Ormat gets PPA for Hawaiian Puna Geothermal Increased Capacity

Ormat gets PPA for Expanded Geothermal Capacity at Puna, Hawaii

Ormat Technologies, a leading renewable energy company, has achieved a significant milestone in its mission to provide clean and sustainable power to Hawaii's Big Island. Recently, the Hawai’i Public Utilities Commission (HPUC) granted approval for amendments to the Power Purchase Agreement (PPA), enabling Ormat's subsidiary, Puna Geothermal Venture (PGV), to deliver an additional 8 MW of geothermal energy to the region. This expansion brings the total geothermal capacity at Puna to 46 MW, reinforcing Hawaii's commitment to renewable energy initiatives.

The approval from HPUC comes on the heels of the successful completion of the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for PGV's operations in Puna, underscoring the company's dedication to environmental stewardship and compliance with regulatory standards.

One of the key highlights of the newly revised PPA is the consolidation of two existing agreements into one, extending the contract term through 2052. This move provides stability and predictability for both PGV and Hawaiian Electric, with fixed energy rates guaranteed irrespective of fluctuations in oil prices. Such assurances ensure a steady revenue stream for PGV while offering ratepayers consistent energy costs over the duration of the contract.

As part of the agreement, older generation units will be retired and replaced with three advanced and efficient generating units from Ormat. These state-of-the-art units are poised to enhance operational efficiency and reliability, with a projected operational timeline of three years post-HPUC approval.

Doron Blachar, CEO of Ormat Technologies, expressed satisfaction with the extended partnership with Hawaiian Electric, affirming Ormat's commitment to supporting Hawaii's clean energy goals. He emphasized the importance of clean energy and stated, “Ormat is pleased to extend and expand our partnership with Hawaiian Electric and continue demonstrating our ability to support the state’s energy needs."

Jim Alberts, senior vice president and chief operations officer of Hawaiian Electric, underscored the significance of PGV's role in providing firm power for over three decades. He highlighted the positive impact of the new contract on lowering and stabilizing rates for customers while reducing reliance on fossil fuels, furthering Hawaii's transition towards a sustainable energy future.

With the amendments to the PPA, PGV reaffirms its dedication to geothermal development in the region, contributing to Hawaii's broader renewable portfolio mandate goals. The expansion of geothermal capacity not only strengthens the state's energy resilience but also underscores its commitment to combating climate change through the adoption of clean and renewable energy solutions.

Ormat's achievement in securing the expanded PPA reflects its continued leadership in the renewable energy sector and its commitment to driving sustainable development in Hawaii and beyond.

Source: Robert Buluma, alphaxioms@gmail.com

Comments

Eavor’s Geretsried Closed-Loop Geothermal Plant Now Powers the Grid

Eavor Technologies Achieves Historic Milestone: World’s First Commercial-Scale Closed-Loop Geothermal System Now Delivering Power in Geretsried, Germany Published: December 2025 By: Robert Buluma The Day Geothermal Changed Forever On a crisp Bavarian morning in late 2025, a quiet revolution in clean energy officially went live. Eavor Technologies Inc ., the Calgary-based pioneer of closed-loop geothermal technology, announced that its flagship commercial project in Geretsried, Germany has begun delivering power to the grid becoming the world’s first utility-scale multilateral closed-loop geothermal system to achieve commercial operation. For anyone who has followed the geothermal sector for the last decade, this is nothing short of seismic (pun intended). What Makes Eavor’s Closed-Loop System Truly Disruptive? Traditional geothermal plants rely on naturally occurring hot water reservoirs or enhanced geothermal systems (EGS) that require hydraulic fracturing and massiv...

