Technical Training Workshop: Geothermal Regulation, Environmental Licensing and Reservoir Modelling
The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), together with the Andean Geothermal Center of Excellence (CEGA) and the Geothermal Institute (University of Auckland, New Zealand), organised a technical training workshop on regulation, environmental considerations, and reservoir modelling for geothermal energy, with a focus on the Andean region.
The training, conducted on 26-30 May in the Chilean capital, Santiago de Chile, came as part of IRENA’s Geothermal Initiative in Andes, launched with the Latin America Energy Organization (OLADE) and the International Geothermal Association (IGA) in 2013 to support Andean countries in developing their vast, untapped geothermal energy potential. The initiative has received technical support from France, Iceland, Mexico and New Zealand, with financial support provided by Iceland.
The workshop was aimed at staff from regulators and (public) technical support agencies that are developing geothermal projects in Andean countries. It provided a general introduction to geothermal science, engineering, project cycles, investment, and regulation, along with specific components focused on environmental impact, monitoring and management, geothermal reservoir modelling, and software.
National delegates gave short presentations on the status of geothermal development in each Andean country and discussed country-specific challenges and capacity building with CEGA and Geothermal Initiative representatives.
The main points of discussion from the workshop are presented in a summary paper.
Introduction
Introduction to geothermal-science and engineering
John O’Sullivan, Geothermal Institute
Introduction to geothermal environmental considerations
Bridget Lynne, Geothermal Institute
Overview of regulatory aspects
Bart van Campen, Geothermal Institute
Geothermal resource assessment: techniques, reporting, monitoring
Bart van Campen, Geothermal Institute
Introduction reservoir modelling
John O’Sullivan, Geothermal Institute
Geothermal Science, Environment & Monitoring
Geothermal systems revisited and conceptual models
Bridget Lynne, Geothermal Institute
Geothermal as multidisciplinary projects and science
Bridget Lynne, Geothermal Institute
Sustainability from geothermal science point of view
Bridget Lynne, Geothermal Institute
Tracking heat flow migration
Bridget Lynne, Geothermal Institute
Geothermal fluids: The good, bad and the ugly
Bridget Lynne, Geothermal Institute
Case study: Rotorua
Bridget Lynne, Geothermal Institute
Case study: Tauhara
Bridget Lynne, Geothermal Institute
Environmental regulation, monitoring and need for on-going research
Bridget Lynne, Geothermal Institute
New techniques in geothermal exploration
Bridget Lynne, Geothermal Institute
Country Presentations
Chile
Diego Morata, Universidad de Chile
Colombia
Veracruz Castro, ISAGEN
Ecuador
Andrés Lloret, INER
Ecuador
Maria Parreno, CELEC
Ecuador
Byron Betancourt and Alonso Moreno, CONELEC
Nicaragua
Geovanni Carranza, MEM
Peru
Alcides Claros, MINEM
Bolivia
Juan Manuel Gonzales, Vice Minister of Electricity and Alternative Energy
Geothermal energy regulators and technicians from around the Andean region gathered in Santiago for technical training organised by IRENA, the Andes Geothermal Centre of Excellence and New Zealand’s Geothermal Institute.