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The IEA provides support for international collaboration on energy technology R&D, deployment and information dissemination. These groups function within a framework created by the IEA - the International Framework for International Energy Technology Collaboration. The views, findings and publications of these international groups (formally called Implementing Agreements) do not necessarily represent the views or policies of the IEA Secretariat or of all its individual member countries. OECD Member countries, autonomous OECD non-member countries, intergovernmental organisations, non-governmental organisations and private sector entities may participate. For more information, see our Technology Agreements page.

Geothermal

The Implementing Agreement on Geothermal Energy commenced in March 1997. It has the objectives of exchange of information, development of improved technologies, and improving the understanding of the environmental benefits and impacts of geothermal energy utilisation.  The work underway includes, identification of, and development of, means to avoid or minimise adverse environmental impacts that can arise from the use of geothermal energy; development of enhanced (engineered) geothermal systems (EGS) for commercial power generation; helping reduce drilling costs through developing an understanding of drilling and logging needs, clarifying best practices and sharing methods and technologies; investigating all aspects of direct heat use technology to improve implementaiton, reduce costs and enhance use; exchange and dissemination of data and information on all aspects of geothermal energy use; and determination of the steps required to make EGS fluid injection a safe and economical technology acceptable to the publica and industry.   
Signatories : Australia | France | Germany | Iceland | Italy | Japan | Korea, Republic of | Mexico | New Zealand | Norway | Spain | Switzerland | United Kingdom | United States | European Commission | Canadian Geothermal Energy Association | Geodynamics Ltd (Australia) | Geothermal Group - Spanish Renewable Energy Association | Green Rock Energy Ltd (Australia) | ORMAT Technologies, Inc (US) |
   
For more information: http://www.iea-gia.org

Current Projects (Annexes)

01. Environmental Impacts of Geothermal Energy Development
The aim of this Annex is to encourage sustainable development of geothermal energy resources, quantify adverse or beneficial impacts and identify means of avoiding, remedying or mitigating adverse effects.

 

03. Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS)
This Annex aims to address new and improved technologies, which can be used to artificially simulate a geothermal resource to enable commercial heat extraction.

 

07. Advanced Geothermal Drilling Techniques.
This Annex addresses all aspects of geothermal well construction, including drilling costs, understanding drilling practices and developing improved drilling technology

 

08. Direct Use of Geothermal Energy
This Annex addresses all aspects of ‘direct use’ technology, with emphasis on improving implementation, reducing costs and enhancing use.

 

10. Geothermal Data and Information
The main objective is to collect essential data on geothermal energy uses, trends and developments in GIA countries and to publish these data in an annual report. This report will provide a brief overview of the geothermal energy data, such as installed capacities, produced electricity and heat, supplemented by politicial and economic information relevant for the development of geothermal energy in GIA member countries. The first annual trend report of geothermal applications data is currently in final editing stage and will be published in mid-2012.

 

11. Induced Seismicity
The main objective of this Annex is to encourage international cooperation to determine the steps needed to be taken to make EGS/fluid injection a safe and economic technology that is accepted by the public and useful to the industry. This includes not only steps to allow acceptance of EGS technology by the public, regulators and policy makers, but also allow induced seismicity to become a useful tool to optimise EGS applications.