Global geothermal production to increase 50% by 2010

General NEWS

Global geothermal production to increase 50% by 2010 Geothermal power will double its

mal and the "outlook for future

power plant resulting from a

Other highlights of 2005

growth that was predicted last

growth is surging," says Karl

state Renewable Portfolio

include testing and evaluation

year, and will grow 50% around

Gawell of GEA. The U.S. has a

Standard commissioned in

of Canada's first geothermal

the world by 2010, according to

near-term potential of 5,600

Nevada last year.

project which, if positive,

the industry trade group. Current

MW of new capacity, according

The U.S. has been the global

means Canada would become

global electric capacity is 8,900

to recent analyses produced for

leader in geothermal power, but

the 25th country to produce

MW and, last March, the

the Western Governors'

its prominence faced serious

geothermal power. In Germany,

International Geothermal

Association, with prospects for

challenges in 2005, the group

a deep-well geothermal facility

Association projected that geot-

new power identified in Alaska,

notes. The Philippines generates

is developing 3.4 MW of

hermal would grow to 10,700

Arizona, California, Colorado,

20% of its electricity from 1,500

capacity near Munich, and ini-

MW by 2010. Those projections

Hawaii, Idaho, Nevada, New

MW of geothermal facilities, but

tial drilling indicates there is

"may already be out-of-date,"

Mexico, Oregon, Utah and

that country will add 500 to

potential for geothermal from

explains the Geothermal Energy

Washington states.

700 MW of capacity within the

deep resources in areas outside

Association, with recent develop-

Geothermal power currently is

next four years and has set a

major geothermal zones of the

ments indicating that 13,500

generated only in four western

target of 10,000 MW from

world. Several new geothermal

MW should be on-line by that

states but, with continued fed-

geothermal. Indonesia has 800

plants are also under construc-

time, "representing nearly 50%

eral and state support, that level

MW of geothermal capacity, but

tion around the world in

growth in geothermal power

could triple by 2010, and the

government will increase pro-

Iceland, Iran, New Zealand,

production worldwide."

U.S. is seeing its first wave of

duction to 2,000 MW by 2009

Nicaragua, Djibouti, Ethiopia,

Last year, 15 countries expanded

new geothermal development in

and possibly to 6,000 MW by

Uganda, and Kenya.

their production from geother-

a decade, with the first new

2020.

http://geo-energy.org

Europe plans to increase biomass energy use The European Commission has

increase the use of biomass

2006. For green fuels used in

to 150 Mtoe by 2010, com-

adopted a plan to increase the

energy from forestry, agriculture

transportation, the measures

pared with 69 Mtoe in 2003,

use of biomass in green power,

and waste materials, and it

involve an obligation to require

without increasing the intensity

green fuels and green heat. The

includes more than 20 actions

suppliers to include a minimum

of agriculture or significantly

detailed action plan will

to be implemented starting in

percentage of biofuels in con-

affecting domestic food produc-

ventional fuel on the market.

tion, says the report. This will

"This plan will reduce Europe's

reduce GHG emissions by 209

dependence on imported ener-

Mt per year; provide 300,000

gy, cut GHG emissions, protect

direct jobs and reduce reliance

jobs in rural areas and extend

on imported energy to 42%

the EU's technological leader-

from the current 48%. The EU

ship in these sectors," says the

wants renewable energy to pro-

EU energy commissioner Andris

vide 12% of the continent's

Piebalgs of Latvia. "The meas-

energy mix by 2010, but that

ures in favour of transport bio-

goal is viewed as unlikely to be

fuels, in particular, are a practi-

reached. Renewable energy

cal response to the problem of

likely will contribute 9% to

high oil prices."

10% by that period, which offi-

The EC also adopted a report

cials used as the rationale for a

on different support schemes

plan at this time. High oil

for green power, which con-

prices are a reason for increas-

cluded that governments must

ing the use of biofuel in trans-

accelerate efforts to cooperate

portation, and the EU wants

and optimize their support pro-

biofuels to contribute a share of

grams while also removing

5.75% of the gasoline market

administrative and grid barriers

of the 25-nation community by

for electricity from renewable

2010. The current market share

energy sources. The measures

is 0.8%.

will increase the use of biomass

http://europa.eu.int

News in BRIEF EWEA CEO to leave The Chief Executive Officer of the European Wind Energy Association, Corin Millais, is leaving his position at the end of February 2006 to become Executive Director of the newlyestablished Climate Institute in Sydney, Australia. The Institute has been set up with A$10 million of funding from a philanthropic group to develop and implement a five-year campaign to persuade Australians of the dangers of climate change and the need for governments to take urgent action. www.ewea.org

Vestas to establish nacelle and hub factory in China The Vestas Group has decided to establish a combined factory

6 reFOCUS

for assembly of nacelles and hubs in Tianjin in China. The factory will be built in connection with the blade factory which is already under establishment in TEDA (Tianjin Economic-Technological Development Area), where Vestas previously has bought land. The factory, which will employ approximately 225 people, will commence as soon as possible, and Vestas expects to deliver the first V80-2.0 MW nacelles and hubs from the factory during the first half of 2007. The factory will have an annual production capacity of approximately 350 nacelles and hubs. Vestas' investment in the factory totals approximately EUR 19m. www.vestas.com

January/February 2006

www.re-focus.net