GEO II Project aims to accelerate geothermal use in agriculture

Ana Alfaro, Director of the GEO II project (source: GIZ)

The search for alternative energy sources such as geothermal that contribute to reducing the impacts of climate change that affect more vulnerable populations and sectors such as the agricultural sector was part of the topics developed by the Project Use of Geothermal Heat in Industrial Processes in SICA Member Countries (GEO II),  during the Second High-Level Conference of the Global Geothermal Alliance, recently organized by the government of El Salvador in conjunction with the International Renewable Energy Association (IRENA).

For the first time, El Salvador hosted 45 delegations from different countries that are leaders in the geothermal world, including Kenya, Tanzania, the United Arab Emirates, Mexico, Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea, Italy, Zimbabwe, Japan, the United States, European countries and the member countries of the Central American Integration System (SICA).

The conference was the ideal space to analyze how geothermal energy can be a key tool in the mitigation of climate changemor by replacing a fossil source with a renewable source such as geothermal energy and contribute to adaptation by  controlling temperature changes in agricultural processes such as the use of greenhouses.

“Geothermal is a key energy source not only for mitigation, but also when talking about adaptation. For example; a direct use project can help the agricultural sector to control the temperature of a greenhouse and that it is not affected by  climate variability,  it can also help stabilize the water temperature in the case of fish farming ponds,” commented Regional Director of the GEO II Project Ana Lucia Alfaro.

The GEO II Project currently provides technical advice in 4 lines of work: 1) Regulatory frameworks; 2) Demonstration projects; 3) Development of Tools or guides; 4) Professional exchange.

The vision of the project, implemented by the German Development Cooperation (GIZ) on behalf of the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) means an opportunity to replace fossil fuels, reduce energy costs and greenhouse gas emissions.

The video below is a demonstration of one of the projects that is receiving technical advice from the GEO II Project and the Ideas for a Green Recover project. The San Michkael project in Guatemala dehydrates pineapples using geothermal energy, allowing for the expansion of distribution networks.

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Source: Email correspondence