Benefits of Geothermal Energy Must Be Made Known to Governments
　　Phillip Michael Wright, President of the International Geothermal Association
　　"Geothermal Energy in the 21st Century"
　　Wright began his Special Address by leading a round of applause in appreciation of the excellent job done by the Honorary Committee, JOC and all

Phillip M.Wright

the people concerned and the warm hospitality of the prefectural and municipal governments hosting the WGC and that of their citizens, stating firmly his belief that WGC2000 was an unqualified success with the mood positive and presentations and poster sessions of a very high quality.
　　However, despite the fact that use of geothermal energy is growing and major breakthroughs are being made in technology and direct uses expanding, the energy accounts for only four tenths of 1% of world-wide energy use. This is because fossil fuel is cheap and plentiful and is portable, unlike geothermal energy, besides having a well established infrastructure throughout the world. Furthermore, there is no restriction on this energy supply within this century. Thus, the real challenge is how to dramatically increase geothermal energy production and use by at least 1000 MW a year in the face of this stiff competition.
　　Currently, there is little or no penalty on polluting the environment although this is slowly changing with the Kyoto Protocol. Some countries are making efforts to cut down on global warming gases. In fact, recent data show that today, the level of carbon dioxide is ten times lower than in the past. And there is a growing momentum to develop the so called "green energy" market for there is a certain percentage of people and governments that are willing to pay more for clean energy, and this trend seems to be growing.
　　The growth is most rapid in places where government commitment is strong. For example, in Iceland, 90% of houses are heated using geothermal energy while in the Philippines, 26% of electricity is from this energy source. But the energy is slow in being used to its full potential in emerging and industrialized countries. In the former, it is because of lack of money. Funding is needed as what is available at present is not adequate. This is due in part to unstable government and inadequate laws and regulations to attract private funding.
　　Therefore it is important that people and governments know that although the initial cost of power generation and direct heat utilization is high, the life cycle cost of geothermal energy is low. Thus, when the initial cost has been recovered, operational and maintenance costs are competitive. What is needed is government interest to finance geothermal projects as well as a long-term energy plan.
　　Work must be done within individual governments to convince them of the benefits derived from geothermal energy; that it is clean, renewable, and indigenous. It must be made known that geothermal energy has a low life cycle cost and of the need to support its development. Resources are most abundant in emerging nations. World-wide, about 40 million people make use of geothermal energy. This can be increased to 800 million people.
　　What is strongly needed is to increase efforts to improve requisite technology, thus lowering costs; encourage R&D programs not only in the field of geothermal energy but also in related fields; encourage scientists and engineers to attend conferences to exchange ideas; promote exchange of ideas through electronic networking; convince decision makers around the world, the UN, the World Bank, other financial institutions and the general public of the benefits derived from geothermal energy use; look beyond national borders and make sure that everyone around the world has access to breakthroughs made in geothermal energy; and last but not least, attend local and regional meetings and not wait for the next WGC as there is a great need to come together often and to share information in order to further advance the development of geothermal technology.

