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Workshop, group cater to growing interest in geothermal power

One of the greatest challenges to developing geothermal energy—or any renewable resource—is lack of understanding among utilities and the general public. Geopowering the West is chipping away at that obstacle with a series of workshops, most recently the Utah Geothermal Power Generation Workshop in Salt Lake City.

Lack of interest was not the problem, as 40 professionals from utilities, government agencies, municipalities and industry organizations gathered at the Utah Department of Natural Resources, August 17. Event sponsors included Western, American Public Power Association and National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, as well as several geothermal industry groups, research laboratories and resource developers.

The meeting featured an overview of geothermal power, including development, power purchases, comparison to other resources and interconnection and reliability issues. "Our goal was to bring utilities up to date on the technology status, how existing plants operate, power purchasing issues and development opportunities," said Randy Manion, Western's Renewable Resource Program Manager.

Manion serves as the utility outreach coordinator for GPW. The Utah workshop is the fourth such event he has planned with Renewable Energy Consultant Guy Nelson.

Sessions cover many issues

The day-long workshop opened up with a panel to educate utilities on "the pains and pleasures of adding geothermal energy to a portfolio," said Nelson. "Like hydropower, it is a valuable resource as long as it is properly managed. Utilities that haven't been involved with a geothermal plant need that background to get off on the right foot."

Project development was covered in two sessions, one from the developer's viewpoint and one from the utility's. Bruce Levy, senior vice president of business development for energy developer Amp Resources, walked utilities through the development process. "It was Geothermal 101—what development means to the power provider and the six or seven main points of the process," he said.

Those points are the same for developing any energy resource, he stressed, with geology issues being the only difference. "Any utility that has been involved in a development project, whether it was a coal plant or a wind farm, will be familiar with the procedures," said Levy.

Buying geothermal energy from a project is another way for utilities to add the resource to their mix. "Power purchases are critical to development," said Nelson. "Investors often require proof that there is a market for the power before they fund a project."

Randy Ewell, general manager of Mt. Wheeler Power Association, was interested in both developing and buying geothermal power. The eastern Nevada utility buys renewable energy certificates and also had been involved in the Rye Patch geothermal development. "I attended the workshop to catch up on what was happening in the industry and what investment incentives are out there," he said.

New group focuses on utilities' needs

The positive response to this workshop and earlier ones points to a growing interest in geothermal energy. To support utilities in integrating this resource, Western and GPW are creating a Utility Geothermal Working Group. Guy Nelson is executive director of the group, which is being modeled on the Utility Wind Interest Group. "The focus will be strictly on the utilities and the direct benefits of integrating geothermal energy to power providers and their customers," he said.

The group has established headquarters at the University of Nevada Redfield Campus, and members are drafting bylaws and a mission statement. Early efforts will focus on mainstreaming three applications UGWG has identified as most cost-effective: electricity generation, direct use for heating and ground source heat pumps.

Presenting workshops on each of those technologies will be one of the group's first projects. "We'd like to start with generation, in early spring 2006," said Nelson.

"Workshops have been a great way to draw attention to the benefits of the resource," Manion added. "Utilities that said they weren't interested in geothermal energy went on to add it to their portfolios after attending workshops in California."

Creating a forum for dialogue between utilities and the geothermal industry is the central goal of the Utility Geothermal Working Group, Manion noted. "We can't tap the full potential of geothermal energy until we know utilities' needs and concerns," he said.

Understanding, in other words, is a two-way street.

Utilities interested in joining the Utility Geothermal Working Group should contact Guy Nelson at 541-994-4670.