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

Fervo Cape Station First Power: EGS Geothermal 24/7 Carbon-Free Baseload

Fervo Energy Achieves First Power at Cape Station: A Bullish Inflection Point for Enhanced Geothermal Systems Fervo Cape Station First Power Validates EGS as Scalable 24/7 Carbon-Free Baseload Fervo Energy’s September 24, 2026 announcement that its Cape Station project in Beaver County, Utah has achieved First Power marks a watershed moment for the geothermal industry and the broader clean-energy investment landscape. This is not just another project milestone,it is the first time anywhere in the world that a greenfield, utility-scale enhanced geothermal systems (EGS) development has synchronized to the grid and begun exporting electricity. The implications are profound: EGS has crossed from promising pilot to commercially proven, repeatable technology capable of delivering firm, 24/7 carbon-free power at gigawatt scale. For investors, developers, utilities, and hyperscale data-center buyers, Cape Station’s First Power is a de-risking event. It signals that Fervo’s oil...

DOE awards $99M to 21 projects to accelerate U.S. geothermal development

By Alphaxioms WASHINGTON , On September 21, 2026, the U.S. Department of Energy announced a targeted investment of more than $99 million to accelerate geothermal deployment across the United States. The funding , awarded to 21 projects , aims to bridge the gap between laboratory promise and field-proven performance by supporting two critical tracks: field-scale enhanced geothermal systems (EGS) tests and exploration drilling for next-generation geothermal resources. At a moment when policymakers and markets seek reliable, on‑demand clean power, the DOE’s package represents both a significant bet on American geothermal innovation and a practical push to lower technical and development risk for future commercial projects. Why this matters now Geothermal energy sits at a strategic intersection of reliability, decarbonization, and grid resilience. Unlike wind and solar, geothermal provides baseload, around-the-clock power , a quality increasingly prized as variable renewables expand. Yet...

"US Geothermal Tax Credits 2026: What the IRA/45Q Changes Mean for Developers"

US Geothermal Tax Credits in 2026: What Is Actually Still Alive After OBBBA For an industry that spent more than a decade building financial models around a stable federal incentive structure, 2026 has been a year of whiplash. The 30% federal geothermal tax credit that developers and homeowners built forecasts around is gone in one form and still alive in another, and even the IRS’s own public guidance has been confusing enough to trigger uncertainty across the market. That confusion is not a minor clerical issue. It is shaping investment decisions, contractor sales pitches, homeowner timelines, and project finance assumptions right now. If you work in geothermal, the key question is no longer whether federal incentives exist, but which incentive applies, to which project type, and under what ownership structure. The law that changed the timeline To understand where things stand in 2026, you have to start with the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, which created a long runway for clean e...

OrPower 22 and Globeleq Add 70 MW to Kenya Grid

OrPower 22 and Globeleq Add 70 MW to Kenya’s Grid Kenya’s geothermal sector has reached another major milestone with the completion of two new power plants at the Menengai geothermal field. Developed by OrPower 22 and Globeleq, the plants add a combined 70 MW to the national grid, reinforcing Kenya’s position as one of the world’s leading geothermal markets. A long-awaited addition The Menengai project has been under development for nearly a decade, making its completion significant not only for the developers but also for Kenya’s wider power system. The two plants now delivering electricity each contribute 35 MW, bringing the total new capacity from the site to 70 MW. This is more than a routine capacity expansion. For Kenya, every major geothermal addition helps reduce reliance on weather-sensitive generation and strengthens the country’s ability to provide stable baseload electricity. Menengai’s arrival also shows that large geothermal developments, while slow to ma...

MB Centuary sells a drilling rig

MB Century sells Rig 32 to Webster Energy Services: what the move means for New Zealand geothermal drilling MB Century and Webster Energy Services have agreed the sale of MB Century’s Drillmec HH350 drilling rig, Rig 32, with completion slated for December 2026 after the rig finishes its current campaign for Tūaropaki Power Company. The transaction signals a strategic shift for MB Century,moving away from direct drilling ownership toward concentrating on engineering, reservoir and technical services,while Webster Energy uses the acquisition to deepen its footprint in the New Zealand geothermal market. This article summarises the deal, then drills into the operational, market and workforce implications for New Zealand’s geothermal sector, the strategic logic for both companies, and what the transaction suggests about capacity, competition and future drilling trends. Deal overview and timeline Parties: MB Century (seller) and Webster Energy Services (buyer). - Asset: Drillmec HH350 rig k...

