The Role of geothermal energy and capacity building in achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals in Latin America and the Caribbean

Abstract

The United Nations (UN) has committed to ensuring access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all by 2030, as stated in Sustainable Development Goal 7. In order to achieve this, energy will need to be brought to over one billion people in developing and transitional countries over a short time period. It is foreseen that a large part of this energy will come from the renewables, including geothermal energy. Capacity building is a key enabler in accelerating the utilization of geothermal energy in countries of greatest need. Based on the “World Energy Scenarios” report on the status in 2010 and predictions for 2050 (WEC, 2013), the primary energy consumption in the world was assessed to be 546 EJ in 2010, with about 80% coming from fossil fuels, but only 15% from renewable energy sources. The contribution of the renewables is discussed and their possibilities. Their current share in the energy production is mainly from biomass and hydro, followed by wind solar, and geothermal. In a future envisioned with depleting resources of fossil fuels and environmentally acceptable energy sources, geothermal energy with its large technical potential is expected to play an important role. The status of geothermal in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) and its possible future role is discussed, as well as the capacity building activities of UNUGTP with emphasis on LAC region.