ALPHAXIOMS Geothermal News & Energy Research

Image source: (Unsplash.com-Zbynek burival) The Kingfisher field, a verdant and bountiful oil reserve located beneath the tranquil waters of Lake Albert in western Uganda, has officially been commissioned for drilling as the country embarks on a $10 billion scheme to develop its oil reserves and construct a colossal pipeline to transport the crude to international markets via an Indian Ocean port in Tanzania. This ambitious endeavor, which has incited the ire of environmental groups, is expected to yield 40,000 barrels of oil per day at its peak and Uganda's first oil is anticipated to flow in 2025, almost two decades after the reserves were first discovered. The Kingfisher field, operated by the state-owned China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC), is part of a larger scheme that aims to tap into the estimated 6.5 billion barrels of crude under the lake, of which about 1.4 billion are recoverable. The reserves are expected to last up to 30 years, with production peaking at ...

The completed outer dome at Zhangzhou unit 1 (Image: CNNC) The outer dome of the containment building of unit 1 of the Zhangzhou nuclear power plant in China's Fujian province has been completed, marking a significant milestone in the construction of this revolutionary power source. The Zhangzhou 1 unit is the first of two Hualong One units being built at the site, and its completion has sparked curiosity and anticipation among industry experts and energy enthusiasts alike. But what exactly is the Hualong One, and what makes it so special? This advanced nuclear reactor design, developed by China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC), is the product of decades of research and development, and is considered to be the most advanced and safest nuclear technology in the world. It boasts a host of cutting-edge features that set it apart from traditional nuclear reactors, including enhanced safety systems, improved fuel efficiency, and a compact design that allows for easy construction and ...

  image source:(unsplash.com-Precious Madubuike) The PUNCH Group, a Belgian-based leader in the design of propulsion and control systems for hybrid and electric vehicles, has been bestowed a generous €40m grant from the European Investment Bank (EIB) to further advance its cutting-edge hydrogen engine technology and hasten the transition to zero-emission transport. This substantial investment will empower the company to enhance the capabilities of its hydrogen engine, enabling it to conduct research, development, and innovation activities at its headquarters in Turin, Italy and Strasbourg, France. Guido Dumarey, the founder, owner, and CEO of the PUNCH Group, remarked on the significance of this funding, stating, "The EIB's support will be a crucial element in realizing our vision of sustainable mobility for all. We aim to expand our technological expertise in the field of electric and hydrogen propulsion, and we believe in the immense potential of hydrogen engines, particular...

image source: (unsplash: zbynek Burival) The United Arab Emirates has appointed Sultan al Jaber, the head of the national oil company ADNOC, as the president for the upcoming COP28 climate summit set to take place in Dubai later this year.  Al Jaber is also the UAE's special envoy on climate change and plays a crucial role in the country's goal of reaching net-zero emissions by 2050, which makes him a highly controversial choice for the role. As the CEO of Abu Dhabi National Oil Co., Al Jaber oversees the pumping of nearly all the crude oil in the UAE, which produces about 3.2 million barrels of oil per day.  However, it should be noted that Al Jaber is also the chairman of the UAE's largest renewable energy company, Masdar, which has the capacity to produce 20 gigawatts of clean power and plans to invest billions of dollars to increase its capacity to 100 gigawatts globally this decade, which is about double the renewable energy that the U.K. can produce today.  The COP2...

(source: VOYGR™ SMR power plant) NuScale Power "A new era of clean energy has officially arrived as the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has issued a groundbreaking rule making that allows utilities to reference NuScale's Small Modular Reactor (SMR) design when applying for a combined license to build and operate a reactor. This is not just any reactor, but an advanced light-water SMR with each power module capable of generating 50 megawatts of emissions-free electricity. But that's not all, NuScale's VOYGR™ SMR power plant can house up to 12 factory-built power modules that are about a third of the size of a large-scale reactor. Imagine a power plant that leverages natural processes, such as convection and gravity, to passively cool the reactor without additional water, power, or even operator action. A true game changer in the energy industry. The NRC accepted NuScale's SMR design certification application back in March 2018 and issued its final technical revi...

