The Global Geothermal Alliance aims for a 500% increase in global installed capacity for geothermal power generation and a 200% increase in geothermal heating by 2030.

Despite 90 countries able to utilise and develop this form of energy production, only 13 gigawatts of installed capacity exists worldwide according to the GGA.

“Geothermal has proven its potential to be part of both the global climate and energy action agenda,” International Renewable Energy Agency director general Adan Amin said.

“While geothermal can provide baseload power at some of the lowest costs for any power source, it remains under developed.”

While investment and high cost up-front costs could get in the way of commercialising geothermal power, particularly in the areas of surface geophysical studies and exploration drilling, the upside is low cost electricity generation once a geothermal plant is in operation.

The GGA hopes to tackle such challenges by through technological cooperation, coordinating regional and national efforts and facilitating investment into geothermal energy.

Earlier this year, geoscientists from Papua New Guinea’s Mineral Resources Authority presented their survey findings at the World Geothermal Congress in Melbourne.

Their research touched on preliminary geothermal mapping in West New Britain, a one-dimension interpretation of Schlumberger DC Resistivity Data from the Talasea geothermal field, the unique challenges of geothermal exploration in PNG, and defining structural lineations associated with geothermal manifestations using remote sensing and seismicity datasets.

At the time, MRA geological survey division executive manager Nathan Mosusu said: “All this work being done by MRA to survey geothermal resources in the country, is done in anticipation of the national government’s plans to develop alternative energy sources such as geothermal energy to facilitate the industrial growth and prosperity of PNG.”