International Geothermal Association

The International Geothermal Association (IGA) is an international, nonprofit, non-political, nongovernmental organization representing professionals, institutions, companies, and other stakeholders involved in geothermal energy. Its purpose is to encourage research, development, responsible use, and worldwide deployment of geothermal resources and technologies. The association presents geothermal energy as a component of a renewable energy system and advocates for its contribution to energy security, decarbonization, climate-change mitigation, and the broader global energy transition. The concept of an international organization for geothermal specialists emerged gradually during the late 1960s and early 1970s. International discussions took place at geothermal meetings including the 1970 Symposium on Geothermal Energy in Pisa, Italy, which was initiated by the United Nations Department of Technical Cooperation for Development and organized with Italian energy and research institutions. The idea was subsequently revisited at the 1975 World Geothermal Congress in San Francisco and at an international geothermal workshop in Ecuador in 1978. A dedicated study of the institutional requirements for such an organization was undertaken in 1986 after consultations with experts, international institutions, and geothermal schools. The study concluded that the sector had developed sufficiently to support an autonomous international association. The IGA was founded on 6 July 1988 in Auckland, New Zealand. Its initial purpose was to create a structured international community capable of coordinating and promoting geothermal research and development. A first foundation meeting followed in Castelnuovo Val di Cecina, Italy, from 2 to 5 May 1989. Over time, the association developed a membership-based structure consisting of individual, corporate, student, affiliated, institutional, sustaining, and honorary members. This structure allows participation by researchers, engineers, students, commercial organizations, public bodies, nonprofit institutions, and experienced contributors to the geothermal sector. The association's work includes training and capacity building, communication and outreach, geothermal standards, sustainability, and support for finance and investment. It functions as a platform for knowledge exchange and international cooperation rather than as an energy producer, utility, equipment manufacturer, or commercial retailer. Its activities support both conventional geothermal applications, such as electricity generation and direct heat, and the broader development of geothermal technologies and resources. The IGA has consultative status with the United Nations and special observer status with the Green Climate Fund, giving it channels through which to contribute sector expertise to international energy and climate discussions. According to information cited for 2024, the association had more than 10,000 members in over 88 countries. Its present role is therefore primarily representative and developmental: it connects the global geothermal community, promotes sustainable deployment, communicates the sector's potential, and encourages policy, technical, financial, and institutional conditions favorable to geothermal energy.

The origins of the International Geothermal Association can be traced to the growing internationalization of geothermal research and development in the late 1960s. Although geothermal resources had long been used in particular regions, the sector lacked a single autonomous organization linking researchers, governments, technical institutions, companies, and other practitioners across national boundaries. A significant early discussion occurred at the Symposium on Geothermal Energy in Pisa, Italy, in September 1970. The meeting was initiated by the United Nations Department of Technical Cooperation for Development and organized by Italian energy and research bodies. Participants considered the possibility of creating a structured international association, but the institutional and political conditions were not yet considered sufficiently mature. The proposal continued to circulate within the geothermal community, including at the 1975 World Geothermal Congress in San Francisco and an international geothermal workshop held in Ecuador in 1978. In 1986, a dedicated study examined the institutional requirements for an international geothermal association. Its authors consulted geothermal experts from multiple countries, international organizations, and five geothermal schools then operating internationally. The study concluded that the geothermal community was ready for a distinct, autonomous organization capable of supporting collaboration and representing the sector worldwide. The association was formally founded on 6 July 1988 in Auckland, New Zealand, as a nonprofit organization intended to encourage geothermal research, development, and utilization around the world. A first foundation meeting took place in Castelnuovo Val di Cecina, Italy, from 2 to 5 May 1989. These founding steps established the basis for a membership organization serving both technical and institutional needs across the geothermal field. The IGA's membership model encompasses individuals, commercial organizations, students, affiliated groups, institutions, sustaining supporters, and honorary members. This broad structure reflects the association's role as a convening body rather than a conventional commercial enterprise. Its activities have focused on professional exchange, education, communication, standards, sustainable development, and the conditions needed to finance and deploy geothermal projects. The organization also developed an international policy role. Its consultative status with the United Nations enables it to contribute expertise to relevant multilateral discussions, while its special observer status with the Green Climate Fund connects it to international climate-finance conversations. By 2024, the IGA reported a membership exceeding 10,000 people in more than 88 countries. It continues to promote geothermal energy as a renewable resource that can support electricity generation, direct heat applications, energy-system resilience, and climate mitigation.

• 2024

  Membership exceeds 10,000

  [1]International Geothermal Associationen.wikipedia.org

  The association was reported to have more than 10,000 members across over 88 countries.

• 1989

  First foundation meeting held in Italy

  [1]International Geothermal Associationen.wikipedia.org

  The first foundation meeting took place from 2 to 5 May in Castelnuovo Val di Cecina, Italy.

• 1988

  Association founded in Auckland

  [1]International Geothermal Associationen.wikipedia.org

  The International Geothermal Association was founded on 6 July in Auckland, New Zealand, as an international nonprofit organization.

• 1986

  Institutional study supports creation of an association

  [1]International Geothermal Associationen.wikipedia.org

  A study involving international experts, institutions, and geothermal schools concluded that the global geothermal community was ready for an autonomous organization.

• 1978

  Further international workshop discussions

  [1]International Geothermal Associationen.wikipedia.org

  The proposal received further consideration at an international geothermal workshop in Ecuador.

• 1975

  Proposal revisited at the World Geothermal Congress

  [1]International Geothermal Associationen.wikipedia.org

  The concept of a structured international geothermal association was revisited during the World Geothermal Congress in San Francisco.

• 1970

  International association concept discussed in Pisa

  [1]International Geothermal Associationen.wikipedia.org

  The idea of creating an international geothermal organization was discussed at the Symposium on Geothermal Energy in Pisa, Italy, initiated by the United Nations Department of Technical Cooperation for Development.

A global sector association and professional network for geothermal energy, positioned as a neutral, international platform for knowledge sharing, sustainable development, standards, capacity building, investment facilitation, and policy advocacy.

• Membership and professional network

  Professional membership

  The IGA offers several membership categories for people and organizations connected with geothermal energy. Individual, student, corporate, institutional, affiliated, sustaining, and honorary memberships provide different routes into the association's international network and support its educational, representative, and knowledge-sharing functions.

• Professional education

  Training and capacity building

  Training and capacity building are central areas of the association's mission. These activities support the development of technical knowledge, institutional capability, and professional skills needed to assess, develop, regulate, finance, and operate geothermal resources sustainably in different national and regional contexts.

• Technical and sustainability services

  Standards and sustainability guidance

  The IGA works on geothermal standards and sustainability as part of its sector-development role. This work helps promote consistent technical practice, responsible resource management, and consideration of environmental and social factors in geothermal development.

• Industry advocacy

  Policy, communication, and investment advocacy

  Through communication, outreach, policy engagement, and attention to finance and investment, the association promotes wider understanding and deployment of geothermal energy. It represents sector perspectives in international discussions concerning renewable energy, energy transition, and climate mitigation.

1. 1International Geothermal Associationen.wikipedia.org
2. 2International Geothermal Association official websitegeothermal-energy.org