Contribution of the UNU/GTP to geothermal development in Central American countries-1978-2008 By Luz Barrios [email protected] El Salvador 30th Anniversary Workshop August 26-27, 2008 Benefits to the CA and Mexico Area- UNU/GTP Fellows CA Countries, energy grows between 3-5% annual one. Free Trade Agreement: Will imply an increment of over 100-200 MW in the installed capacity which now is being replaced by power stations based in oil, coal or gas. CA countries need to look urgently for renewable sources: Geothermal and depend less in a source with volatile energy prices that brings Economic, Political and Social problems as well. For an exploration work in geothermal areas in CA countries the number of specialists required varies from 6 to 8. UNU/GTP Goal UNU/GTP: to assist countries with significant geothermal potential to build up or strengthen groups of technical specialists. The training made available to CA countries and Mexico, by the UN&countries with a long tradition of geothermal energy utilization such as Iceland, has greatly contributed to the growing geothermal energy sources, not only in terms of power generation, but also in terms of sustainable development of domestic renewable resources. Recipients of the fellowship are selected based on the role of geothermal energy within the countries energy plans, the institutional capabilities for geothermal research and utilization in the respective countries and national training needs. UNU/GTP Priority is given to candidates from countries where geothermal exploration and development has been or is currently under way. Feed back from the trainees and their institutions has also contributed to modifications and improvements to the training courses. Areas of Training CA and Mexico Areas of Training in Iceland CA & Mexico 1979-2007 Caribbean Sea Drilling Technology Geothermal utilization Environmental studies Chemistry of thermal Fluids Reservori engineering Borehole geophysics Geophysical exploration Specialized Areas Specialized Borehole geology Geological exploration 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Number of UNU Fellows Total 54 Pacific Ocean Areas of specialization covers most areas of geothermal exploration and development. Some 54 professionals from all five CA countries and Mexico have benefited so far from the UNU/GTP. Areas of Training (%) Reservoir Engineer 24 Chemistry of Thermal Fluids 17 Geological Exploration and Borehole Geology 16 Geophysical exploration and Borehole Geophysics 15 Environmental studies, Geothermal Utilization and Drilling 28 UNU/GTP Fellows 1978-2008 Number of UNU Fellows active in geothermal- Total 42 Guatemala 2 3 El Salvador A high percentage of 12 Fellows have remained Honduras in the geothermal Nicaragua energy industry. 22 Costa Rica 3 0 Mexico Of the 54 UNU/GTP Fellows, some 42 or 78% are still active in the geothermal industry. El Salvador and Costa Rica have the highest retention with 22 and 12 active Fellows. Honduras which has not developed its geothermal resources during the last 28 years, has the smallest number of Fellows with none currently working in the geothermal industry. Two years ago, Honduras submitted 3 concession areas to private companies to explore and develop geothermal resources. It is a start point. Nicaragua started training again geothermal specialists, continuously since 2006. Academic Background UNU/GTP Fellows Academic Background UNU Fellows (CA&Mexico) Active in geothermal (Total 42) 14 12 10 8 6 4 Number Number of Fellows UNU 1979-2007 2 0 Geo lo gis ts Chemis ts Chemical Mechanical Civil Electrical P hys icis ts Arquitect Enviro n Engineers Engineers Engineer Engineer Eng Geologists are the majority (32%) of the 42 currently active UNU/GTP Fellows (concentrate in Costa Rica). An academic foundation in geology proves to be the most versatile preparation to assume a wide variety of roles. The second most prevalent academic background are the mechanical engineers, chemists and chemical engineers. Mechanical and electrical engineers work mainly as reservoir engineers, well logging and plant facilities. Physicists- in the area of geophysics. In general, engineers work in diverse areas such as: Drilling, Geothermal Utilization, Engineering of Geothermal Processes and Environmental Studies. Architects in Geothermal Utilization. Environmental Engineers in Environmental Studies. Quezaltenango Río Samala Zunil Contribution of UNU Fellows GUATEMALA Lago Calderas Quetzal 2. Amatitlán Geothermal Power Plant 4. Totonicapan 20.5 Mwe 1. Zunil I Geothermal Power Plant 24 MWe and 5 MWe in Zunil II 3. Tecuamburro: 40 MWe expected after drilling wells TOTAL INSTALLED: 49.5 Mwe, FUTURE: 40 MWe Tecuamburro Contribution of UNU Fellows Guatemala- INDE (Instituto Nacional de Electricidad) • Chemistry of