The International Geothermal Association (IGA) is an international, world-wide, non-profit and non-governmental association whose objective and mission is to promote the research and utilization of geothermal resources, both for electricity production and in direct use. According to its Institutional Charter, the IGA operates worldwide in the dissemination of information on geothermal energy.

The IGA was founded on 6 July 1988 in Auckland, New Zealand. In 1998 the UN granted NGO status to the IGA and in 1999 the IGA became an EU Partner for Renewable Energies.

The IGA promotes the research, development and utilization of geothermal resources worldwide,through the compilation, publication, and dissemination of scientific and technical data and information. The IGA is a non-political, non-profit, non-governmental organization in special consultative status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations and Partner of the European Union for Renewable Energies.

The objectives of the IGA are:

• to promote the coordination of scientific and technical education in geothermal matters;
• to advance and promote the establishment of criteria for the exploration and the development of geothermal resources in an environmentally responsible manner;
• to encourage the enactment and adoption of uniform and appropriate legislation, rules and regulations for the development and utilization of geothermal energy resources;
• to serve as a public forum to provide objective and unbiased information on the nature of geothermal energy and its development;
• to facilitate the collection and dissemination of data related to geothermal resources and development;
• to cooperate and communicate with national and international governmental, institutional and private agencies in matters relating to the development and utilization of geothermal resources;
• to collect and disseminate information thereto.

STRUCTURE

The members of the IGA elect a Board of Directors consisting of thirty persons elected for a three-year period. The Officers of the Board consist of the President, Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer. There are seven Permanent Committees: Audit, Education, Finance, Information,Membership, Nominating, and Program and Planning.

For the period 1999-2001 the Secretariat has been located in Italy, c/o Enel GreenPower (Pisa). This will also be the headquarters of the Secretariat for the next 3-year period, from 2002 to 2004.

AFFILIATED ORGANIZATIONS

Canadian Geothermal Energy Association (CGEA), Vancouver, Canada
El Salvador Geothermal Association
Ethiopian Geothermal Association
Geotermische Vereinigung (GtV), Geeste, Germany
Geothermal Chinese Energy Society (GCES), Beijing, China
Geothermal Resources Council (GRC), Davis, California, USA
Hungarian Geothermal Association (HGA), Budapest, Hungary
Hungarian Thermal Energy Society
Iranian Geothermal Energy Association
Geothermal Research Society of Japan
Icelandic Geothermal Association (GAI), Reykjavik, Iceland
Indonesian Geothermal Association (INAGA), Jakarta, Indonesia
Geothermal Association of Ireland
Lithuanian Geothermal Association (LGA), Vilnius, Lithuania
Macedonian Geothermal Association (MAGA), Skopje, Macedonia
Mexican Geothermal Association (MGA), Temixco, Mexico
New Zealand Geothermal Association (NZGA), Taupo, New Zealand
National Geothermal of the Philippines
Polish Geothermal Association (PGA), Cracow, Poland
Polish Geothermal Society (PGS), Cracow, Poland
Romanian Geothermal Association (RGA), Oradea, Romania
Russian Geothermal Association (RUGA), St. Petersburg, Russia
Slovakian Geothermal Association (SGA), Bratislava, Slovakia
Stichting Platform Geothermie, the Netherlands
Swiss Geothermal Association (SVG-SSG), Biel-Bienne, Switzerland
Turkish Geothermal Association (TGA), Ankara, Turkey
Unione Geotermica Italiana (UGI), Milan, Italy

ACTIVITIES

The IGA is involved in a number of activities, such as the dissemination of geothermal information;scientific and technical exchanges and meetings; the promotion of specialist and non-specialist geothermal-related courses, including the publication of relevant manuals. A World Geothermal Congress, sponsored by the IGA, is held every 5 years. The most recent World Geothermal Congress (WGC2000) was held in Japan in June 2000, and attended by 1,800 participants. In 1995the World Congress took place in Florence, with 1451 participants. The proceedings of these congresses are edited and published by the Association. A newsletter (IGA News) is published four times a year.

EVENTS

A General Meeting is held annually; in the past these have been organized inLarderello(Italy)1989,Kona, Hawaii (USA) 1990, Cuernavaca (Mexico) 1991, Reykjavik (Iceland) 1992, Auckland (New Zealand) 1993, Salt Lake City, Utah (USA) 1994, Auckland (New Zealand) 1995,Guadalajara (Mexico) 1996, Lakeport, California (USA) 1997, Pisa (Italy) 1998, Reno, Nevada(USA) 1999, Pisa (Italy) 2000, Izmir (Turkey) 2001.

WHAT ARE THE MAIN ADVANTAGES OF GEOTHERMAL ENERGY?

• It is an indigenous and sustainable resource [see paper on the Contribution of Geothermal Energy to Sustainable Development]
• It is environmentally benign
• It is readily available, and easily tapped
• Its cost is competitive compared to other renewable energy costs (see paper by Ingvar Fridleifsson)
• Its resource base worldwide is enormous [see paper on the Contribution of Geothermal Energy to Sustainable Development ]
• It is appropriate for electric power generation (see Photos 1 and 2)
• Numerous direct heat uses are possible: in space-heating and cooling, agriculture, fish farming, industrial processes (see Photos 2,3 and 4)
• It is suitable for rural electrification projects
• It is developed locally, to the benefit of local communities

The IGA Secretariat is currently hosted by Samorka, Sudurlandsbraut 48, 108 Reykjavik, Iceland. Phone: +354 588 4430; Fax: +354 588 4431. E-mail: iga@samorka.is. IGA Home Page: www.geothermal-energy.org