the Big Island are now “Sister Cities,” and it’s fascinating to talk with the folks that were instrumental in developing that Sister City relationship.

Ormoc CityIt started when Council Person Angel Pilago, his wife Nitta, and Jane Clement met at Lito Ilagan’s house in Kona to discuss the possibility of forming a Sister City relationship between the Big Island and a city in the Philippines.

From that small get-together, the idea took off. They explored several criteria of compatibility and found several prime candidates.

As the idea started moving forward, Council Person Brittany Smart asked if it was possible to focus on renewable energy. Lito and Jane did some research and came up with Ormoc City as a candidate. Jane checked its website and called the Mayor of Ormoc City, who picked up the phone. She explained the idea, and the Ormoc City Mayor was interested.

With the Visayan Club of Kona sponsoring them, Lito and Jane asked Hawai‘i County Mayor Billy Kenoi for his support in pursuing this initiative. Mayor Kenoi thought it was a good idea, and that it would be great to have it highlighted at the Asia Pacific Clean Energy Summit and Expo (APCESE).

There were various Sister City proposals coming in from the other counties. But due to the hard work of Angel and Nitta Pilago, Lito Ilagan, Jane Clement and the Kona people, this event was the one chosen to be featured at APCESE.

I was there, at the APCESE conference last year, to witness the signing ceremony for the new Sister City affiliation. Randy Kurohara arranged for a group of us meet with some high-level people from the Ormoc City geothermal generating operations. Their safety and dependability record seemed to be very good.

But we needed to see for ourselves.

So the Mayor put together this delegation to do an obligatory reciprocal ceremony and study tour of Ormoc City. Of special interest to me was the fact that Bruce Matthews, Dean of the College of Agriculture of UH Hilo, had been to the Visayas State University and knew about the school’s ag program. He mentioned to me how similar the soils in and around Ormoc City are to the soils of Hamakua.

And, of course, we are here to learn everything we can about how Ormoc City lives with and benefits from geothermal. For a $30,000 investment in this trip to the Phillipines, the county of Hawai‘i is getting great bang for its buck.

Stay tuned for more Dispatches from the Philippines coming soon.

Geothermal, Government, Peak Oil

Price of Oil Stayed the Same for 100 Years, Then Started Doubling Every 5 Years

Except for some spikes in the 70s and 80s, oil cost less than $20 per barrel for a hundred years. Until 2000.

In the year 2000, the price of oil averaged $25 per barrel. And then for 11 years, the price of oil increased an average of 13.5 percent every year. There were peaks and troughs along the way, but 13.5 percent was the average yearly increase during that period of time.

In 2011, it averaged $100 per barrel.

This means that the price of oil doubled every 5.5 years. (Here’s a shorthand way to calculate doubling time: Take the growth rate and divide that into 70. In this case, divide 70 by 13.5 percent and you get approximately 5.5 years.)

Demand is exceeding supply. Something has changed fundamentally, and we here in Hawai‘i need to pay close attention to it.

It’s why Mayor Kenoi is taking a delegation to Ormoc City, Philippines. Ormoc City has about the same population size as the Big Island, a similar ag/tourism-based economy, and a university about the same size as UH Hilo.

But they generate 700 MW of geothermal energy, compared to the Big Island’s 30 MW. The Mayor wants to see for himself, and understand what the risks and potential for reward are for the Big Island.

Biofuel, Geothermal, Government

Should Farmers Grow Biofuels Instead of Food?

Should farmers grow biofuels instead of food?

This is a fundamental question that our society will need to answer. How much do we value food production?

When farmers look at rising and uncontrolled oil prices, and are not able to raise their prices to keep up, the message they get is that our society does not, fundamentally, value farmers.

One thing that can help our farmers is geothermal – because it is cheap and its price is stable. Having cheap electricity bills would mean that the people who are the farmers’ customers will have discretionary income, which they can then use to help support farmers.

Every day I talk to many people who are very fearful about rising electricity and gas prices.

Mayor Billy Kenoi has thrown down the gauntlet. He is saying: “We have geothermal; why aren’t we using it?”

I agree with the mayor. Geothermal can help the folks that are on the verge of having their lights turned off. It’s truly about the effect on real people.

Screen shot 2012-03-02 at 10.20.49 PM

 

Geothermal, Government, Renewable Energy Sources

Mayor Kenoi Asks Why We Aren’t Using Our Geothermal Resource Better

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Hawai‘i Island Mayor Billy Kenoi addressed the Kona-Kohala Chamber of Commerce the other day. He asked, “If we have the most productive geothermal in the world, how come we are not using it?”