Photo Credit: Unsplash.com The movement of water in water bodies, particularly in oceans and rivers, plays a crucial role in the generation of wind energy. The wind is caused by the unequal heating of the Earth's surface, which leads to the creation of pressure gradients that drive air masses to move from high pressure areas to low pressure areas. Water bodies, particularly the oceans, have a significant impact on the Earth's climate and weather patterns, and this in turn affects the wind patterns. The ocean plays a crucial role in generating wind energy because it has a much higher heat capacity than land. As the sun's energy heats the ocean, the water temperature increases, which in turn causes the air above the ocean to also heat up. As the air above the ocean rises, it creates a low pressure area, which leads to the development of wind. The wind then blows towards the land, where it is used to generate electricity through wind turbines. Rivers also play a significant ro...

                                           Sunset  and Sunrise in Geothermal Plants : Photo Credit Ormat Technologies Inc Geothermal energy is a form of renewable energy that is generated by harnessing the heat from the Earth's core. The heat is generated by the decay of radioactive elements in the Earth's crust and is conveyed to the surface through hot water and steam reservoirs. The Sun plays a role in the generation of geothermal energy because it is responsible for the Earth's internal heat. The Sun's energy heats the Earth's surface, which causes water to evaporate and become part of the hydrologic cycle. The water then seeps into the Earth's crust, where it is heated by the Earth's internal heat, and then rises back to the surface as hot water and steam. This process is known as geothermal convection. Additionally, The Sun also plays a role in the potential of the Ea...

DOE seal (Image: @energy-gov) Recommendations come in a new report Transforming the US Department of Energy: Paving the Way to Commercialize Advanced Nuclear Energy Are you curious about the future of advanced nuclear technology and its potential to combat climate change? The Nuclear Innovation Alliance (NIA) has released a groundbreaking report that delves into the role of the US Department of Energy (DOE) in driving the commercialization of these cutting-edge technologies. The report reveals a host of intriguing recommendations for the DOE, including the establishment of an Advanced Nuclear Energy Earthshot to establish the United States as a global leader in the field The non-profit think-tank, NIA, has released a report that highlights the need for the Department of Energy (DOE) to transform itself into a better partner for the emerging advanced nuclear energy industry. The report states that the entrepreneurial culture of the industry is a strength, but it requires a well-suited f...

image source:(Unsplash.com Zbynek burival) The U.S. Department of Energy's National Community Solar Partnership (NCSP) has taken a significant step forward in promoting the deployment of community solar projects that are equitable and exemplify best practices. The Community Power Accelerator™, along with its $10 million prize, aims to leverage $5 billion in private-sector financing commitments to assist community-based organizations and other mission-aligned project developers in securing financing and constructing community solar projects, particularly in disadvantaged and underrepresented communities. This innovative program brings together a diverse group of stakeholders including investors, philanthropic organizations, developers, community-based organizations, and technical experts, all working together to increase the number of equitable community solar projects that are financed and deployed. Developers will receive technical assistance and access to a Learning Lab, which wi...

Photo Credit :Wikipedia  Occidental Petroleum Headquarters Occidental Petroleum Corp. (NYSE: OXY) is securing drilling permits in Colorado with unprecedented regularity, a trend that has the energy giant's CEO envisioning ambitious carbon capture and enhanced oil recovery projects in the state. The Houston-based company, which is Colorado's largest oil and gas producer, may have faced a rare setback in March, but has since grown comfortable enough with the state's stringent regulations to consider Colorado as a key player in the company's low-carbon oil vision, on par with its larger operations in Texas - as long as regulatory predictability can be maintained, according to Occidental CEO Vicki Hollub in an exclusive interview with the Denver Business Journal. Hollub's ambitious vision for the future includes investing in Colorado plants that capture carbon dioxide from the air and use it to enhance oil well production, as well as in new natural gas-burning power pla...

Photo Credit: World Oil WildFire Energy has made a significant acquisition in the Brazos Valley region of its Eagle Ford asset from Chesapeake Energy Corporation.  The acquisition includes approximately 377,000 net acres and 1,350 wells, positioning WildFire as a leading operator in the Eastern Eagle Ford basin with a total of 2,000 gross wells on 600,000 contiguous net acres.  The acreage acquired had an average net daily production of 27,700 boe (85% liquid) during Q3 2022 and as of December 31, 2021, had net proved reserves of 96.8 MMboe. This acquisition is highly synergistic with WildFire's existing assets and the consolidation of 600,000 contiguous acres is transformative for the company. It will drive economies of scale and deliver more high-margin barrels to the advantageous Gulf Coast market.  WildFire Energy is an independent energy platform company formed to acquire and optimize production-weighted oil and gas assets, and is led by CEO Anthony Bahr, President a...