Thank you all for staying engaged and bring light to 2021! Now its time to celebrate the festive season and get ready for a new year! Happy holidays and see you in 2022!

The Geothermal Paper Database has been updated with the papers of the World Geothermal Congress 2020+1, and includes 20,871 technical papers as of today.

Please find the Database here: Geothermal Paper Database


Photo by Tobias Fischer on Unsplash

The geothermal data is quite fragmented not only within different international energy entities but also within the industry sector itself. This results in misrepresentation of the geothermal energy sector within international energy reports and contributes to confusion between geothermal industry players.

To address this challenge, since January 2021, the International Geothermal Association has started to build a framework on geothermal data collection methods and standards. This work is led by the IGA Education and Information Committee with the goal to support the process of collecting, storing, and sharing coherent geothermal data.

As an outcome, each group will deliver updated datasets for both power and heat to be used as standards for the IGA data collection. These standards will be used for customized questionnaires for the World Geothermal Congresses Country Updates and proposed for reference to other organizations.

The first round of revisions will be finalized prior the WGC 2020+1 in Reykjavik, Iceland and implemented fully by WGC2023 in Beijing, China.

Green Pipeline: The Oil and Gas to Geothermal Connection

The Green Pipeline is an effort to determine and contextualize the technical research and demonstration needs of the oil and gas sectors in pivoting to geothermal resources. There is a new awareness by the energy industry of the need to diversify their portfolio that was accelerated in the last 18 months from the impact of COVID-19 on world consumption changes as well as the arrival of broad political consensus to address climate change. As a result, in early 2021, a team of geothermal professionals developed and publicly distributed a survey instrument with an International Geothermal Association (IGA) supported team reviewing the results.

The survey responses highlighted well-known high-level challenges, yet few provided detailed research and demonstration challenges. The range in size and types of geothermal projects makes it difficult to say any one detail or technology will increase geothermal development.
Some examples of the high level challenges identified include:

  • Improved rate of penetration in harder and deeper rock, at higher temperatures, and wider bore diameters,
  • Derisking through improved exploration and regional 3D modelling,
  • Monitoring tools and wellbore production optimization,
  • Increase the rate of sustainable heat production per well,
  • Control fluid permeation through large volume of rock,
  • Increased heat conversion efficiency at lower delta T’s and lower flows,
  • Longer equipment lifetime in geothermal environments,
  • Reduction in induced seismicity and subsidence challenges,
  • Decreased O & M costs, lateral training of oil and gas professionals, and
  • Low-cost, efficient, standardized surface power plants for low-enthalpy resources.

Quotes attributable to the Technical Team

“The responses to the Green Pipeline survey showed clear call for numerous demonstration projects in parallel, at scale, and across the full thermal suite of geothermal resources. This is how we get to geothermal anywhere.” said Lawrence Molloy, Project Director.

Maria Richards with the SMU Geothermal Laboratory in Dallas, Texas said: “The Green Pipeline initiated the framework on how we can move forward with a technology roadmap for the oil and gas pivot to geothermal”.

“Technical responses to the survey included suggestions in exploration, drilling, reservoir management, and surface systems as well as various (and rapidly proliferating) drilling techniques.”  Graeme Beardsmore, IGA Board Member and Technical Team Member


You can Download the report here:

https://www.lovegeothermal.org/the-green-pipeline-2021/

Our global network of geothermal leaders keeps on growing! We are delighted to welcome TGS as our new corporate club member.

TGS offers a wide range of energy data to meet the industry where it’s at and where it’s headed. Their vast collection of global energy resource data will enable you to make the best investment decisions.

We are pleased to join the IGA community and to enable further understanding of geothermal energy potential around the world with our data and insight. We are excited to be leveraging our core strengths to help shape the future of energy.”

Ms Katja Akentieva, Vice President, New Energy Solutions at TGS

Using innovative imaging and machine learning solutions, coupled with robust data-driven analysis, TGS creates unique, actionable insights from raw energy data. These insights can reduce risks and enable a more detailed understanding of natural resource investments.

In the coming decade we will see the geothermal sector scale up to a mature energy provider that is able to offer a cost-effective, clean, baseload supply to its customers. Derisking the subsurface through excellent data collection, interpretation and visualisation is paramount. I am delighted to see TGS joining us as corporate member and we look forward to our collaboration very much”

Dr Marit Brommer, the Executive Director of the IGA 

Learn more about the various types of data TGS offers worldwide: www.tgs.com.

The International Geothermal Association (IGA) has kicked off the geothermal decade and is well positioned to drive the geothermal technology agenda in the coming years. In addition, the Association has a global network of geothermal leaders and facilitates a best practices and international standard platform for its industry members. At the same time, the IGA works with its global partners to consistently call for policy reforms needed to advance geothermal development on the ground.

It is with great pride that the IGA welcomes today its newest corporate member: Shell Geothermal BV.

Shell Geothermal was established in 2018 and is based in The Hague. The aim of the company is to contribute to the heat transition by developing geothermal energy in the Netherlands leveraging its unique knowledge of the Dutch subsurface.

