Nicaragua:

IRENA Assessment of Nicaragua Identifies Opportunities for Geothermal Energy (IISD Reporting Services)

Report estimates 1,500 MW of geothermal energy capacity

The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) has released a Renewables Readiness Assessment (RRA) for Nicaragua. The report offers an overview of the country's energy sector, renewable energy potential, current projects, barriers to implementation and opportunities to expand the deployment of renewables, including geothermal energy.

In early 2000, the Government of Nicaragua launched a program to promote the accelerated development of geothermal energy. This required significant support from the private sector. However, due to high risks associated with the geothermal development, the resulting legal dispositions for geothermal resources failed to attract the expected foreign investment.

It would thus be appropriate to continue the reform of Law 443 on the Exploration and Exploitation of Geothermal Resources, and conduct geophysical surveys. These would identify new areas with low enthalpy and assess the possible direct uses of geothermal energy by industry and tourism.

Renewables Readiness Assessment: Nicaragua (executive summary) PDF

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