The new Geothermal Energy Technology and International Development Forum will represent companies involved in developing geothermal resources to meet energy needs across the world.

The Forum is founded by and comprised of the European Geothermal Energy Council, the United Stated Geothermal Energy Association, the Canadian Geothermal Energy Association, the Australian Geothermal Energy Association, and the Chilean Geothermal Energy Association.

According to Philippe Dumas of the European Geothermal Energy Council, advocating for a range of government policies can aid and provide support for the development of geothermal resources. Such advocacy is part of the mandate of the Forum.

“Support for the development of geothermal resources is our priority,” said Mr Dumas. “We will call upon each country to assess the potential of geothermal and develop effective long-term incentives and policy supports for this growing renewable industry.”

According to the Forum leaders, geothermal power presently supplies the world with 10,715 megawatts (MW) of electricity in 24 countries on six continents, and the potential to use geothermal resources is much greater now, with the technology available and under development for the future. Additionally, the Forum states, geothermal resources are capable of supplying more than 300,000 MW of power worldwide, while producing far fewer carbon emissions.

“Geothermal energy can be a part of the solution to growing concerns about securing sustainable, cost-effective energy sources," said Director of the Canadian Geothermal Energy Association, Alexander Richter.

"We are therefore looking very much forward to working together as part of this international geothermal business coalition, to promote the vast potential of geothermal energy worldwide, but also to the tremendous market opportunity for companies participating in the growth of the industry."

The new geothermal Forum will call upon governments to work towards expanding efforts in utilising geothermal resources in every nation as an important part of the answer to global environmental, climate change, and energy security problems.

With the potential that geothermal has to create clean, renewable base load energy and bring jobs to the nations that embrace it, the Forum leaders will work to ensure that geothermal resources are not ignored in national and international energy plans.

“International and multi-national organisations will also be vital to supporting geothermal resource assessment, technology development, and the development of global policies and financial incentives to expand the use of geothermal resources,” said President of the Chilean Geothermal Energy Association, Fernando Allendes.

The Geothermal Energy Association 2011, Geothermal Energy Technology and International Development Forum, where the new Forum was announced, brought together over 200 industry leaders, foreign diplomats, financiers and government officials to participate in discussions on the geothermal market current, projects under development in the United States and internationally, and the outlook for the future of the geothermal market.

“This gathering has again shown the importance of the growing global geothermal market and how supportive government policies are the key to fuelling its growth,” said Geothermal Energy Association Executive Director, and Chairman of the Department of Commerce Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Advisory Committee, Karl Gawell.

Susan Jeans, Chief Executive of the Australian Geothermal Energy Association, echoed the importance of promoting geothermal energy production: “As we see people across the globe clamouring for safe, clean, and renewable power – the geothermal industry can help meet those demands if government policies recognise the potential of geothermal energy.

“Given its unique and wide-ranging benefits including its base-load capability, relative low cost to other generation technologies, and that it doesn’t produce waste materials that need to be dealt with by future generations, it is vital that governments provide funding and support to develop their geothermal industries equal to, if not greater than, that provided to other technologies,” Ms Jeans added.