Abstract :
In order to assess the current status of international geothermal power generation, the author
has reviewed the Country Update (CU) papers submitted to the World Geothermal Conference
2000 in Japan from nations generating or planning to generate electricity. Salient facts in these
papers have been synthesized and summary descriptions of geothermally-related activities
written. Finally, following a brief discussion, conclusions are drawn and appropriate tables
and graphs presented. The CU reviews revealed that: (1) geothermally-fueled electric power is
being generated in 21 nations as of February 2000; (2) the installed capacity has reached 7974
MWe, which is a 16.7% increase since 1995; the total energy generated during the last 5 years
has been at least 49,261 GWh; about 1165 wells more than 100 m deep have been drilled, and
at least 13,621 person-years of professional geothermistsʹ time has been expended in the
nations that reported this statistic. # 2001 IGA. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd on behalf
of CNR. All rights reserved.
