On March 6, Open Mountain Energy, LLC (OME), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Kaishan Group Co., Ltd. and the company responsible for developing geothermal energy platforms in North America, signed a term sheet with Power Planet, Inc. (PP), an enhanced geothermal development company, in Reno, Nevada, where OME is located. The two companies will jointly develop enhanced geothermal system resources in OME’s Humboldt House geothermal resource area in Nevada. OME COO Mr. Brady Olson and PP CEO Mr. Keith Elliott signed the agreement on behalf of their respective companies. Cao Kejian, Chairman of Kaishan Holding Group Co., Ltd., and Dr. Tang Yan, General Manager of Kaishan Group Co., Ltd., attended the signing ceremony.
For a long time, industry experts have been committed to breakthroughs in the development technology of enhanced geothermal systems (EGS). In recent years, a US technology company, leveraging shale gas development technology, has finally achieved a breakthrough in this field, potentially transforming geothermal energy from a niche renewable energy source limited by insufficient resources into a mainstream one. EGS, through drilling technology and underground reservoir modification, establishes an artificial circulation system in rock formations with high temperatures but lacking thermal fluids, thereby releasing deep geothermal energy. This technological approach significantly expands the exploitable scope of geothermal energy. Research by the International Energy Agency indicates that if deep underground thermal resources can be developed on a large scale, the global geothermal power generation potential corresponding to EGS could reach hundreds of terawatts, far exceeding the current installed capacity of the global power system. Therefore, it is considered to have the potential to play a more important role in the future clean energy system.
According to the 2011 Vol. 35 of the GRC Journal, titled “A Restatement of the Conceptual Model of the Humboldt House Geothermal Resource Area in Pershing County, Nevada,” this block possesses 200-500 MW of enhanced geothermal system (EGS) resources. Most of the resource area is owned by OME, which has already constructed and operates the Star Peak geothermal power plant. The collaboration between PP and OME will leverage their respective strengths to develop the enhanced geothermal resources of this block. OME, in addition to its resource area development rights, will provide power for EGS development, tailwater from the Star Peak power plant, grid capacity, and power generation equipment. PP’s team boasts a complete development team. CEO Mr. Keith Elliott has over 20 years of experience in reservoir engineering and leadership positions at one of the largest privately held oil and gas companies in the United States. Team members include drilling and development experts who have successfully drilled hundreds of wells in shale formations, senior experts in geological science and geothermal engineering, and financing experts who previously worked for the U.S. Department of Energy responsible for critical energy strategy.
本次签署的条款清单关键条款具有约束力，双方约定在未来的三个月内签署合同，并在合同签订后的十二个月内开始钻井。公司将在合同签署后公告有关商业条款。
今天的签约意义重大，标志着公司在美国地热市场的发展空间正在迅速扩大，已经从传统地热资源开发和电站运营扩展至增强型地热系统开发。公司将加大投资美国地热资源的力度，并着手进一步加强本地化布局，包括地热发电成套设备本土制造的能力，以更好地服务北美有可能巨量增长的EGS能源市场，并在下一代地热技术的发展中发挥更加积极的作用。
