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Germany to host International Geothermal Association for an additional 3 years

Germany to host International Geothermal Association for an additional 3 years New and old IGA Board, Bochum, Germany - Nov. 15, 2013 (source: Benedikt Steingrimsson)
Alexander Richter 17 Feb 2016

With the approval of a EUR 1 million grant, the Secretariat of the International Geothermal Association will continue to be hosted in Bochum, Germany.

In a release today by the German Geothermal Association (Bundesverband Geothermie), it is reported that the Secretariat of the International Geothermal Association will continue to be hosted at the International Geothermal Center at the University of Bochum,

The International Geothermal Association (IGA) is the association of the national geothermal associations, with more than 5,000 members from 65 countries and has been hosted in Bochum for the past 5 years.

With a grant approval today of a total amount of EUR 1 million ($1.1 million) for the next three years by the European Regional Development Fund and the State of North Rhine-Westphalia, IGA is now well positioned to continue its work as an international platform for geothermal knowledge, technology transfer and education all over the world.

The grant approval certificate was today given to the hosting entity, the University of Bochum by Johannes Remmel (Alliance ’90 / The Greens Party), Minister for Climate Protection, Environment, Agriculture, Conservation and Consumer Protection of North Rhine-Westphalia.

Dr. Erwin Knapek, President of the German Geothermal Association in Berlin, sees this as an acknowledgement of the international position of geothermal energy in Germany: “The IGA offers ideal conditions to bring research and industry together in the international arena. Even more so, I am pleased that the geothermal energy sector in Germany will be further expanded. “The Association (Bundesverband Geothermie e.V.) has been the host of IGA since May 2010. The aim of the IGA is to promote research, development and use of geothermal energy worldwide. As part of a cooperation agreement, the University of Bochum, the EnergieAgentur.NRW and the Geothermal Centre Bochum (GCW) support the association through sponsorship.

The eligibility period for the IGA runs for three years. “On behalf of the International Geothermal Association, I thank the State of North Rhine-Westphalia and the European Union to further support the IGA office in Bochum. Likewise, the IGA commends the commitment of the state of NRW in the renewable energy sector, “said Dr. Juliet Newson, President of the International Geothermal Association. Prof. Dr. Rolf Bracke, Director of the Geothermal Centre Bochum (GCW), sees significant regional benefits in the work of the IGA. “The new knowledge and transfer platform for geothermal climate protection technologies provides the IGA and the Geothermal Center Bochum a true win-win situation. The Bochum Research Center provides the IGA and the domestic economy an optimal project framework and will also further strengthen its own positioning towards international partners and networks, “said Bracke.

Source: Press release by the German Geothermal Association by email

Disclaimer: the author is a member of the Board of the IGA