News

This year, the annual UNU Visiting Lecturer was Dr. Ernst Huenges, who leads the International Geothermal Research Centre at the Helmholtz-Zentrum Potsdam Deutsches GeoForschungsZentrum (GFZ).  Dr. Huenges gave a series of lectures on Enhanced Geothermal Systems. Dr. Huenges is chair of an interdisciplinary working group with engineers and geoscientists and head of the petrophysical laboratories at the GFZ.  He has been involved in a number of scientific deep drilling projects and geothermal projects.  He is a contributing author of the IPCC special report on renewable energies and in 2010, he edited a book on Geothermal Energy Systems.

The UNU-GTP was honored by a visit from a high ranking delegation from the Geothermal Development Company (GDC) of Kenya over the period of July 13-18.  The delegation included the Board Chairman, six Directors and the Chief Manager of Energy Research and Development at GDC.  The purpose of the visit was to get a first hand overview of UNU-GTP operations and the utilization of geothermal resources in Iceland. On Thursday July 14, the delegation joined a UNU-GTP geological excursion in the Lake Mývatn area of northern Iceland, visiting sites shaped by ancient and recent volcanism, high-temperature geothermal fields, Krafla power station, and the Mývatn Nature Baths.  The following day was used to drive back to Reykjavik across the highlands of Iceland, with stops at the Hveravellir and Geysir high-temperature fields, Gullfoss and several other sites.  The weekend was used to visit several geothermal power plants in the Reykjanes peninsula and the Hengill area in the company of Mr. Ludvik S. Georgsson, Deputy Director of the UNU-GTP, Mr. Albert Albertsson, Deputy CEO of HS Orka, and Dr. Einar Gunnlaugsson, Manager of Geothermal Research at Reykjavik Energy, as well as visiting the Blue Lagoon.  The trip was concluded by meetings with Reykjavik Geothermal Inc., Landsvirkjun National Power Company, ÍSOR – Iceland GeoSurvey and VERKÍS Engineering Consultants on Monday morning, and a call to the UNU-GTP premises. The visit was arranged and organized by Dr. Peter Omenda, Chief Manager of Energy Research and Development at GDC, and Mr. Ludvik S. Georgsson.

The UNU-GTP and the UNU Media Centre have signed a MoA on a 10 min. documentary on geothermal training in Iceland. Luis Guillermo Patron Ibarra (Producer) and Ryo Murakami (Camera Man) spent 10 days in the end of June and beginning of July with the UNU-GTP gathering material for the documentary that will be published in October 2011.

The UNU-GTP yearbook "Geothermal Training in Iceland 2010" has been released and is now available for download on-line under publications. The yearbook is beeing sent out to former UNU-GTP Fellows, supervisors, scientific institutions and libraries. If, for some reason, the book should not reach any of the former Fellows, please be in contact with current contact information and we will send out another copy.  Others who do not receive a book automatically but are interested in a free copy should also be in contact at unugtp@unugtp.is with information of mailing address.

Friday the 3rd of June the UNU-GTP and the UNU-LRT were honoured by a visit from the Ambassador of Uganda, his Excellency Joseph Tomusange and the Third Secretary/Head of Chancery Ms. Susan Okodi at the UNU-GTP headquarters on Grensasvegur.  Hafdis Hanna Ægisdottir  and Dorthe H. Holm presented the UNU-LRT and the UNU-GTP, respectively, while Isa Lugaizi (current UNU-GTP Fellow from Uganda) gave an overview of the geothermal exploration and development potential in Uganda.

On the 1st of June, the UNU-GTP held its annual seminar on geothermal development in the home countries of the Fellows attending the six month programme. The seminar gave an interesting overview of geothermal development in 16 developing countries.