Superior Energy’s Welltec Deal Boosts Global Geothermal Reach

Superior Energy’s Welltec Deal Signals a Bigger Push Into Intervention, Completions, and Energy Transition Markets Superior Energy Services ’ planned acquisition of Welltec is a strategically important move that expands its robotic well intervention and completions capabilities while widening its international reach. The deal also gives Superior a stronger foothold in geothermal and carbon capture applications, where Welltec already markets its technology. A broader technology platform Superior said Welltec brings proprietary robotic, wireline-conveyed well intervention solutions and metal expandable packer technologies, backed by more than 800 active patents and roughly 1,000 employees. The company’s Well Tractor system and related downhole tools are central to its intervention offering, while its MEP products support zonal isolation and well integrity. That matters because these are not commodity services. They are specialized, high-value technologies that can deepen cus...

DOE Allocates $10.75 Million for University Geothermal Research and Workforce Training

DOE’s $10.75 Million University Push Could Reshape the Geothermal Talent Pipeline Image: Thematic image of a geothermal power plant The U.S. Department of Energy’s Hydrocarbons and Geothermal Energy Office has announced up to $10.75 million for U.S. colleges and universities to support early-stage research and training in subsurface energy development. The program sits inside the University Training and Research framework, and it is designed to strengthen the next generation of energy professionals while advancing research relevant to geothermal, oil and gas, and coal-related subsurface challenges . This announcement matters because it goes beyond a simple grant call. It connects university research, student training, and industry relevance in one funding structure, which is exactly the kind of model geothermal advocates have long argued is needed to accelerate deployment. For the U.S. geothermal sector, the message is clear: talent development is now part of energy infrastruct...

Chiyoda and Sage Geosystems Advance Next-Generation Geothermal Power

Chiyoda and Sage Geosystems Advance Next-Generation Geothermal Chiyoda Corporation and Sage Geosystems have signed a memorandum of understanding to conduct a technical and commercial feasibility study for high-pressure surface facilities tied to Sage’s proprietary enhanced geothermal systems approach. The announcement is an important step for next-generation geothermal because it focuses on the infrastructure needed to turn deep subsurface energy into reliable commercial power. The study is not a full build decision, but it is the kind of engineering work that usually comes before one. It will help determine whether Sage’s pressure-based geothermal concept can be translated into a scalable, bankable power-generation system. What the partnership covers The collaboration centers on the surface equipment required to handle high-temperature, high-pressure fluid produced from wells. Sage will provide key operating inputs, including wellhead pressure, temperature conditions, fluid proper...

Sage Geosystems SMECI Facility Validates Scalable EGS Power Model

Sage Geosystems Places SMECI Facility in Service, Validating a Scalable EGS Model Sage Geosystems has moved a step closer to proving that enhanced geothermal systems can be engineered for repeatable, commercial performance. The company announced that its SMECI facility in South Texas has been placed in service, and the results from more than 120 days of operating data are being presented as a validation point for its proprietary EGS approach. For a sector that has long struggled with subsurface unpredictability, water losses, and limited scalability, that is a meaningful milestone. What makes this announcement stand out is not simply that the facility is operating, but what Sage says the operating campaign demonstrated. The company says the project produced consistent reservoir behavior, low water losses, and performance that matched its predictive modeling. In geothermal development, those are the kinds of results that can move a project from promising to financeable. If the claim...

Global Geothermal Power Market Review 2026.

Global Geothermal Power: Policies, Funding, Wells, Strengths, Opportunities and Barriers Geothermal is moving into a broader investment cycle. In 2026, the story is no longer limited to volcanic power plants in a few classic markets; it now includes enhanced geothermal systems, closed-loop designs, district heating, superhot rock, lithium from brines and industrial heat. Across the United States, Canada, Germany, the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Iceland, France and Italy, the sector is being shaped by a simple question: who is de-risking the first wells, and who is ready to finance the next ones? United States: the next-generation testbed The United States has the broadest geothermal innovation ecosystem in this group, with a mature conventional base in the West and a fast-growing next-generation pipeline. The main policy signal in 2026 is the Department of Energy’s US$171.5 million funding opportunity for next-generation geothermal field-scale tests, exploration...

Quaise Energy’s Project Obsidian in Oregon: The World’s First Commercial Superhot Geothermal Plant

The New Energy Frontier: Quaise Energy’s Superhot Geothermal Gambit in Oregon By Alphaxioms Editorial Team | September 4, 2026 In the high desert of Central Oregon, a project with implications far beyond Deschutes County is taking shape. Quaise Energy, now backed by a total of $280 million in funding, is advancing Project Obsidian, which it describes as the world’s first commercial superhot geothermal power plant . The company says the first phase is designed to deliver 50 MW by 2030, with a pathway toward 250 MW and ultimately more than 1 GW . Before the first megawatt reaches the grid, however, the project faces a local policy test: whether Deschutes County should grant a five-year property tax abatement under Oregon’s Rural Renewable Energy Development Zone Program. That decision is more than a routine incentive request. It is a referendum on how rural counties choose to support next-generation energy infrastructure and whether older incentive frameworks can accommodate a technolog...

Search This Blog

Just In

Sonoma Clean Power secures $20M in state funding to advance California geothermal initiative