Alphaxioms Geothermal News and Related Research Globally

image source : AP/ Business Wire A groundbreaking study on the potential of geothermal energy in Texas has been published, drawing attention to the immense promise of this renewable source of energy. Geothermal energy, which harnesses heat from beneath the earth's surface, has been utilized for thousands of years for its therapeutic properties in hot springs. However, until now, the technology to extract this energy on a large scale has been restricted to areas near volcanoes. Researchers from five Texas universities, along with the International Energy Agency and the University Lands office, have found that the new advancements in geothermal energy extraction make it feasible to extract this energy anywhere. The lead author of the study, Ken Wisian of the School of Geo-sciences at the University of Texas Austin, spoke about their findings in an interview. Wisian cited three key factors that have made geothermal energy a more viable option: improvements in drilling speed and effici...

image source: (unsplash.com, Grad Prismatic Spring Geyser Tourism Pictures by James Lee) The U.S. Department of Energy has unveiled a new study that highlights the limitless potential of Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS) as a widely adopted source of renewable energy in the country. Commissioned by the DOE's National Renewable Energy Laboratory, the study reveals that the goal of reducing EGS costs by 90% to $45 per megawatt-hour by 2035 is ambitious yet attainable with the advancement of technology. The Enhanced Geothermal Shot, an endeavor to unlock the Earth's seemingly infinite heat resources, seeks to provide a reliable, clean source of power for American communities and stimulate the growth of the domestic geothermal industry. With over five terawatts of heat resources in the United States, equivalent to the energy needs of the entire world, the study estimates that the country could harness enough of these resources to power more than 65 million homes. "The United S...

image source: (unsplash.com, Aldrin Rachman Pradana Indonesia East Sara Malang City) Indonesia's Pertamina Geothermal Energy, a subsidiary of the state energy company Pertamina, has refined the expected price range for its highly-anticipated initial public offering (IPO). The range, now set between 875 to 880 rupiah per share, values the IPO at a staggering 9.11 trillion rupiah (approximately $611 million), marking the largest such offering in Indonesia in almost a year, following the record-breaking $1.1 billion listing of technology firm, GoTo, in April. This latest development sees the price range significantly narrowed from the initial 820 to 945 rupiah range outlined in the prospectus just three days prior. Pertamina Geothermal aims to double its geothermal capacity by 2027-2028, a feat that may cost an estimated $4 billion. As Indonesia, Southeast Asia's largest economy, seeks to reduce carbon emissions and cut energy imports, tapping into its geothermal resources is beco...

Dukovany has four reactors (Image: ČEZ) Czech utility company, ČEZ, has declared its intention to invest over CZK2.3 billion ($105 million) into the Dukovany Nuclear Power Plant, with the primary goal of ensuring its "safe and reliable operation" until at least 2047. The investment is a half a billion crowns more than the previous year. Bohdan Zronek, a member of ČEZ's board of directors, emphasized the significance of nuclear energy as a zero-emission resource and stated that the investments are aimed at ensuring Dukovany's safe operation for the next six decades, regardless of the increase in the volume of work this year. Additionally, the utility company is extending the fuel cycles of the four units at Dukovany by four months, from the current 12-month cycles, which is expected to increase efficiency as fewer fuel replacements will be required. The most challenging project, according to Plant Director Roman Havlín, will be cleaning the steam generators. He explain...

  image source:nasa.blog.gov "Cosmic Pioneers Tackle Monumental Task in Space: NASA and JAXA Astronauts Embark on Epic Spacewalk to Upgrade the International Space Station" Two of the world's most daring space explorers, NASA astronaut Nicole Mann and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronaut Koichi Wakata, have embarked on a mission of celestial significance. At 7:45 a.m. EST, they began a spacewalk to complete the construction of a mounting platform on the 1A power channel, a task that was initiated during a previous spacewalk on January 20th. Their mission is part of a larger effort to augment the power channels of the International Space Station with cutting-edge technology. The astronauts will be installing International Space Station Roll-Out Solar Arrays (iROSAs), state-of-the-art devices that will provide the station with additional power, essential for its ongoing operations. With precision and grace, Mann and Wakata will be relocating and installing an...

KEPCO CEO Seung-il Jeong (left) submits the proposal to Turkey's Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Fatih Dönmez (Image: KEPCO) South Korea's Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO) has submitted a proposal to the Turkish government for the construction of four APR-1400 reactors in northern Turkey. KEPCO CEO Seung-il Jeong and Turkey's Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, Fatih Dönmez, met on January 30 to discuss the project, which KEPCO said will involve a project feasibility study to determine the optimal business promotion plan. KEPCO has a proven track record in delivering successful nuclear power plant projects, having completed construction of four APR1400 reactors in the UAE under a $20 billion deal in 2009. The company is the only operator among the latest nuclear power plants under construction in the West that has met budget and timeline expectations, earning the trust of its customers. Turkey has made great strides in its nuclear program, launching t...

The Mochovce nuclear power plant (Image: Slovenské elektrárne) After years of construction and careful preparation, the new Unit 3 at the Mochovce Nuclear Power Plant in Slovakia has finally come to life! At 10.57pm on January 31, the unit was successfully connected to the grid for the first time, operating at 20% of its full capacity. This momentous event represents a major milestone not just for the company, Slovenské elektrárne, but also for the entire country. The Unit 3 will play a crucial role in supplying cheap electricity to households and contributing to the country's efforts towards reducing greenhouse gas emissions and becoming carbon neutral. The journey to this point has been a long and meticulous one. Tests were carried out at increasing levels of power, starting at 5% and gradually increasing to 20%. The steam turbines were brought to life for the first time over the weekend, spinning up to the nominal speed of 3000 revolutions per minute. The generator, block transf...