Geothermal Energy: Clean, Sustainable, Renewable Energy of the Future

Katsuro Ogawa	Ladislaus Rybach	Michio Kuriyagawa	Teruyuki Akema

　　Under the theme of "Sustaining Geothermal Energy into the 21st Century," the first half of the World Geothermal Congress 2000 (WGC2000) was held at B-Con Plaza, Beppu City, Oita Prefecture, Kyushu region from May 28 to June 2. Prior to the second half of the WGC2000, the Kazuno Geo-Friendship Forum was convened in Kazuno City, Akita Prefecture, where specialists and local residents exchanged information and opinions on various concerns. From June 5 to 7, 2000, the second half of the WGC2000 took place at APIO complex, Takizawa village, located on the outskirts of Morioka City, Iwate Prefecture, Tohoku region.
　　The WGC2000 was a resounding success as participants had access to rounds of high quality plenary sessions, technical sessions, poster presentations and exhibitions, as well as the opportunity to set up business and personal contacts. It was, furthermore, a reaffirmation of the need for more technological breakthroughs to curtail the costs of exploration and exploitation while stressing the need to persuade governments around the world of the advantages of the eco-friendly geothermal energy.
　　Ladislaus Rybach, Chairman of the Organizing Commitee for WGC2000 (OC) summed the Congress saying that at the start of the WGC2000 he had stated to a TV reporter that the Congress had made a good take off and now, was convinced that it was in the process of making a happy landing not the least because of the great number of people who had attended (1,700 from 61 countries) and the sessions being on schedule. He enthusiastically endorsed the sentiments expressed earlier by Phillip M. Wright of the unqualified success of the Congress with its wealth of interesting and new information and opportunities for personal businesses and contacts. He added that WGC was much more than this, thanks to the well coordinated cultural and social events. In fact, he believes that he will continue to remember the sounds of drums for a long time. He extended his deep gratitude and heartfelt thanks to the wonderful hosts for the VIP treatment that they have received and believes that the WGC2000 has set the standard for future Congresses.
　　Katsuro Ogawa, Representative of the Japanese Organizing Committee (JOC) stated that the repeated challenge facing mankind was the preservation of the environment while ensuring a stable energy supply. At the Earth Summit in Brazil, Agenda 21 was proposed, while at COP3 in 1997 in Kyoto, the Kyoto Protocol was endorsed by all attending nations. Thus the message is for an energy source that is friendly to the environment and to people. As such, he said that it was most gratifying to learn of the increasing use of geothermal energy in the world, as it was to hear the reaffirmation of the energy as a sustainable and renewable energy source and observe the sharing, exchange and promotion of knowledge.
　　He was followed by Michio Kuriyagawa, Vice-chairman of JOC, who read aloud The Declaration of WGC2000 (see box below on right).
　　Phillip M. Wright, Chairman of the International Geothermal Association (IGA), next introduced the host country for WGC2005, saying that many proposals had been received from various countries but that the one from the Turkish Geothermal Association in Turkey seemed most interesting and when a delegation went in March to Antalya, it was unanimously approved as the next site.
　　Orhan Mertoglu, Chairman of the Turkish Geothermal Association, Turkey, who had sent the proposal to IGA, welcomed all the participants to the next WGC saying it was an invaluable privilege and honor. He presented the audience with a wonderfully presented video show of the city of Antalya, the next WGC site as well as clips of various geothermal facilities in operation in Turkey.
　　Cumhur Ersumer, Minister of Energy and National Resources, Turkey addressed the audience with warm words of welcome stating he was proud to be able to invite all present in the name of his government (see below for summary of his speech). Following his address, he was presented with a mascot (locally made traditional horse) from Teruyuki Akema, Honorary Chairman of WGC2000.

Welcome to WGC2005 in Beautiful Antalya, Turkey

Cumhur Ersumer	Orhan Mertoglu

　　By Cumhur Ersumer, Minister of Energy and National Resources, Turkey
　　Turkey is the 7th largest geothermal producer in the world and is pleased to be 5th in place in non-electrical geothermal resource use. It would be pleased to be accounted 3rd in the world in the future.
　　Currently, around 52,000 households are heated using geothermal energy and in this we have profited much from the joint projects with Japan and other countries. For this we thank you very much. There are 30 people from Turkey attending WGC2000 and I am sure that they will draw upon the new knowledge that they have gained this time to further geothermal energy development in our country.
　　The Anatolia region, the site of the next WGC, is a very important tourist site. Therefore participants will be able to enjoy the historical richness and beauty of the area at WGC2005. I am proud to be able to invite you all in the name of my government to WGC2005 in Antalya. This is especially so as our political policy is expanding to resources which are environmentally friendly. We wish, therefore, to attract investors to explore and exploit our geothermal energy sources as special laws and legislations will be passed to expand geothermal use.
　　I hope to see you all in 2005 in Antalya.

Success In Bringing the Congress to Japan
　　Tsutomu Kidahashi, Chairman of Finance Committee of JOC and Deputy Chairman of Finance Subcommittee of OC, recalls when he was asked to give a speech at the World Geothermal Congress in 1995 in Florence, Italy. As the supervisor for geothermal energy for his company at the time, he knew the

Tsutomu Kidahashi

importance of geothermal energy to Japan and made a decision to try and bring the Congress to Japan in 2000. At first, the task seemed daunting, but with help from the OC and JOC, he is proud to say it will be a success. With over a 1,000 guests coming from all over the world, Kidahashi will be able to show off Japan and its culture in three different locations -- holding the Congress in three locations is a first. Also with financial help, Kidahashi was happy to mention that 180 guests from poorer countries, who would not have been able to attend for financial reasons, were paid for so that their country's endeavors would also be represented.
　　When asked about the merits of geothermal energy, though the cost is great he admitted, the benefits given to the environment cannot be overlooked. It does not burn fuel, the energy source is indigenous, waste water is unnecessary, and noise pollution is nonexistent. Nevertheless, there are barriers that need to be dealt with. These include the unfortunate problem that most geothermal areas in Japan are in national parks restricting drilling, that conflicts are occurring between geothermal energy producers and hot spring resort owners, and that the cost of drilling facilities is still quite high. For what he would like to see in the future of geothermal energy, he mentioned more research in binary cycle drilling for increased efficiency, more research in "hot dry rock" development where water is added to dry locations of hot rock for the generation of steam, and more direct use of geothermal energy by more people worldwide. Finally, about the next Congress in Turkey, he is looking forward to it with great anticipation and hopes to see more geothermal energy production in Turkey to compliment their high level of its direct use.

