Publications

This report is a guidebook for policy makers which provides recommendations for accelerating the deployment of geothermal energy in the agri-food value chains. The recommendations are derived from an analysis of key success factors that enabled the development of various agri-food applications in different part of the world. The guidebook benefited from the input of 23 experts drawn from 17 member countries and partner organisations of the GGA, and other organisations.

Geothermal energy has been improving in efficiency, and there are now more than 15.4 gigawatts (GW) of installed geothermal power plants globally. Estimates show that geothermal energy can supply about 8.3% of the total electricity needs of the world and serve about 17% of the global. Geothermal technology can produce clean, baseload and flexible power generation, making it a promising option for the transition to clean energy and a more sustainable economic model. In addition to power generation, geothermal energy has multiple applications as a heat source or sink in end-use sectors such as building, agrifood and industry.

United Nations framework Classification for Geothermal Energy: Pilot Applications in the Caribbean, Ethiopia and Indonesia The joint report by IRENA, the International Geothermal Association (IGA) and the World Bank’s Energy Sector Management Program (ESMAP), supported by United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), highlights the main challenges and way forward to adopt the United Nations Framework Classification (UNFC) for geothermal energy resources, based on experiences and lessons learned in a pilot programme carried out in the Caribbean, Ethiopia and Indonesia to adapt the broader UNFC specifications and guidelines to geothermal energy resources.

Integrating low-temperature renewables in district energy systems Guidelines for policy makers A report developed by IRENA in collaboration with Aalborg University and with the support of an Advisory Group of District Heating and Cooling Experts, drawn from the constituency of the GGA and other institutions. It provides guidelines to policy makers at the national and local level, urban planners, district heating and cooling utilities, etc. on the options and available tools for facilitating the integration of low temperature renewable energy resources, including geothermal and solar thermal, into new and existing district heating and cooling networks and buildings.

This regional assessment of geothermal development for electricity and direct use in the countries of the East African Rift and the Comoros was carried out through a consultative process with relevant stakeholders, under the umbrella of the Global Geothermal Alliance.

This publication aims to increase awareness, share experiences and lessons, and provide recommendations for expanding geothermal heat use in the agri-food sector. The analysis in this document suggests critical factors for the development of projects in the field.

This report aims to be a guide for decision-makers, assessing key challenges and measures to facilitate expanding geothermal development in LAC..

Geothermal energy is a promising resource for the energy transition, with benefits ranging from sustainability, reliable baseload supply, and its abundance all over the world. Technologies aiding the geothermal development are increasing and improving to accelerate geothermal use. This technology brief provides concise and comprehensive information on the valuable resource, offering technical background information on the geothermal development process and technology status, market analyses, barriers to deployment, as well as insights for policy makers to use geothermal for power generation. The key data and analyses presented are essential in understanding how geothermal is harnessed and used for various applications worldwide, as well as the opportunities that come with exploiting geothermal resources for a more sustainable planet.

This document presents a strategy for developing geothermal potential through public–private partnerships in the Eastern Caribbean.

The report identifies the main risks and barriers limiting investment; it also supplies a toolkit for policy makers, public and private investors, and public finance institutions to scale up their investments in renewable energy.

This report presents a comparative assessment of an array of approaches that have been applied around the world, with varying degrees of success, to mitigate resource risks and catalyze investments in developing the geothermal sector.

This technical report provides an overview of the current knowledge on GHG emissions from geothermal power plants. It gives guidance to project developers and financial institutions on to how to estimate emissions, ex ante, from geothermal power projects.