| Abstract |
The Geothermal Implementing Agreement (GIA) provides a flexible and powerful framework for international cooperation on geothermal research and technology under the auspices of the International Energy Agency (IEA). It connects national and industry programmes for exploration, development and utilization of geothermal resources and establishes direct cooperative links among experts in the participating countries, industries and organizations, thus increasing effectiveness. Activities are chiefly directed towards coordination of national and industry geothermal programmes, with joint member participation on specific studies. Emphasis is on sharing information, developing techniques and best practices, and producing and disseminating authoritative information. Current IEA scenarios indicate that unless governments implement energy saving and renewable energy options, energy security problems and a sharp increase in CO2 emissions with related significant climate change effects are likely. The GIA has embraced these challenges in its 3rd term mission: to promote sustainable use of geothermal energy worldwide by improving existing and developing new technologies to render exploitable the vast and widespread global geothermal resources, facilitating the transfer of know-how, providing high quality information and widely communicating geothermal energy’s strategic, economic and environmental benefits, and thereby contribute to the mitigation of climate change. To achieve this, the GIA is concentrating efforts in five major areas: • Annex I- Environmental Impacts of Geothermal Energy Development • Annex II- Enhanced Geothermal Systems • Annex III- Advanced Geothermal Drilling Techniques • Annex VIII- Direct Use of Geothermal Energy • Annex X- Data Collection and Information (recently started and currently being finalized) IEA-GIA’s activities within these topics (Annexes) have grown significantly in the past few years with the addition of (among others): • Induced seismicity studies associated with EGS reservoir development/production • Investigation of sustainable use strategies • Development of new forms for geographic display of data on the internet Geothermal is gaining growing recognition as one of the major renewable energy options, with vast worldwide potential and capability. As a result, worldwide geothermal development is now in a rapid state of growth. The IEA-GIA is increasing its efforts to help accelerate this growth by: • Convening international workshops on special topics like induced seismicity and sustainable utilization • Determining the global development potential of geothermal energy and estimating its contribution to curbing climate change • Producing a Geothermics Special Issue on Sustainability (2010) • Participating in international renewable energy conferences/ workshops to raise awareness of geothermal energy and educate the public, government and finance decision makers The IEA-GIA is now in its 13th year of operation. Membership has nearly doubled in the past 3 years. As of June 2010, there were 19 members: 13 countries (Australia, France, Germany, Iceland, Italy, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Norway, Republic of Korea, Spain, Switzerland and United States), the European Union (EU), 3 industries (Geodynamics, Green Rock Energy, Ormat Technologies) and 2 national organizations (CanGEA of Canada and Geothermal Group [APPA] of Spain). The International Energy Agency Geothermal Implementing Agreement International Cooperation for Sustainable Geothermal Development M. A. Mongillo1 and C. J. Bromley2 1Secretary, IEA-GIA Executive Committee and GNS Science, Wairakei, NZ 2Chair, IEA-GIA Executive Committee and GNS Science, Wairakei, NZ 104 Mongillo and Bromley The current global energy scene and geothermal’s potential contribution are outlined; brief reviews of the IEA and the GIA operation and structure are presented; and the GIA’s current activities and achievements for supporting sustainable geothermal development and aiding the mitigation of climate change are described. Comments on the GIA’s future plans are also included |