An exclusive panel of speakers, including the senior representatives from: Axpo | New Energies, Geothermie, ElectraTherm Inc. , Reykjavik Geothermal, Daimler AG, Mercedes-Benz Werk Rastatt, AltaRock Energy, (CanGea) Canadian Geothermal Association and many others will discuss the key issues facing the geothermal energy industry today.
The main topics that will be discussed in the agenda include: finance and investment, new developments and future technologies in geothermal exploration and production, sustainable reservoir management, regulatory and legal issues and project insurance.
The delegates will also have the opportunity to hear Reykjavik Energy and Alterra Power deliver case study presentations on high enthalpy geothermal heat sources, with a focus on finance, operations, challenges faced and overcome, grid integration and technology.
One highlight of the event will be an exclusive site visit to Hellisheidi Power Station, one of the largest geothermal power stations in the world, which is owned and operated by Reykjavik Energy.
According to the 2012 Geothermal International Market Overview Report released by the Geothermal Energy Association in May, the global geothermal power market continued to grow substantially in 2011-12, outpacing the US geothermal market by a noticeable margin. As of May 2012, approximately 11,224 MW of installed geothermal power capacity was online globally. In 2010 geothermal energy generated twice the amount of electricity as solar energy did worldwide.
“Geothermal growth is currently fuelled by a number of factors: economic growth, especially in developing markets; the electrification of low-income and rural communities; increasing concerns regarding energy security and its impact on economic security,” say the authors of this report. “Additionally, the majority of the growth in the development of global geothermal resources is occurring in countries with large, untapped, conventional resources. As more countries recognize and understand the economic value of their geothermal resources, their development and utilization becomes a higher priority.”
The report goes on to say that new technology appears to be underpinning geothermal expansion in some regions which have already seen significant development of their conventional resources. In the US and Europe, for example, the geothermal industry is increasingly using binary technology that can utilize more moderate and low temperature resources to generate electricity. Also, energy and economic security are compelling drivers for the adoption of policies supporting geothermal development in countries like Chile and Japan. In nearly every case, national policies are propelling growth in the strongest markets, while the current world leader – the US – appears to be growing more slowly due to policy uncertainties.
All these topics will be up for debate at the forthcoming Global Geothermal Energy Summit, and as Renewable Energy Magazine is acting as a Supporting Partner for the event, all our readers are entitled to a special discount to attend the meeting. In order to claim the discount it is necessary to quote ref.: MPEGT2.
For additional information:
