A sustainability assessment framework for geothermal energy projects: Development in Iceland, New Zealand and Kenya. (October 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Shortall, Ruth; Davidsdottir, Brynhildur; Axelsson, Guðni
• Is Part Of: Renewable & sustainable energy reviews. Volume 50(2015:Oct.)
• Page Start: 372
• Page End: 407
• Publication Date: 2015-10
• Subjects: Geothermal energy -- Sustainability -- Sustainability indicators; Renewable energy sources -- Periodicals; Power resources -- Periodicals; Énergies renouvelables -- Périodiques; Ressources énergétiques -- Périodiques; 333.794
• DOI: 10.1016/j.rser.2015.04.175
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1364-0321

Abstract

Abstract: With increasing global energy consumption, geothermal energy usage is set to increase in the future. There is potential for geothermal developments in many countries all over the world, where geothermal resources are located. Geothermal developments may result in both positive and negative environmental and socio-economic impacts. Sustainability assessment tools are useful to decision-makers in showing the progress of energy developments towards sustainability, and the international community has called for the development of indicators to steer countries or regions into sustainable energy development. Stakeholder engagement is important in developing tools for assessing sustainability since there tends to be an absence of scientific consensus on the components of sustainable development. As well as this, conditions for defining sustainable development tend to be context-specific and depend on the values of current as well as future human societies. The input of a wide variety of stakeholders in different countries is crucial for minimizing biases in the assessment framework. Due to the unique issues associated with geothermal energy projects in different locations, a customized framework for assessing the sustainability of such projects is required. In order to develop an effective framework for sustainability assessment, several iterations of the indicator development process are required. This paper describes the development of a sustainability assessment framework for geothermal energy projects in Iceland, New Zealand and Kenya using the input of international multi-stakeholder groups and internationally recognized methods. In Iceland, stakeholders from the United Nations University Geothermal Training Program (UNU-GTP) were also consulted. The importance of the need to include diverse stakeholder views is shown in the diversity of opinions between groups. The priorities of the stakeholders regarding the goals of sustainable geothermal developments are presented. Environmental management was a common concern among the Icelandic, New Zealand and Kenyan participants, whereas water usage was considered the most important environment-related issue for the UNU-GTP fellows. The Kenyan, New Zealand and the UNU-GTP groups rated economic management and profitability, along with research and innovation, highly, whereas the Icelandic group placed highest emphasis on resource renewability and also rated knowledge dissemination highly. The indicator choices of each group are also presented and discussed.