1. 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 /

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

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

4. 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...

5. …35 thermal springs at S. Miguel, Terceira, Faial, Graciosa and Flores Islands … traditionally used for balneotherapy

6. 1811 – “Banhos da Coroa”, Caldeiras da Rib. Grande (S. Miguel Is.)
Termas do Carapacho (Graciosa)

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

8. 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

9. SÃO MIGUEL GEOTHERMAL PROJECT Pico Vermelho Pilot Plant
: Surface exploration and exploratory drilling of the Ribeira Grande Geothermal Field
: Exploitation of the pilot plant
Manufacturer: Mitsubishi
Nominal capacity: 3 MW
Steam consumption: 56 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

10. SÃO MIGUEL GEOTHERMAL PROJECT Pico Vermelho Pilot Plant

11. SÃO MIGUEL GEOTHERMAL PROJECT New Pico Vermelho Plant
( )
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

12. SÃO MIGUEL GEOTHERMAL PROJECT New Pico Vermelho Plant

13. SÃO MIGUEL GEOTHERMAL PROJECT New Pico Vermelho Plant

14. SÃO MIGUEL GEOTHERMAL PROJECT New Pico Vermelho Plant

15. SÃO MIGUEL GEOTHERMAL PROJECT New Pico Vermelho Plant

16. 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 ( )
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

17. SÃO MIGUEL GEOTHERMAL PROJECT Ribeira Grande Plant

18. SÃO MIGUEL GEOTHERMAL PROJECT Ribeira Grande Plant

19. 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.

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

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

22. 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

23. AZORES GEOTHERMAL PROJECT Terceira Island

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

25. TERCEIRA GEOTHERMAL PROJECT Pico Alto Geothermal Field

26. TERCEIRA GEOTHERMAL PROJECT Deep drilling

27. TERCEIRA GEOTHERMAL PROJECT Well testing

28. TERCEIRA GEOTHERMAL PROJECT General Overview
I – Exploration phase
Detailed geoelectric survey
Environm. studies and permitting
Thermo-gradient drilling holes
II – Feasibility phase
Drilling of 5 evaluation wells
Testing of evaluation wells (phase 1)
Testing of evaluation wells (phase 2)
in April 2014 it was recommended the installation of a pilot power plant of 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!

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

30. 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

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

32. 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)

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

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

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

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

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

38. 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!

39. …challenges and opportunities of living in oceanic (volcanic) islands
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