CONCLUSIONS

The International Forum “Geothermal Energy in the Spotlight” took place with success on 11 & 12 December 2009 in Thessaloniki, Greece.

More than 130 participants from universities, research institutes (IGME, CRES, NAGREF, etc) and companies from the geothermal energy sector as well as experts, researchers and students, attended the Forum.

In their key note speeches, the four invited speakers, who represented the international geothermal community (International Geothermal Association, European Geothermal Energy Council, etc), provided an overview of the geothermal situation around the world, the European Policy towards Geothermal Energy R & D, the European Energy Market and innovative methods of exploiting the geothermal energy.

The 43 scientific and technical papers that were presented in the Forum, elaborated on the issues of geothermal exploration in Greece, the prospects of further exploitation of the greek geothermal potential for power and heat production, the utilization of geothermal heat pumps for space heating and cooling and on new geothermal applications in Greece and abroad.

After two days of presentations and discussions, the key issues that had arisen during the Forum are summarized in the following conclusions:

1. The geothermal energy is a reliable, clean and environmentally friendly renewable energy source, which can and must contribute more to the energy balance of Greece, in both power and heat production sectors

2. The countryʼs important geothermal potential should at last be exploited, in the frame of the compulsory necessity of further development of the renewable energy sources and the urgency for environmental protection and reduction of the climate changes.

3. The national policy and the current perception of geothermal energy by the State must change. The geothermal energy exploration and exploitation should not be regulated by the provisions of the Mining Code and, furthermore, the concession and leasing procedures must definitely be simplified.

4. The greek geothermal community will continue to closely cooperate with the authorities and contribute in any effort that promotes the use of geothermal energy, by providing suggestions, proposals and recommendations, whenever it is needed. Currently, they will actively participate in the public consultation of the new Law for the RES development, by making specific suggestions for issues regarding the energy production from the greek geothermal resources.

Finally, it was decided that the 2nd International Forum GES2009, will be held in Thessaloniki in 2011, with the anticipation of broader international contributions and more active involvement of the local authorities.

International Forum

Geothermal Energy in the Spotlight

Thessaloniki, 11-12 December 2009