Geothermal Fluids -Head of Restructuring Division INDE. Technical Assistant of the General Manager INDE. Works in a Global Environmental Facility (GEF). It is designed to promote renewable energy such as geothermal by overcoming physical and institutional barriers for investment in the electricity sector. This activity still in in progress with outstanding results. • Borehole Geology-Geology Group and works directly with the new wells drilled at the Zunil areas and Amatitlan: 24 Mwe Zunil I, 5 MWe Zunil II and 20.5 MWe Amatitlan. A total of 49.5 MWe • Reservoir Engineering: Coordinator of Geological Exploration at the Tecuamburro Geothermal Area. Area of concession awarded to ENEL. Hot Springs Las Georginas Zunil Volcano Hot Springs Las Georginas Zunil I and II: Private owned and operated 28 MWe plant. Came on line 1999 and is located at Zunil I. In Zunil II: potential power generation assessed at 40-50 MWe Calderas Lake: South of Amatitlán: Amatitlán Lake Private owned 5 MWe back pressure unit: Amatitlán Caldera, in operation for 3 years. Goal: to install a condensing 25-30 MWe plant. Following geochemical studies from 1995-2000, the áreas of Totonicapán (with IAEA studies), Moyuta, Tecuamburro and San Marcos have been identified as potential targets. EL SALVADOR 1. Ahuachapán Geothermal Field 85 (95 MWe installed) 2. Berlín 3. San Vicente Geothermal Field Geothermal 54+40 MWe Area (60 + 44 + 9.2 Binary Mwe) 4. Chinameca Installed Geothermal Area Contribution of UNU Fellows El Salvador-LAGEO •Laboratory of Chemistry Analysis: Norm ISO/IEC 17025 Obtained its accreditation under the Quality Systema of CONACYT (Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología). •Santa Barbara Drilling Company (3 rigs): Services to CA and South America. •Join venture with SHELL. A hydraulic stimulation of a low permeable well. REG and Lageo project chief were former UNU/GTP Fellows. Activities: Tracer, SP, Pmonitoring, Modern Logging (PTS electronic tools, Microseismic. Application: Permanent Pumping Station (3 pumps) in Ahuachapan and Berlin. •Berlin´s extension project: 44 MWe Power Plant with partner ENEL: UNU/GTP Fellows supplied data base, updated the geothermal and numerical modelling, proposals for location and design of wells. Follow up of construction and operation of new power plant. •Berlin´s bottoming cycle binary power plant with 9.2 MWe installed capacity The extraction of residual heat from the separated water. Contribution of UNU Fellows •Chemical Stimulation: Actively participating in leading and executing this project. More than 40 wells since 2000. More than 40 MWe and 322 kg/s of injection capacity. •Optimization Ahuachapan Geothermal Field. Increment of 15 MWe. Production of 85 MWe from the 95 MWe installed capacity. Drilling new production wells, installing second injection pipeline to Chipilapa area (More than 900 kg/s capacity, Improve efficiency of UII, Changing gathering system. •Exploration project in San Vicente: Drilling well SV1A: High temperature but low permeability, SV2 and SV3: High permeability but low and extremely low temperature. Further drilling exploration close to the heat source of volcano. •Exploration and drilling project in Chinameca. •UNU/GTP Fellows in surface exploration (geol, geoph, geoch) in Nicaragua two concession areas: Hoyo Monte Galán and Managua-Chiltepe. •Drilling in Chile, Nicaragua with Santa Barbara Drilling Company. Contribution of UNU Fellows Mechanical and Chemical Pumping Station Berlin Stimulation Pumping Station Ahuachapán Binary Cycle Power Plant El Salvador- CEL-GESAL-LAGEO TOTAL INSTALLED CAPACITY: 95 MWe +60 MWe and 44 MWe+9.2 MWe=208.2, FUTURE: 54 MWe expected in Chinameca Contribution of UNU Fellows Optimization Ahuachapán Exploration and drilling in Chinameca Berlin Third Unit 44 MWe El Tatio, Chile Contribution of UNU Fellows Contribution of UNU Fellows Nicaragua-INE-Instituto Nicaragüense de Energía Reservoir Engineering: ORMAT Momotombo.The only active UNU/FTP Fellow, worked on well workovers with service provider in chemical stimulations and also in leading the implementation of calcite inhibition system. Project manager (Nic) and Res Eng (Guat). (70->35-24MWe-2008) + Binary PP: 7.5 (10 MWe). Environmental studies: Engineering in Environmental Quality : Universidad Centroamericana en Nicaragua Science, Technology and Environmental Faculty at UCA. Environmental Postgraduate at The International Summer School, Oslo University, Norway . August 2008: Master negree Environmental Assessment and Resource Management. Chemistry of Thermal Fluids: Director of the Geothermal Group and Renewable Energy at University of Leon. Project to transfer geothermal knowledge and skills and coordination of a Geothermal diploma course in cooperation with Lageo S.A. de C.V. studies in low