EGS

The process for creating geothermal wells is very similar to that used for extracting oil and gas, at least in the initial phases.

This is the third, and final part of my interview with Richard Zehner, president and director of Caldera Geothermal Inc.

Robert Gluck: Why are U.S Department of Energy grants so important to the geothermal industry?

Despite the recession, U.S. Geothermal energy capacity expanded by a robust six percent in 2009, due to six new geothermal plants which came online, adding 176.68 megawatts (MW) of capacity.

The New York Times has reported that the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) plans to set up more stringent regulations governing enhanced geothermal projects.

According the Geothermal Energy Association, the U.S. geothermal industry's banner year in 2009, is only the beginning of long-term growth.

Enhanced geothermal system (EGS) technology took a huge hit recently when two EGS projects were shut down permanently.

After a long process of application and waiting, four flagship projects have been awarded $128 million (USD) in grants by the Australian Government.

The projects were selected from 61 possible applicants to the Australian Renewable Energy Demonstration Program (REDP), which has been deliberating since last April.

Enhanced geothermal system (EGS) technology has taken another hit, as AltaRock Energy has announced they will indefinitely suspend drilling at their Geysers project in Northern California.

The investigation into a drilling mishap last spring at one of the world’s leading efforts to commercialize enhanced geothermal energy is now complete, and the news is not good.

Enhanced geothermal systems (EGS) could be the Holy Grail of renewable energy sources.