Izmir will host the three-day International Geothermal Conference (IGC) to bring the Turkish and international geothermal sector together on May 22-24.
Anadolu Agency is the global communication partner of the event, which will be held at the Swissotel Buyuk Efes Izmir.
Turkey’s geothermal sector has experienced an incredible rise in recent years with a growth in power generation capacity from 30 megawatts (MW) in 2008 to the current 858 MW. For this reason, Turkey is attracting a lot of interest from the global geothermal energy community both as a market for products and services and as an example on how to stimulate geothermal project development.
Leading Turkish and international geothermal experts are set to gather to provide updates and insights on the latest developments in geothermal technologies, financing, reservoir management, operations and exploration, as well review the past and potential future developments of Turkey’s geothermal sector.
Additionally, other topics include drilling for geothermal energy - challenges and innovations, the economics and efficiency of geothermal projects and proposed and realized production.
The conference, organized by the World Bank and Energy Sector Management Assistance Program (ESMAP) and EXERGY, will be simultaneously translated in both English and Turkish.
The congress will also showcase the Menderes Graben - the geothermal hotspot of Turkey and a key focus of the congress.
The first day of the conference will see the World Bank workshop start with in-depth presentations on two components of the project, the risk sharing mechanism for resource confirmation and the loan facility for resource development.
A training session on the key environmental, social and greenhouse gas climate change issues in geothermal development projects in exploration and operations will follow this. In addition, related national legislation and World Bank requirements, the management through best practices of social and environmental risk impacts in geothermal projects and greenhouse gas emissions in Turkey's geothermal systems and how it changes over time will also be addressed.
The second day will see the opening session with speeches from Alexander Richter, president of the International Geothermal Association and Thrainn Fridriksson from the World Bank.
By Gulsen Cagatay
Anadolu Agency
energy@aa.com.tr