Screen shot 2012-02-29 at 8.56.35 AM

The Mayor is serious! He is organizing a trip to Ormoc City, Philippines, which has an economy similar to the Big Island’s. Its populationis close to the population of the Big Island.  They produce 700MW of geothermal, which they share by cable with other islands. We only produce 30MW.

The mayor wants to see how they do it. Since “if they can do it, we can do it.” Mayor Kenoi understands energy issues very well.

People do not say that 100 percent renewable is a dumb idea, but some say it can’t be done. I agree with the Mayor – it can be done, and it will be done. Not no can. CAN!

And the beneficiary of cheap, proven-technology, environmentally benign geothermal electricity will be all the folks and businesses here who are struggling to make ends meet. Perhaps we will see jobs develop that keep our children from leaving Hawai‘i.

Right now, there are more Hawaiians living outside of the state than in the state. What’s wrong with that picture?

From a West Hawaii Today article:

How, Kenoi then asked the crowd, can the island have the most productive geothermal hotspot in the world and not use it?

“It’s not intermittent,” he said. “It’s cheap, renewable, clean power. How can we not have this opportunity to encourage investment and fully develop the island of Hawaii as a 100 percent renewable energy island?”

He said with excess geothermal electricity, “we can have hydrogen to power buses.”

On both the renewable energy issue and keeping Kona’s international airport designation, Kenoi said he is also working with Sen. Daniel Inouye’s office, seeking federal assistance….

Geothermal, Peak Oil, Renewable Energy Sources

How to Predict What Your Life Will Look Like in the Future

For about 100 years (except for a few spikes in the 70s and 80s), oil cost about $20/barrel. One hundred years!

What’s happened to the price of oil lately is significant. And since oil is a finite resource, the price will likely keep on rising.

Screen shot 2012-02-09 at 11.25.25 PM

In 2002, everything was fine. And then in 2003, 2004, 2005 parents started telling their kids: “Hey, go turn off the lights.”

If the price of oil was just tracking inflation, it would be about $35/barrel right now. Instead, it’s $108/barrel.

We could almost use this type of a graph as a consumer price index for Hawai‘i. If I’d had this information before, I wouldn’t have needed to go to the Peak Oil conference to figure out what was going to happen.

This graph, which I prepared, predicts what your life will be like in the future. You can look at it and see, depending on how closely you’re tied to the electric grid and how much you drive your car, the direction in which your life will go.

We are lucky, though, to have an indigeous resource available to us here in Hawai‘i. Geothermal – which is low-cost, a proven technology and environmentally benign – is a gift that can help take care of all of us.

Biofuel, Geothermal

Why Biofuel at Keahole?

Why would we want to burn expensive biofuels at the Keahole plant on the Big Island? We know that will result in increasing electricity rates.

Biofuel is expensive, unproven technology. You cannot even get a sample of it. It should not be used to make electricity when there are other alternatives. Biofuel should only be used for transportation, where there are no alternatives.

Keahole is the largest-capacity generating plant on the Big Island. Locking in expensive biofuels and fossil fuels there for 20 years means locking out cheap geothermal for the same amount of time.

This will not be good for the rubbah slippah folk.

Biofuel, Geothermal, Renewable Energy Sources

Fascinating Comparison Chart on Energy Solutions

This chart was created by Tom Murphy, who is an Associate Professor of Physics at the University of San Diego. He writes big picture physics analyses of energy solutions.

The chart points out that biofuels, of all sorts, are misspent if they are used for electricity. That’s because there are many ways to make electricity, but there are very few ways to make liquid transportation fuels. Click chart to enlarge.

Energy-score

Notice geothermal. It has the most positive attributes when one considers available hot spots such as we have here on the Big Island.

On top of that, geothermal is a low-cost alternative, says a September 2009 Wall Street Journal blog Environmental Capital. That article asks:

…What price would oil or gas have to be for each technology to be break-even without subsidies, using combined-cycle gas turbines as the low-cost yardstick?

Geothermal is the cheapest: It is competitive with natural gas at $5.16 per million BTUs or oil at $57 a barrel. Nuclear power breaks even at $6.26 and $69.

Traditional, onshore wind power breaks even with gas at $8.33 or oil at $92. Offshore wind still needs a push: It requires gas at $17.14 or oil at $189.

In contrast, solar thermal needs to see natural gas at $35.66 or oil at $393. And good old photovoltaic solar, like the kind on rooftops? Natural gas needs to be at $59.61 or oil at $657 a barrel.