Beyond (Agro) Industrial Solutions: Approaching Direct Use of Geothermal Energy with a Social and Economic Perspective

Abstract

Central America holds a high potential utilization of geothermal energy. As a clean and climate resilient energy source, geothermal energy plays an important role in providing base load power generation to the Central American power grid. So far, Central America has not yet taken advantage of the geothermal potential that lies in direct use applications. While geothermal direct uses provide heating and cooling solutions for both the industrial and residential sectors globally, the development and implementation of these technologies in Central America has been sluggish. Pilot projects are crucial in ensuring the viability of direct uses of geothermal energy in the region and to demonstrate the potential to lower energy consumption costs and great impact at a social and economic level. On behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) has been implementing the Program for the Promotion of Geothermal Energy in Central America. GIZ develop a series of feasibility studies for selected pilot projects in Central America as part of the efforts to demonstrate the technical, economic and administrative feasibility for direct uses of geothermal energy. The first results of these studies focused on agricultural/agri industrial applications of direct use of geothermal energy will be the main topic to present.