Global Geothermal Alliance Events at the Iceland Geothermal Conference

Two events of the Global Geothermal Alliance (GGA), took place in the framework of the Iceland Geothermal Conference.

The first event, titled Geothermal Direct Utilisation and Food Security, provided the possibility to identify the key factors behind successful experiences and present partnership opportunities for projects and programmes related to direct uses of geothermal energy, with a focus on food and agriculture. Food security is one of the biggest concerns for developing countries, where geothermal energy could be used to heat greenhouses and sterilise soil to increase farmer productivity and off-season availability. It can also serve for drying, which helps preserve a wide range of foods. This could contribute to reduce food waste and result in substantial reduction in the drying space and time requirements, turning through domestic geothermal resources, food security challenges into potential drivers for economic development.

A second GGA event titled Regional Cluster workshop: Strategies for future collaboration, aimed to strengthen collaboration between regional and national industry platforms, and identified what strategies industry clusters can jointly develop or support to promote geothermal development globally.

Agenda of Geothermal Direct Utilisation and Food Security

Agenda of Regional Cluster workshop: Strategies for future collaboration

Presentations from 'Session 1: Accelerating geothermal energy deployment in the agricultural and food sectors: What challenges and success factors'

Geothermal direct use, with a focus on agriculture and agro-industry sectors
Margeir Gissurarson, Sigurjón Arason
Matís ohf., Iceland

Direct Use for Food Production — Learning Lessons in Central America
Tanja Faller
GIZ Central America

Accelerating geothermal energy deployment in the agricultural and food sectors: What challenges and success factors?
Loredana Torsello
Consortium for the Development of Geothermal Areas, Italy

Geothermal fuels prosperity: Food for thought
Andrea Blair
Upflow, New Zealand

Presentations from 'Session 2: From project ideas to implementation: Overcoming barriers and facilitating project partnerships'

Direct Use of Geothermal Energy for Food Security: Towards achieving Kenya's BIG4 Agenda
Johnson P. Ole Nchoe
Geothermal Development Company (GDC), Kenya

IIDEA's Installation and Geothermal Food Dehydration Testing System in Geothermal Field at San Pedro Lagunillas (Nayarit Dome)
Héctor Miguel Aviña Jiménez
IIDEA, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Mexico (UNAM), Mexico

Think Outside the Box: How creativity and innovative thinking when planning power production from geothermal resource can lead to value creation beyond expectation
Þorleikur Jóhannesson
Verkis, Iceland

For more information, please contact gga@irena.org