And the Winner Is...Ormat Buys Geothermal Exploration Rights on Alaskan Volcano
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 09.12.08
photo: USGS
Just a quick update to a post done back in July on the geothermal exploration rights on several Alaskan volcanoes being put on the auction block. Mount Spurr, a snowcapped 11,070 foot tall volcano about 75 miles west of Anchorage was the first one up and Ormat Technologies is the lucky winner.
The Reno, Nevada-based company paid $3.3 million for the right to investigate the geothermal power potential of 15 of the 16 tracts being offered for lease on Mt Spurr, Cleantech reports.
I just love the understatement used by Ormat in talking about their plans:
It Is An Active Volcano...
I just love the understatement used by Ormat in talking about their plans: While the company has said that exploring in an active volcanic region means finding a large geothermal field is more likely, Ormat chairman Lucien Bronicki said, “Alaska is a new frontier in the geothermal arena with many technological and logistical challenges.”
Logistical challenges? Active volcanic region? My fingers are tenting nervously...
Mount Spurr most recently erupted in 1992, but considering that by some estimates up to 25% of Alaska’s energy needs could be met by geothermal power Ormat apparently thinks the risks and potential payoff is worth it.
via : Cleantech
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Ok, there REALLY needs to be a better way of reporting how much of a given location's power needs COULD be supplied by a given source.
Last week we were told that geothermal resources in the US and Australia could supply current power demands for tens of thousands of years. No we're told that Alaska could meet up to 25% of its energy needs through geothermal. Alaska has a population density of 1.2/ square mile (about the same as hunter gatherer societies), as well as active volcanoes (a pretty clear sign of geologic activity). If Alaska can't meet its power needs through geothermal, then how can the rest of the country, with its much higher population density?
I'm also having a little trouble understanding this article. Is it pro geothermal or con? Is there a point to the story at all? Geothermal energy will by it's nature be more easily taped in geologically active areas. Active volcanos are the most geologically active areas.
No offense is intended by this post.
Matt may have left out the most important part of the story.
Ormat Rankine cycle gensets have safely and ably powered the TransAlaska Pipeline system (TAPS) for decades without a problem. Long lived and very efficient, Rankine cycle genset seem to be made for geo-thermal power plants.
Now, all they have to do is string 100s of miles of electrical cable across some of the most difficult terrain on earth, avoid avalanche, ashfall and eagles - the birds land on high power transmission lines and cause disastrous (for the birds) shorts - and produce just about 390 MW and it could replace the natural gas powered Beluga power plant now in use....
Is that cool or what!