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Statistics: |
The 32nd annual session of the UNU-GTP opened on May 6, 2010. This year a record number of 28 UNU Fellows participate in the six month specialized courses. They come from China 3, Comoros 1, Costa Rica 1, Djibouti 1, Dominica 1, El Salvador 2, Eritrea 1, Ethiopia 1, Indonesia 3, Kenya 8, Mongolia 1, Nevis 1, Nicarauga 2. Rwanda 1, and Yemen 1. They will be trained in: Chemistry of Thermal Fluids 5, Reservoir Engineering 5, Borehole Geology 4, Environmental Science 4, Geothermal Utilization 4, Geophysical Exploration 3, and Drilling Technology 3, and Reservoir engineering 3.
During 1979-2009, 424 scientists and engineers from 44 countries have completed the annual six month courses. They have come from countries in Asia (43%), Africa (28%), Central and Eastern Europe (14%), and Latin America (15%). Since 2000, 25 have graduated with MSc. In 2010, nine have pursued their MSc and two their PhD studies at the University of Iceland. Four MSc Fellows are to commence their studies in late August 2010.
Capacity building
The aim of the UNU Geothermal Training Programme is to assist in establishing groups of specialists in selected institutions in developing countries with significant geothermal potential. Priority
is given to candidates from countries where geothermal exploration and development is already under way.
Of 424 graduates from 1979-2009, the largest groups of fellows have come from China (72), Kenya (45), the Philippines (31), El Salvador (28), and Ethiopia (26).
- China is at the top of the world list in the direct use of geothermal energy.
- Kenya, the Philippines, and El Salvador obtain 10–22% of their total electricity from geothermal energy.
- Ethiopia has started its first geothermal power plant.
The group of Chinese fellows is an example of successful capacity building. The group consists of:
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26 reservoir engineers
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15 geothermal engineers
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14 chemists
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9 environmental specialists
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3 geologists
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3 geophysicists
- 2 drilling engineers
The former Chinese UNU Fellows are staff members of government research institutions, municipal energy utilities and universities. Several of the fellows are in the forefront of geothermal research and development in the country. There are already strong multidisciplinary groups established in Beijing and Tianjin. Geothermal resources are known to exist in every province of China and the market for this environmentally benign energy source is enormous.