Declaration of the World Geothermal Congress 2000
Preamble
　　Despite the limitations of Planet Earth's conventional energy resources, the demand for energy is continuously rising as a result of increasing population and industrialization. The utilization of fossil energy resources, which led to great technological and social developments in the past, now is causing increasingly disastrous effects on the global environment. The atmosphere, oceans, climate, ecosystems, food resources, and human health on Earth are all being adversely affected by atmospheric emissions from massive combustion of fossil fuels. These damaging emissions include carbon dioxide, an important greenhouse gas; sulphur oxides that cause acid precipitation, corrosion, and respiratory disease; nitrogen oxides that generate ground-level ozone, resulting in damage to crops, animals and human health; and particulate matter that causes adverse health effects in plants, animals, and humans.
　　In this situation there is urgent need to deploy sustainable and environmentally clean energy sources. An important contribution could be made by rapidly expanding the use of renewable energy sources such as geothermal energy. A number of countries stand out as having made utilization of geothermal resources a national priority. Among these, we cite just two examples; nearly 90 percent of homes and other buildings in Iceland are heated by geothermal waters, and approximately 40 percent of electrical power generation in the Philippines comes from geothermal steam. Since many other countries possess vastly underutilized geothermal resources, these examples could be replicated elsewhere if there was the will to do so.
　　Research sponsored by governments and companies continues to improve geothermal technology. Despite higher initial cost, the life-cycle cost of geothermal energy utilization is reasonably low. When the environmental benefits are factored in, the case for increased geothermal use is compelling.
　　For these reasons, the participants of the World Geothermal Congress 2000, representing delegates from 60 countries, assembled in Kyushu and Tohoku, Japan from 28 May to 10 June 2000, under the auspices of International Geothermal Association and Japanese Organizing Committee, DO HEREBY ANNOUNCE THAT,

Considering that:
● geothermal energy is a clean, proven and reliable resource for supplying the needs of a sustainable society and helping to improve the global environment,
● essentially every country has some form of useful geothermal energy resources,
● the total worldwide resource base in geothermal energy is enormous and vastly underutilized,
● most importantly, strong commitments are needed by governments of countries having plentiful geothermal resources in order to promote increased utilization,
● life-cycle costs of geothermal technologies are competitive with the costs of other forms of energy, especially when environmental externalities are considered,
● increased research, development, demonstration and market deployment are needed to lower initial development costs and help secure the contributions of geothermal energy,
● a significant amount of time is required to build a base of geothermal technologies and educated people to apply them,

And also considering that
● societies and governments have choices in development of their energy infrastructure,
● construction of fossil-energy fired power plants will result in commitment to a stream of damaging atmospheric emissions,
● informed decisions require accurate and timely information at all levels in a society.

Now, therefore we, the international
geothermal community:
● CALL UPON the governments of nations to make strong commitments to developing their indigenous geothermal resources for the benefit of their own people, humanity and the environment,
● URGE governments to perform assessments of their country's geothermal resource potential for use in electrical power generation, heating and cooling of homes and buildings, food processing, fish farming, refrigeration, and a myriad of other uses,
● URGE governments to adopt policies, laws and regulations that promote investment in development of their indigenous geothermal resources,
● CALL UPON the United Nations, the World Bank, and other institutions to include strong geothermal energy components in their programs.
● URGE geothermal industries and agencies worldwide to accelerate their development of geothermal resources,
● URGE governments, agencies, industries and others to promote and encourage expanded international cooperation in geothermal energy research, and in the development and demonstration of new and improved technologies, and
● DECLARE that we, the members of the worldwide geothermal community, will do our utmost to promote geothermal energy utilization, to disseminate information on geothermal energy, to transfer geothermal technology to those who need it, and to work with governments, world bodies, educational institutions, and others to promote expanded use of clean, reliable, environmentally advantageous geothermal energy.