PILGRIM HOT SPRINGS:Moving An Alaska Town from Resupply to Self-reliance
Ethan Berkowitz Project Developer
Nome
Akureyri
Nome Energy Facts
.37/kW
Solving the (Expensive, Imported) Energy Dependence Problem:
• Values and Vision– Energy Self Sufficiency• Goals
– Economic – Affordable Energy – Reduced Utility Bills, Business and Job Development
– Social – Community (fate control), Social Metrics
• Project/Timeline– Resource– Research– Investment– Generation
The Pilgrim Resource
Pilgrim Hot Springs
Nome
Pilgrim Research
Current research builds on efforts undertaken in the 1970s and 1980s
Thermal Imaging
Temperature map of geothermal aquifer from Geoprobe holes (20 to 40 meters)
Drilling Program
Cosmos, August 2008
What we know today
• Location of upflow zone (within ~30 meters)
• Depth to bedrock
• Good estimate of available heat (~20-40 MWth)
• Indication of larger regional geothermal system
Cosmos, August 2008
Next/Current Steps
• Drill one 35 cm (14 inch) diameter hole that will allow us to extract fluid to ‘stress’ the resource and measure response to develop a more accurate reservoir model.
• Pump up to 7500 liters per minute (2000 GPM) (upper limit) for a period of 5-20 days, and discharge at surface.
What We Hope To Do
• Produce at least 2mW of geothermal energy from pilgrim hot springs
• Build a transmission line to Nome• Deliver sustainable, affordable
energy by end of 2014
Acknowledgments(partial list)
Office of Senator Lisa MurkowskiUnited States Department of Energy
Alaska Energy AuthorityCity of Nome/NJUS
Unataaq, llc (Bering Straits Native corporation, Norton Sound Economic Development Association, Sitnasuaq Native Corporation, Kawerak, Mary’s Igloo Native
Corporation, Teller Native Corporation, White Mountain Native Corporation)Nome Chamber of CommerceNaknek Electric Association
Alaska Center for Energy and PowerM-W Drilling
Pilgrim Geothermal, LLC (Potelco)
Questions?
Contact: Ethan [email protected]