The IEA Geothermal Implementing Agreement- Its Status, Highlights and Future Prospects

The International Energy Agency Implementing Agreement for a Cooperative Programme on Geothermal Energy Research and Technology, or Geothermal Implementing Agreement (GIA), provides an important framework for wide-ranging international cooperation in geothermal R&D. The activities of the GIA, which began in March 1997, are directed primarily to the coordination of on-going national programmes and focus on assembling specific capabilities and generating synergies by establishing direct cooperative links among the geothermal experts in the participating countries. The R&D activities are conducted under Annexes to the GIA, of which there are currently four: Environmental Impacts of Geothermal Energy Development, Enhanced Geothermal Systems, Deep Geothermal Resources and Advanced Geothermal Drilling Techniques. In late 2001, after a successful and productive initial 5-year period of operation, the GIA was extended for a second 5-year term, to March 2007. The overall goal for this new term, as defined in the 2002-2007 Strategic Plan, is to support and advance the use of geothermal energy on a worldwide scale by seeking to overcome the barriers to development. To meet this challenge, the GIA is preparing to expand its R&D activities beyond the present four Annexes to include several new topics, which are now defined as draft Annexes, and include: Direct Use of Geothermal Energy, Sustainability of Geothermal Energy Use and Geothermal Market Acceleration. In addition, efforts are currently underway to extend official GIA membership and to encourage qualified non-Member participation. As of June 2003, the European Commission (EC) and ten countries: Australia, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Italy, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Switzerland and the United States, were members. A brief review of the IEA and GIA structures is presented, and the status and highlights of GIA activities, and future prospects are summarized.