Centralamerica: Identification of Geothermal Energy Resources for Local Development
Country / Region: SICA/Centralamerica (Belize, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama)
Focal Point: Renewable Energy
Begin of project: June 1, 2016
End of project: March 31, 2024
Status of project: April 24, 2023
Geology field work with counterparts
Source: BGR
Due to its location at the pacific ring of fire, Central America is an area of high geothermal energy potential. Its use for power production already began in the1970s. By means of the Centralamerican Energy Strategy 2030 the SICA region promotes the extension of renewable energies to substitute fossil energy resources and strives for a more intense use of geothermal resources. For power production, geothermal energy offers base load capacity and the advantage of climate neutrality due to low emission of greenhouse gases at a competitive cost and performance efficiency, which makes it superior to solar and wind power in several cases.
Beyond power production, geothermal energy can be applied directly (heating/cooling). This comprises tourism (e.g. thermal/hot spring pools), agro business (e.g. drying of agricultural products, pasteurization, cooling of products) and other industries, health and housing. To develop these applications in the region, fundamental strategies and support for orientation are required, starting from the identification of potential uses by characterization and classification of known hydrothermal manifestations. Considering many varying actors and a broad spectrum of applications, local decision-making and planning processes and thus the participation of local governments play a significant role in this case.
Gas sampling in South Honduras
Source: BGR
In the framework of the Project for the Identification of Geothermal Energy Resources for Local Development in Central America (Yacimientos II), national partners of SICA member countries are supported in the survey of geoscientific data for geothermal resources and the determination of their potential in local development planning. In this context, the development and implementation of demand-oriented training formats, the accompaniment of partner institutions in the implementation of geoscientific exploration activities as well as the standardized considering of geothermal energy in local decision making are important results of the project. The documentation of technical procedures in manuals and technical guides supports an adequate data management and strengthens information comparability regarding regional geothermal resources.
The Yacimientos II project is mainly active in six project areas, in which data for the identification and classification of geothermal resources, especially regarding thermal springs, are identified by use of selected geoscientific methods. In a further step, these are considered in instruments for local planning. Focuses of the geoscientific activities are mainly remote sensing, low cost geophysical exploration and geochemical classification of thermal waters.
Regional cooperation – visit of Honduran partners in Costa Rica
Source: BGR
The support of regional and international cooperation efforts related to geothermal resources exploration encourages regional knowledge transfer and helps to overcome regional disparities in technical know how. The geoscientific technical working group GTG has a significant role in this process. As an advisory body to the SICA Energy Minister Council, the GTG is aiming at a formalized regional exchange and regional cooperation for geoscientific questions of geothermal energy, which makes it a vehicle for regional information development.
The concept and the implementation of Yacimientos II project is strongly oriented on the lessons learnt and the results of the previous Yacimientos I project (2016-2020).
Video:
UAV-assisted identification of thermal springs in Costa Rica
Project contributions:
Literature:
Factsheet: Identification of Geothermal Resources for local development in Central America (Yacimientos II)
Partner:
The regional political partner of the project is the Sistema de Integración Centroamericana (Centralamerican Integration System, SICA) with its Energy Coordination Unit UCE-SICA. Partners for implementation on country level are mainly the energy ministries/energy secretariats and public energy companies. On local level, the project bases on the cooperation with selected local community federations and local governments.