Geothermal Resources Development and Renewable Energy Strategy in the Azores Islands (Portugal) João Carlos Nunes* Workshop on Geothermal Resources and Technologies Martinique – June.2015 (*) Azores University Assistant Prof. & INOVA Institute Scientific Director jcnunes@uac.pt / jcnunes@inovacores.pt

Mainland G. Silveira et al., 2006 (Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research, 156)

AZORES GEOTHERMAL PROJECT Main tectonic framework of the Azores Triple Juntion S. Miguel Island

Volcanism in The Azores Archipelago Fogo Volcano caldera Volcanism in The Azores Archipelago 27 volcanic systems in the Azores (16 being active) and including: - 16 polygenetic volcanoes: - 11 areas of fissural basaltic s.l. volcanism ... and a total of 1,750 monogenetic volcanoes scoria cones domes tuff cones/rings maars...

…35 thermal springs at S. Miguel, Terceira, Faial, Graciosa and Flores Islands … traditionally used for balneotherapy

1811 – “Banhos da Coroa”, Caldeiras da Rib. Grande (S. Miguel Is.) Termas do Carapacho (Graciosa)

SÃO MIGUEL GEOTHERMAL PROJECT Volcanology Geothermal Field in explotation Volcanological map of São Miguel (Nunes, 2004)

SÃO MIGUEL GEOTHERMAL PROJECT Ribeira Grande Geothermal Field Two geothermal power plants Ponta Delgada Fogo volcanic complex Ribeira Grande geothermal field Sete Cidades Furnas Nordeste Povoação …a total capacity of 23 MWe is installed

SÃO MIGUEL GEOTHERMAL PROJECT Pico Vermelho Pilot Plant 1973-1980: Surface exploration and exploratory drilling of the Ribeira Grande Geothermal Field 1980-2005: Exploitation of the pilot plant Manufacturer: Mitsubishi Nominal capacity: 3 MW Steam consumption: 56 t/h @ 5,1 bar.a Operating results: 84 GWh in 136 k hours (…no re-injection!) Pico Vermelho power plant was operated for 25 years and served as a valuable training school for the technical staff in the operation and maintenance of the wellfield and generation equipment

SÃO MIGUEL GEOTHERMAL PROJECT Pico Vermelho Pilot Plant

SÃO MIGUEL GEOTHERMAL PROJECT New Pico Vermelho Plant (2006-2014) One generation unit, binary cycle, air-cooled condensing system 10 MW Geothermal fluid provided by five production wells Re-injection in two geothermal wells (until 2014) AFTER 2015 PV2 PV3 PV4 PV7 PV8 PV5 PV6 Today´s TOTAL installed capacity = 10 MW PV9 PV10 PV11

SÃO MIGUEL GEOTHERMAL PROJECT New Pico Vermelho Plant

SÃO MIGUEL GEOTHERMAL PROJECT New Pico Vermelho Plant

SÃO MIGUEL GEOTHERMAL PROJECT New Pico Vermelho Plant

SÃO MIGUEL GEOTHERMAL PROJECT New Pico Vermelho Plant

SÃO MIGUEL GEOTHERMAL PROJECT Ribeira Grande Plant ORC binary system Phase A (1994) Installed capacity 2 x 2,5 MW Geothermal wells CL1 and CL2 Phase A Phase B 2 X 2,5 MW 2 X 4,0 MW Phase B (1998-2014) New installed capacity 2 x 4,0 MW Wells CL1, CL2, CL3, CL5, CL6 and CL7 Re-injection of effluent in well CL4 CL1 CL2 CL3 CL5 CL6 CL7 CL4 Production wells Re-injection well Today´s TOTAL installed capacity = 13 MW

SÃO MIGUEL GEOTHERMAL PROJECT Ribeira Grande Plant

SÃO MIGUEL GEOTHERMAL PROJECT Ribeira Grande Plant

SÃO MIGUEL GEOTHERMAL PROJECT Ribeira Grande Geothermal Field Extensive single NW-SE elongated geothermal reservoir; Maximum measured temperature: 245ºC; Liquid-dominated field; Fluid moving laterally northwestward; Permeable formations from 700 to 1300 m depth in CL sector and from 450 to 900 m in PV sector; Boundaries are apparently controlled by NW-SE faulting; Sodium-chloride water with TDS of 6-7 g/l; Estimated capacity: 90 MW.

