Geothermal Energy Association announces 2016 honors for geothermal energy innovation
The Geothermal Energy Association (GEA) recently announced the recipients of its GEA Honors 2016 awards, recognizing innovative leaders in geothermal energy technology advancement, economic development and environmental protection.
The GEA held its 2016 Honor award ceremony on June 7 in Reno, Nevada, during its Baseload Renewable Energy Summit. The organization named three award recipients that exhibited exceptional innovation in economic stewardship, technological advancement and economic development.
Enel Green Power North America, Inc.’s Stillwater Hybrid project won the honor award for environmental stewardship. The project is the first renewable energy facility in the world that combines solar photovoltaic, solar thermal, and medium enthalpy, binary cycle geothermal power. The facility has a generating capacity of more than 61 megawatts.
The University of North Dakota and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) jointly won the honor award for technological advancement for the development of the first commercial facility to create geothermal power from a gas and oil well. The facility became operational in April, and the DOE estimates that it can generate 25 billion barrels of hot water annually.
The third and final honor recipient named was BHE Renewables, winning for economic development. The company’s 10 geothermal facilities at the Salton Sea Known Geothermal Resource Area in Imperial Valley, California, will provide 224 U.S long-term jobs and a tax revenue stream for the area for more than 20 years.
