Geothermal Power Expands to 24 Countries, Meets the Needs of 60 Million People

Geothermal Power Expands to 24 Countries, Meets the Needs of 60 Million People

WASHINGTON, May 16, 2005 -- U.S. Newswire

Geothermal energy is now produced in 24 countries and on all continents except Antarctica, according to a new study by Rugerro Bertani of ENEL, presented at the World Geothermal Congress in Turkey. In 2003, geothermal resource supplied 57,000 Gigawatt-hours of electricity, an increase of 15 percent from 2000 and 50 percent from 1995, Bertani reported.

Since 2000, geothermal generation has tripled in France, Russia, and Kenya and three new countries-Austria, Germany, and Papua New Guinea-have been added to the list of those producing power. "Geothermal energy is today meeting the total electricity needs of some 60 million people worldwide - roughly the population of the United Kingdom," noted Karl Gawell, Executive Director of GEA, the US industry's trade group. "Countries as diverse as the Philippines, Iceland, and El Salvador generate an average of 25 percent of their electricity from geothermal sources, and geothermal serves 30 percent of Tibet's energy needs," he added.

The United States continues to produce more geothermal electricity than any other country, comprising some 32 percent of the world total. But, according to GEA, the US lead in geothermal power production and technology are both being seriously challenged. "Several countries are moving aggressively ahead with new development, particularly the Philippines and Indonesia, and while US research budgets are being cut, other countries are investing more in new technology," Gawell noted. For example, new Hot Dry Rock (HDR) technology is expected to produce hundreds of megawatts in Australia this year. This technology could allow geothermal power production virtually anywhere in the world.

Yet, the U.S. geothermal power industry appears to be on a rebound. State renewable policies and federal tax incentives are spurring a wave of new investment. GEA reports that projects are being planned in several states including Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico and Oregon. "We have just begun to tap the tens of thousands of megawatts of geothermal resources available," Gawell said. "It's just a question of the right economic incentives and continued advances in technology."

The next major U.S. geothermal event will be the 2005 GEA Trade Show and concurrent Geothermal Resources Council (GRC) Annual Meeting. Both are planned for September 25-28, 2005 in Reno, Nevada. With a renewed interested in US geothermal development, the GEA-GRC events are expected to have record attendance.

Countries producing geothermal power in 2003 were: Australia, Austria, China, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Ethiopia, France (Guadeloupe), Germany, Guatemala, Iceland, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Mexico, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Portugal (Azores), Russia, Thailand, Turkey, and the United States.

For more information about GEA visit http://www.geo-energy.org .

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