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Spanish researchers continue exploration in Tenerife and Gran Canaria

Spanish researchers continue exploration in Tenerife and Gran Canaria Punta de Teno, Tenerife, Canary Islands, Span (source: flickr/ engerundio, creative commons)
Francisco Rojas 26 Jun 2014

The Institute of Volcanology from Canarias (Involcan) and the Institute of Technology and Renewable Energies (ITER) are performing geothermal research in the Canarian Archipielago alongside with the Australian company Petratherm.

Researchers at the Institute of Volcanology from Canarias (Involcan) and the Institute of Technology and Renewable Energies (ITER) have done five geochemical surveys to locate geothermal resources that will eventually serve as an energy source, reported the Cabildo of Tenerife.

The research, funded by the National Research and Development program for  2008-2011 was carried out in the domains of Tenerife and in Gran Canaria.

These areas lack a distinct manifestation of external geothermal power, therefore, geochemical surveys were performed to detect the possible existence of hidden underground resources, according to the council in a statement.

In the first phase of exploration, it appears that two areas in Abeque of Garehagua in Tenerife, there is greater relative enrichment of helium and hydrogen, which indicates a higher probability of hidden geothermal resources.

In the second phase of exploration geochemical surveys will be intensified in areas of anomalies detected to assess its extent and importance. Geochemical surveys will be developed into a new exploration acreage in Fuencaliente, La Palma.

The work has been done in the context of exploration permits granted by the Department of Mines of the Department of Industry and Energy of the Government of the Canary Islands Spanish with the Australian company Petratherm.

Source: Canarias 7 via Piensa en Geotermia