IEA Geothermal Annex VIII – Direct Use of Geothermal Energy

Abstract

Direct Use of Geothermal Energy is one of six Annexes of the International Energy Agency (IEA) Geothermal Implementing Agreement (Geothermal). Annex VIII Direct Use of Geothermal Energy was initiated in 2003. Geothermal water has been used for millennia for various applications. During the last several decades, the use of geothermal energy for a range of heating purposes has become more and more important worldwide, and the number of applications has increased dramatically. Many applications, which require heat up to a specific temperature, can use geothermal energy, such as: heating buildings, raising plants in greenhouses, drying crops, fish farming, snow melting, bathing, therapeutic purposes, and also industrial processes. In recent times, cooling by geothermal energy has become more and more important. In 2012, four of the existing five Tasks of Annex VIII were successfully completed. These were: Resource Characterization, Cost and Performance Database, Barrier and Opportunity Identification, and Publication and Geographical Presentation on the Web. The Task “Design Configuration and Engineering Standards” will be continued. In spring 2013, Annex VIII was completely restructured and the Annex members defined four new Tasks: A) New and Innovative Geothermal Direct Use Applications, B) Communication, C) Guidelines on Geothermal Energy Statistics, D) Guidelines on Statistics for Geothermal Heat Pump Applications and E) Design Configuration and Engineering Standards (continued). Current members of Annex VIII are the Canadian Geothermal Energy Association (CanGEA), France, Iceland, Japan, New Zealand, Republic of Korea, Switzerland, United Kingdom, and United States of America. The new mission of Annex VIII is the provision of unbiased active and passive information, communication and knowledge transfer to mitigate the barriers and to enhance deployment. The main objectives are to cooperate and share knowledge and to increase the use of existing technologies, especially by boosting awareness. New participants are always welcome. The relevant industries, organizations and research laboratories of member and non-member countries interested in participating are encouraged to join the Annex.