GEA Geothermal Energy Expo in Reno, Nevada, Sept. 30-Oct.3, 2012

View over Reno with the Peppermill Resort & Casino in the background (source: flickr/ RobertCiavarro, creative commons)

Alexander Richter 22 Aug 2012

Reno is the world’s business center for the geothermal industry, and Nevada accounts for almost half of the country’s current projects in development.

On this stage, Geothermal Resources Council (GRC) and the Geothermal Energy Association will hold the combined largest annual geothermal event globally. The GRC Annual Meeting and the GEA Geothermal Energy constitute the world’s largest gathering of professionals and companies that provide services and products for geothermal resource exploration, characterization, development, production and management.

Both events will be held from September 30-October 3 at the Peppermill Resort and Casino in Reno.

Expo visitor registration is now open at: http://www.gifttool.com/registrar/ShowEventDetails?ID=1872&EID=12336

“The GEA Geothermal Expo has become a valuable forum for industry developments and dialogue, and every year we attract more national and international industry leaders and exhibitors who see real value in the connections for buyers and sellers,” said GEA Executive Director Karl Gawell.

The Expo has not only become a marketplace for national buyers and sellers, but also a hub for international business, from which the U.S. geothermal industry can particularly benefit. In 2011, exhibitors from 13 different countries and visitors from many more participated in the Expo, and this year representation is expected from countries including Australia, Canada, Chile, China, Costa Rica, Ethiopia, France, Germany, Iceland, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Mexico, New Zealand, Philippines, Thailand, Turkey and the United States.

Nationally, Nevada is steadily claiming its position as a leading developer of geothermal capacity with 59 projects in development, accounting for more than 2,000 MW. Four of the seven geothermal plants that came online in the past year are in Nevada, including Tuscarora and McGinness Hills (Ormat Technologies), San Emidio (U.S. Geothermal), and Beowawe 2 (Terra-Gen/TAS Energy). Additionally, all three of the 2012 GEA Honors award recipients are either based in Nevada or bringing plants online in the state, including Enel Green Power North America (Technological Advancement), Ram Power (Economic Development), and Ormat Technologies, Inc. (Environmental Stewardship). “Returning to the hub of the geothermal industry is exciting because of the contributions that the state is making to the geothermal economy,” Gawell noted.

GEA points to over 4,500 MW of geothermal power under development in Nevada, California and Oregon to underscore that geothermal power can continue to play a significant role in meeting the United States’ clean energy needs, by replacing older energy technologies such as coal. Nevada is No. 1 in the nation for installed geothermal energy capacity per person. Reno is the only major metro area that produces enough geothermal energy to meet its entire residential load, and the region features a high concentration of raw geothermal resources with strategic geographic access to California and other Western states.

Event organizers expect more than 2,000 attendees from the United States and abroad to walk the Expo floor. The complete exhibitor list is available at http://www.geothermalenergy2011.com/exhibitors.asp. The Expo is made possible by Gold Level sponsor Ormat, Bronze level sponsor Pratt & Whitney, as well as sponsors Geothermal Resource Group, TNG Energy Services and Calpine.

For information on visitor registration, please visit: http://www.gifttool.com/registrar/ShowEventDetails?ID=1872&EID=12336. Student registration is complimentary with valid student ID.

For more information about exhibitor and sponsorship opportunities, please contact Kathy Kent at kathy@geo-energy.org.