This year, the annual Geothermal Congress (DGK) puts the focus on Nordic countries. Five states (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden) will be presenting their solutions for future energy supply issues and decarbonizing the grid. The DGK is a unique industry highlight in Germany. From Oct. 17th to 19th, the German Geothermal Energy Association (BVG) will be hosting the congress in the Haus der Technik in Essen.
On recent occasion, the German-Icelandic “Clean Energy Summit“ underscored the significance of pioneering nations such as Iceland in the field of geothermal energy as well as the importance of expanding geothermal energy use in Germany.
Renowned experts from both countries discussed issues ranging from financing geothermal projects to research, mapping and development of low-temperature areas in Germany in four panels. “Our case shows that political support and courage pay off. Investing in geothermal for us, too, involved investing capital initially.
In Iceland, the early days of the transition were linked to a degree of uncertainty. But as a result, we have gained a measure of energy security that brings prosperity to our society. We have been able to strengthen our economy and generate a breeding ground for innovation“, says the Ambassador to Iceland, María Erla Marelsdóttir.
Experts from Nordic countries will have the opportunity to present abstracts from a range of topics at the DGK, covering deep, mid-depth and shallow geothermal. Best-practice examples covering topics such as financing, exploration and data management are also highly encouraged. Visitors to the DGK can look forward to lots of input from both national and international experts.
“The issues of the heat transition we are currently facing in Germany have already been solved in many Nordic countries. Thus, making them the partner region of this year’s DGK is a logical choice and will greatly benefit the congress“, says Helge-Uve Braun, President of the German Geothermal Association.
In addition to commercial projects, ongoing research projects can also be considered as well as case studies and lessons learned. Project developers as well as consortia of ongoing research projects are invited to submit their papers. Topics such as education, training, and ideas for solving the shortage of skilled workers are also very sought-after. Papers can be submitted here until July 15.
In addition to a varied and interesting congress program with multiple events and excursions, there will also be an evening occasion for networking. More than 500 participants from Germany as well as international guests are expected from October 17-19. Several parallel sessions will cover a wide range of topics.
You can find more information on the congress at: www.der-geothermiekongress.de
About Bundesverband Geothermie e.V.
Founded in 1991, the Bundesverband Geothermie e.V. (BVG) is an umbrella organization of companies and individuals working in the field of geothermal energy utilization, be it research or application. It unites members from industry, science, planning firms as well as the energy supply sector.
The association’s main tasks are to inform the public about the potential uses of geothermal energy for heat and power generation and to engage in a dialogue with political decision-makers.
The BVG organizes the annual geothermal energy congress DGK as well as workshops on current topics and is the publisher of the trade journal “Geothermal Energy” and other information materials. The DGK 2023 will take place from October 17 to 19 in Essen.