Amsterdam Strikes Geothermal Gold: Hot, Thick, Permeable Reservoir Confirmed

Breakthrough Beneath the Beach: Amsterdam Region Hits Geothermal Paydirt at Strandeiland By: Robert Buluma The Netherlands just took a giant leap toward fossil-free heating. On the artificial island of Strandeiland (part of Amsterdam’s fast-growing IJburg district), the SCAN exploration well has officially confirmed what the geothermal community has been hoping for: a thick, hot, and , most importantly permeable reservoir in the Slochteren Formation. Key numbers that matter: Reservoir thickness: 152 meters Bottom-hole temperature: 66 °C Permeability: confirmed via successful production and injection tests That’s not screaming-hot by Icelandic standards, but for direct-use district heating in one of Europe’s densest urban areas, 66 °C is more than enough to supply thousands of homes with clean, baseload heat – forever. Why This Well Changes Everything for the Netherlands The Dutch government launched the SCAN program (Seismic Campaign Nethe...

Exclusive Interview: An In-Depth Look at Exergy’s Game-Changing Gemini Turbine

Exclusive interview with Exergy : discover the new Gemini dual-flow radial outflow turbine, the first single-unit ORC solution for 30–60 MW geothermal projects, offering up to 30 % lower costs and 99 % availability. By: Robert Buluma . An interview with Luca Pozzoni - Deputy CEO | Group CFO - Exergy International and the Exergy Team 1. Can you walk us through the key design innovations in your new Gemini turbine and how it differs from previous models? The major innovation of the Gemini turbine lies in the dual-flow configuration: unlike conventional radial outflow turbines which are equipped with a single bladed overhung rotor disk, the Gemini features a double-side bladed rotor disk mounted in a between-bearing configuration. This enables the efficient processing of significantly larger volumes of fluid, leading to higher power output having basically two radial outflow turbines in a single machine with enhanced operational stability and simplified mainte...

Zanskar’s Big Blind: First Blind Geothermal Discovery in 30 Years

Big Blind: The Geothermal Discovery That Changes Everything By: Robert Buluma Utah startup Zanskar Geothermal quietly dropped one of the most important announcements in American energy in decades. They discovered and confirmed “Big Blind” ,the first completely blind, commercial-grade geothermal system found in the United States in over thirty years. Let that sink in. No hot springs. No fumaroles. No steaming ground. No prior wells. Zero surface expression whatsoever. Just desert, sagebrush, and – 7,000 feet below, a reservoir hot enough and permeable enough to support gigawatt-scale power production. This isn’t incremental progress. This is a paradigm breaker. Why “Blind” Discoveries Matter So Much For the last 40 years, geothermal development in the U.S. has been geographically handcuffed. You could only build plants where nature advertised the resource on the surface – think Yellowstone, The Geysers, or Imperial Valley. Ever...

Karlsruhe’s Geothermal Collapse: A Costly Blow to Germany’s Energy Transition

Karlsruhe’s Geothermal Collapse: A Costly Blow to Germany’s Energy Transition By: Robert Buluma In the heart of Baden-Württemberg, a project that once symbolized ambition, innovation, and the promise of clean geothermal heat has now collapsed quietly. What was meant to become one of Germany’s most transformative regional heating networks has instead turned into a warning sign for Europe’s energy transition. The dissolution of the regional heat association in the Karlsruhe district,made up of ten municipalities,marks a serious setback not only for Germany but for the broader global geothermal movement. This is more than a failed project. It is a lesson in communication, financing, political courage, and the true cost of clean energy. A Vision That Should Have Succeeded The plan was compelling: Harness the deep geothermal power beneath Graben-Neudorf,home to Germany’s hottest geothermal well to deliver CO₂-neutral district heating to communities from Bretten to Bruchsal, Forst, and ...

Hot Nest Norway: Geothermal Luxury Carved Inside a Mountain

Hot Nest Norway: The World’s Most Extraordinary Geothermal Spa Resort is Taking Shape Inside a Mountain By: Robert Buluma Deep in the dramatic Gudbrandsdalen valley in Otta, Norway, something truly groundbreaking (literally) is happening. A former slate quarry is being transformed into Hot Nest Norway – a year-round luxury destination carved directly into the bedrock of the mountain, powered entirely by deep geothermal energy. This isn’t just another spa. It’s a visionary fusion of raw Norwegian nature, cutting-edge renewable energy, and jaw-dropping architecture that looks like it was designed by a collaboration between Tolkien and Tesla. What is Hot Nest Norway? Imagine walking into a mountain and discovering 3,000 m² of luxurious spaces: 20 uniquely designed hotel rooms 700 m² of geothermal-heated indoor and outdoor pools (yes, outdoor pools in the Norwegian winter – steaming at +38 °C while snow falls around you) A fine-dining restaurant cel...

