IGA launches “Facts for Future” series to shape the future of geothermal

Session 1 of Facts for Future webinar series (source: YouTube screenshot, International Geothermal Association)

The International Geothermal Association (IGA) has announced the much-anticipated webinar series “Facts for Future” which aims to highlight the critical role of data collection and setting standards in the geothermal sector. The first session of the series was held on the 16th of November and saw the participation of industry leaders, researchers, and policymakers.

The discussions during the inaugural session underscored the importance of accurate and comprehensive data collection in driving innovation and informed decision-making in the geothermal sector. The recording of the first webinar “Navigating Geothermal Data on the Road to COP28,” can be accessed via this link.

The IGA is continuing the webinar series with two upcoming sessions:

• Geothermal Heating & Cooling: A Deep Dive with Adele Manzella (22nd November 2023 14:00 UTC)
• Luis Gutierrez-Negrin Explores Geothermal Power Generation (24th November 2023 16:00 UTC)

More details and registration for the two sessions can be done via this link.

Triple up goals for 2030

The inaugural session of the “Facts for Future” webinar series, presented by IGA CEO Marit Brommer, focused on a few key data points that will help the geothermal industry achieve the goal of “tripling up” as part of the upcoming COP28 in Dubai, UAE. For geothermal this means, tripling the installed geothermal power generation capacity of 16 GW to 48 GW by the end of 2030. The target also includes the heating and cooling sector, which is targeting 520 GW installed capacity by the end of the decade.

Broken down, this means commissioning 6 GW of geothermal (combined power & heating and cooling) of geothermal per year.

From a regional perspective, the highest potential for future geothermal capacity growth are in Africa, North America, Asia and the Pacific, followed by the Latin America region (for power) and China, followed by North America, Middle East, and Europe (for heating and cooling).

Marit Brommer then presented a 5-point agenda to attain the 2030 targets focused on Finance, Policies, Innovation, Training, and Standards. While all five points are being addressed, special focus was set on data standards and its important role in advocacy and calls for policy support.

“For some reason, it is hard to come to a definition in geothermal and to appreciate that we are all collecting data in different ways and in different levels or with different types of outputs. As IGA, we have taken it upon ourselves with two task forces – one for power and one for heating and cooling – to finally establish data standards,” commented Brommer during the webinar.

Key takeaways from the kick-off session include:

• Why the IGA is the Premier Entity for Geothermal Data Collection & Maintenance.
• Global Expertise & Leadership: IGA’s leadership role in organizing major events and initiatives in the geothermal sector.
• Extensive Global Network: Leveraging a diverse network of industry experts for comprehensive data gathering.
• Commitment to Advancement: Dedicated focus on enhancing the development of geothermal energy.
• Standardization & Reliability: Emphasizing the need for standardized data collection methods for accuracy and consistency.
• Proven Track Record: IGA’s successful history in precise and large-scale data projects.
• Educational & Advocacy Role: The critical role of accurate data in effective advocacy and policy-making.
• Alignment with Sustainability: IGA’s data collection initiatives contributing to global sustainability efforts.

Source: International Geothermal Association