| Title | Geothermal Country Update for Perú, 2010-2014 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Vicentina CRUZ, Victor VARGAS |
| Year | 2015 |
| Conference | World Geothermal Congress |
| Keywords | Perú, exploration, geothermal resources |
| Abstract | Perú is one of the countries in South America with a great geothermal potential. It is part of the Pacific “Ring of Fire” where the convergent margins between Nazca and South American Plates collide resulting to the formation of the Andes Cordillera and the many active volcanoes in southern Perú. With such geologic setting, the tectonic and magmatic processes have allowed the development of geothermal systems and prospects. There are six geothermal regions in Peru with the region V called “Eje Volcánico Sur” having the largest potential for high-temperature geothermal energy resource and where all the active volcanoes are located. The other five regions are promising for low and moderate enthalpy resources. The evaluation of the Peruvian geothermal potential started in the70´s with geoscientific studies mainly supported by government institutions and technical assistance from geothermal-developed countries. The country also has a long history of the direct use of geothermal resources since Inca’s time where some hot springs have been used for balneology purposes. In 2007, Peru received financial and technical assistance from Japan in the conduct of pre-feasibility studies in two of the most promising geothermal fields, Calientes and Borateras which resulted to an estimated total of 150 MWe potential. In 2010, through an aid from the Japanese government, the “The Master Plan for Development of Geothermal Energy in Perú” was established after a technical study of 15 geothermal fields with the entire country having an estimated 3,000 MWe potential of geothermal reserves. Perú is one of the two countries in South America (the other is Chile) that has an existing Geothermal Law which has been passed in 1997 and has been modified in 2010. This created an incentive and direction to many geothermal companies to explore and develop promising areas which the government has recently granted as authorization or concession blocks in about 30 prospects mostly in Southern Peru. The increased thrust in geothermal exploration and resource assessment is hoped to lead to the first drilling of wells and to power generation from geothermal energy. |