SÃO MIGUEL GEOTHERMAL PROJECT Production results Rib. Grande (13 MW) Pico Verm. (10 MW) in Apr, 20th 2014: renewable energies reached 75% production!

SÃO MIGUEL GEOTHERMAL PROJECT Production results % of S. Miguel Island electrical needs 5,2% Eolian 45,1% Fuel 5,5% Hydro 44,0% Geothermal

In the near future: valuing the geothermal fluid in Direct uses Till now: (marginal) Direct Uses in Azores… e.g. in INOVA Institute greenhouses, till 2005! In the near future: valuing the geothermal fluid in Direct uses Thermal baths Dermocosmetics uses Physico-chemical tests using experimental tanks… …technical and economical feasibility

AZORES GEOTHERMAL PROJECT Terceira Island

TERCEIRA GEOTHERMAL PROJECT Volcanology Pico Alto Geothermal Field Volcanologic map of the island of Terceira (Nunes, 2000)

TERCEIRA GEOTHERMAL PROJECT Pico Alto Geothermal Field

TERCEIRA GEOTHERMAL PROJECT Deep drilling

TERCEIRA GEOTHERMAL PROJECT Well testing

TERCEIRA GEOTHERMAL PROJECT General Overview I – Exploration phase Detailed geoelectric survey 2000 Environm. studies and permitting 2000-2002 Thermo-gradient drilling holes 2003-2004 II – Feasibility phase Drilling of 5 evaluation wells 2006-2009 Testing of evaluation wells (phase 1) 2009-2010 Testing of evaluation wells (phase 2) 2013-2014 in April 2014 it was recommended the installation of a pilot power plant of 2.5-3.0 MWe capacity fed by two wells up to 1,800 m deep; All the geothermal fluid will be re-injected in a single well already tested …binary Pilot Power Plant of 3,5 MW to be running by April,2017!

Renewable Energies in the Azores Islands …state-of-art!

Electricity Production (2014) …and Geothermal Energy penetration (789 GWh) ...in S. Miguel Is. (416 GWh) …in Azores The annual geothermal production more than doubled after 2006 increasing from approximately 80 GWh to 170 GWh

ELECTRICITY PRODUCTION IN THE AZORES Evolution of primary sources production in ALL ISLANDS… Adapted from C. Bicudo da Ponte, 2012 (INGENIUM, 64)

C. Bicudo da Ponte, 2012 (INGENIUM, 64) ELECTRICITY PRODUCTION IN THE AZORES Primary sources production in 2011 FOR EACH ISLAND… C. Bicudo da Ponte, 2012 (INGENIUM, 64)

ELECTRICITY PRODUCTION IN THE AZORES Azores Government Strategy… …HORIZON 2020 Strategy

ELECTRICITY PRODUCTION IN THE AZORES Azores Government Strategy …and EDA planning! S. Miguel Island

ELECTRICITY PRODUCTION IN THE AZORES Azores Government Strategy …and EDA planning! Terceira Island Pilot GPP

{ ELECTRICITY PRODUCTION IN THE AZORES Azores Government Strategy …and EDA planning! Flores Island “work in progress” (new hydro) {

ELECTRICITY PRODUCTION IN THE AZORES Azores Government Strategy …and EDA planning! THE NEED OF ENERGY STORAGE… e.g. for regulation purposes

ELECTRICITY PRODUCTION IN THE AZORES Azores Government Strategy …and EDA planning! THE NEED OF ENERGY STORAGE… e.g. for regulation purposes …the Furnas Lake Pumping Hydro!

…challenges and opportunities of living in oceanic (volcanic) islands THANK YOU