Cornell PhD: Earth & Atmospheric Sciences – Fall 2026 Opportunities

Exciting PhD Opportunities in Earth and Atmospheric Sciences at Cornell University (Fall 2026 Admission) By: Robert Buluma If you’re a prospective graduate student interested in cutting-edge research in climate science, glaciology, physical oceanography, geospace physics, volcanology, or cryosphere processes, Cornell University’s Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences (EAS) just announced a fantastic set of fully funded PhD positions starting in Fall 2026. The department posted a detailed call on LinkedIn (shared widely on X/Twitter by Prof. Matt Pritchard) listing specific projects and the faculty members actively recruiting students right now. These are not generic openings; each professor has described their project and what kind of student they are looking for. Here are the current opportunities (as of early December 2025): 1. Climate Dynamics Professor: Flavio Lehner (flavio.lehner@cornell.edu) Focus: Climate variability with emphasis on how sea-surfa...

🔥 Krafla Magma Testbed: Drilling Into the Earth’s Fiery Heart

Krafla Magma Testbed (KMT) : Humanity’s Bold Leap Into the Heart of the Earth Interview from Bjorn Gudmundsson the C.E.O-Krafla Magma Testbed and Team By: Robert Buluma In 2009, deep beneath Iceland’s iconic Krafla volcano, a drilling team made history. During the IDDP-1 project, their drill bit pierced into magma molten rock at just two kilometers below the surface. What began as an accident became a scientific revelation. For the first time, humans had safely accessed magma. This “Eureka” moment gave birth to an idea so daring it almost sounds like science fiction: the creation of a permanent observatory where magma could be directly studied. That idea became the Krafla Magma Testbed (KMT) a visionary international project that promises to rewrite the future of geothermal science, volcanic monitoring, and sustainable energy. Why Krafla? The Perfect Laboratory Beneath Our Feet Krafla’s geology is unique. It offers a known shallow magma body, decades of research...

Alberta Bets $35 Million on the Future of Drilling: From Smarter Oil Wells to Geothermal and Critical Minerals Breakthroughs

Alberta launches $35-million challenge to reinvent drilling for the next 50 years By Robert Buluma | December 3, 2025 EDMONTON – The days of drilling straight down and hoping for the best are long gone. Today, operators in Western Canada routinely steer multi-kilometre horizontal wells with pinpoint accuracy from a single surface location. Tomorrow’s wells, however, could be guided entirely by artificial intelligence, powered by low-emission rigs, and used to unlock everything from geothermal heat to critical minerals and permanent CO₂ storage. That future just got a $35-million boost. Emissions Reduction Alberta (ERA ) officially opened applications this week for the Drilling Technology Challenge, a funding program designed to bridge the “valley of death” that too often kills promising subsurface innovations before they ever reach the field. “Many great ideas never make it past the prototype stage because the cost and risk of real-world testing are simply...

Potsdam Goes Deep: How an All-Electric Drilling Rig Is Turning the City’s Heating Completely Fossil-Free

Revolutionizing Urban Heating: UGS GmbH's Pioneering Geothermal Project in Potsdam By: Robert Buluma In the heart of Germany’s energy transition, a quiet but powerful revolution is taking place in Potsdam. UGS GmbH, a German subsidiary of the French energy storage specialist Geostock, has begun a landmark geothermal project that could redefine how entire cities stay warm in winter ,without burning a single drop of oil or cubic meter of gas. The project, awarded by the local utility Energie und Wasser Potsdam GmbH (EWP), focuses on the former site of the HKW Süd combined heat and power plant in southern Potsdam. The goal is ambitious: replace the aging gas-fired plant with deep geothermal energy and other renewables, eventually supplying tens of thousands of households with completely CO₂-free district heating. At the center of this transformation stands a piece of machinery that looks like something from the future: UGS’s fully modernized, all-electric drilling rig “Rig 110”. After...

Search This Blog