SURVEY OF INTERNATIONAL GEOTHERMAL DEVELOPMENTS 2009

As the global demand for clean, reliable, renewable energy increases, geothermal energy is becoming an attractive solution to quell some of the world's energy hunger pangs and respond to the desire to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions. This is true, not only in the United States, where current production is approaching 3,000 MWe, but at numerous locations on six continents. An area of increased emphasis has become Enhanced or Engineered Geothermal Systems (EGS). What follows is an incomplete and brief survey of geothermal developments outside of the US in 2009.

Some of the most integrated and profound policy developments have been occurring in Australia, where significant governmental commitment and financial support are advancing the country's EGS (Hot Dry Rock or HDR) efforts. Another notable development can be found in Europe, where the ENGINE Project (ENhanced Geothermal Innovative Network for Europe) is a coordinated "action supported by the 6th Research and Development framework of the European Union," according to the website.

A June 2008 article by Ruggero Bertani from Enel in the IGA News predicted that by 2010 there might be as much as 11,000 MWe of geothermal energy produced globally.