Geothermal resources have the potential of contri-buting
significantly to sustainable development in
many parts of the world. Sustainable management of
a geothermal resource involves utilization at a rate,
which may be maintained for a very long time (100-
300 years). The energy production potential of geo-thermal
systems is primarily determined by the
pressure decline caused by production and over-exploitation
of geothermal systems mostly occurs
because of poor understanding, due to inadequate
monitoring, and when many users utilize the same
resource without common management. Careful
monitoring and modeling, as well as energy-efficient
utilization, are essential ingredients in sustainable
management. Reinjection is also essential for
sustainable utilization of geothermal systems, which
are virtually closed and with limited recharge. The
Hamar low-temperature geothermal system in the
volcanic lava-pile of Central N-Iceland and the low-temperature
geothermal resources in the sedimentary
basin below the city of Beijing, P.R. of China have
been utilized for decades. They are examples of geo-thermal
resources, of highly contrasting nature,
which may each be managed in a sustainable manner.
The sustainable potential of the Hamar system is
estimated, through modeling, to be greater than 40
kg/s of 65?C water. Reinjection is essential for sus-tainable
management of the Beijing resource. The
Nesjavellir high-temperature geothermal field is
located inside the volcanic zone in SW-Iceland.
Production from the field is planned at 120 MWe, and
400 MWt, for the next decades. This production
canít be maintained in a sustainable manner for 100-
300 years, but the effect appears to be reversible and
the field may likely be utilized at a reduced rate, in a
sustainable manner following a 30-year period of
excessive utilization.

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