In a recent interview with Mr Van Duin, General Manager of Shell Geothermal, said:

”Shell Geothermal has the ambition to make good use of Shell’s capabilities to realize the potential of geothermal energy in the energy transition. This requires close cooperation with partners and local stakeholders, innovation, economies of scaleand further development of heat networks. Sharing knowledge and experience and learning from others in the geothermal sector will support realise the potential for geothermal energy. That is a key reason why we are joining the IGA and its global network today. This is an important step forward to reaching our ambition.”

Mr Van Duin also stressed the importance of the heat transition: “In the Netherlands, the demand for heat makes up about half of the total energy consumption. In order to meet the climate targets for 2030 and 2050, it is therefore important to develop renewable sources for heat. Geothermal energy can play an important role to decarbonize the built environment and greenhouse sector, as key part of the future mix of energy sources.”

Dr Marit Brommer, the Executive Director of the IGA, says:

“In the coming decade we will see the geothermal sector scale up to a mature energy provider that is able to offer a cost-effective, clean, baseload supply to its customers. I am extremely pleased to see Shell Geothermal joining us and help create a global coalition of the willing that will drive the standardisation, investment and sustainability agenda needed for geothermal technologies to be deployed effectively around the globe. Shells customer-focus and drive for operational excellence will be advantageous for the global geothermal sector.”


Media Contacts:
Dr. Marit Brommer, Executive Director
Tel: +49 (0)152 585 93033
Email: iga@lovegeothermal.org
IGA website: www.lovegeothermal.org
Social Media: #lovegeothermal

Shell Media Relations
Tel: +31 (0) 70 377 8750
Email: media-nl@shell.com


About the International Geothermal Association:

The International Geothermal Association (IGA) is the leading global platform on geothermal energy. With our four pillars Visibility, Sustainability, Partnerships and
Authority, we are committed to push geothermal as a gamechanger for achieving Sustainable Development Goal #7 providing affordable, clean, baseload energy for all.
The IGA connects the Global Geothermal Community, serving as a hub for networking opportunities aimed at promoting and supporting global geothermal development. With
industry partners we set standards, mature the technology agenda and nurture entrepreneurs engaged in clean technology. The IGA represents the global geothermal
industry to international organisations such as the United Nations, the World Bank, the International Renewable Energy Agency and the International Energy Agency.

About Shell Geothermal BV:

Shell Geothermal BV sees good opportunities for Geothermal energy to provide a valuable contribution to the heat-transition, as a natural and sustainable heat source.
Shell Geothermal BV was founded in 2018 with the aim of investing in and developing geothermal projects in the Netherlands.
For more information: https://www.shell.nl/aardwarmte


The International Geothermal Association is happy to welcome Vallourec as a new corporate member to our global industry network.

The IGA is putting together several task forces on standards and practices for geothermal energy and we are delighted to see the support and commitment from such a strong industry partner as Vallourec.

Further developing geothermal energy will require standardizing existing practices in order to increase efficiency and reduce the capital expenditures needed to develop new projects. Vallourec is proud to bring its long standing expertise of Oil & Gas and geothermal wells to the IGA and is eager to contribute to its standarization efforts.

Pierre Etienne Bougon, Business Development Manager at Vallourec

Vallourec is a world leader in premium tubular solutions for the energy markets and for demanding industrial applications such as oil & gas wells in harsh environments, energy transition applications (CCUS, hydrogen, geothermal, solar, offshore wind), challenging architectural projects and high-performance mechanical equipment. Vallourec’s pioneering spirit and cutting-edge R&D open new technological frontiers. With close to 17,000 dedicated and passionate employees in more than 20 countries, Vallourec works hand-in-hand with its customers to offer more than just tubes: it delivers innovative, safe, competitive and smart tubular solutions, to make every project possible.

Webite: www.vallourec.com

IGA Executive Director, Dr Marit Brommer, is honoured and thrilled to join the Steering Committee of IRENA Coalition for Action.

The IGA will give general guidance on the work and activities of the coalition members. For #geothermal there are two important groups under the Coalition: the Business and Investment Group and the Decarbonisation of End-Use Sectors. The target for this term is to significantly increase the contribution of the geothermal sector at large (finance, policies, technology). We count on our membership to join us in achieving these goals.

The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) and 35 players in renewable energy from around the world jointly established a Coalition for Action to promote the wider and faster uptake of renewable energy technologies. The IRENA Coalition for Action forms a key international network to discuss industry trends, determine actions, share knowledge and exchange best practices with the vision to drive the global energy transition in line with the Sustainable Development Goal on energy.

Find out more here.

The entire IGA Team wishes you and your families & friends a Happy New Year 2021!

We are looking forward to this new year with hope in our hearts and science on our sides. Stay safe, stay well, #stayengaged.

The IGA is pleased to announce the partnership with Martin van der Hout effective today. Martin will work with the IGA regarding our upcoming transition from Germany to the Netherlands and will be advising us on strategic partnerships to ensure a smooth and effective landing. We look forward to our cooperation very much and are delighted to have Martin on board.