Geothermal energy overview 2010

Globally installed geothermal energy capacity in 2010 is 10,715 MW which represents a 20% increase compared to 2005 when 24 countries accounted for total geothermal capacity of 8,933 MW (this number refers to electricity generating potential based on geothermal energy). The number of states that have shown interest for geothermal energy has increased even more, in 2007 46 countries seriously considered geothermal energy, and this number increased in 2010 to 70 countries, a significant growth of 52 %. Despite this significant increase there are still many countries that fail to use their geothermal potential. In 1999, 39 states were identified as having big enough geothermal energy potential to satisfy 100% of their needs for electricity but only nine of these states started using geothermal energy on more serious level. For comparison on how much geothermal energy capacity is currently installed worldwide we can use nuclear power plants as an example: the average nuclear power plant has the capacity of 846 MW so according to this currently globally installed geothermal capacity equals the power of a bit more than 12 average nuclear power plants

The United States of America is still the global leader in generating electricity from geothermal energy with 3,086 MW of installed geothermal capacity. U.S. is followed by Philippines with 1,904 MW, Indonesia with 1,197 MW, Mexico with 958 MW, and Italy is the best ranked European country with 843 MW. U.S. also has the biggest number of added geothermal capacity in comparison with 2005- 530 MW, where they are followed by Indonesia with 400 MW, Iceland with 373 MW, and New Zealand with 193 MW. If we look at the percentages then we can see that Germany was the leading country on global level with the growth of 2,774% compared to 2005. Papua New Guinea is the second ranked country with the growth of 833%.

Ring of fire on the world map.

Geothermal energy is still mostly used in area popularly called „ring of fire“ but compared to 2005 it can be clearly seen that geothermal energy is being harnessed even beyond this area, in places which so far have been regarded as inadequate to use this form of energy. This refers mostly to European countries like France, Latvia, Germany and Great Britain which have introduced different benefits that reduce the chance of failure for new geothermal energy projects. Although there weren't any major geothermal energy projects in the last couple of years, geothermal energy is so far being mostly harnessed in Italy where the totally installed geothermal capacity equals to 843 MW (the amount of energy one nuclear power plant can produce). This is due to the very favorable region Landarello that has an almost ideal location to harness geothermal energy. This region has very hot granite rocks very near the surface that produce steam with temperature of 220 °C (396 °F).

Countries Generating Geothermal Power in 2010: