Annual
Report
2020

Geothermal Research Cluster

The Geothermal Research Cluster (GEORG) is a non-profit organisation whose aim is to promote research and development of geothermal resources sustainably and reduce the World’s dependence on carbon-based energy. GEORG brings together various actors in the geothermal field to accelerate the uptake of geothermal energy internationally, increasing value creation in research, engineering, and design for society’s benefit.

Goals: 

Reduce worldwide GHG emission by contributing to a significant increase in sustainable energy production/utilisation from geothermal sources.

Make Iceland a case study for near-total energy independent and a carbon-neutral society.

Create a platform for entrepreneurship and the export of geothermal energy resources and education, both for partners in the group and the wider geothermal industry

Contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals (SGD7, SDG9 and SDG13)

Respectively related to Affordable and clean energy, industry, innovation and infrastructure, and climate action).

Message
from the Chairman of the Board
and the Managing Director

Prof. Sigurður Magnús Garðarsson

Eng. Hjalti Páll Ingólfsson

GEORG is a resilient, strong, and independent cluster cooperation, as last year demonstrated.  The COVID-19 year, 2020, will be remembered as the year of many challenges, adoptions, and new working ways.  It taught us that even though we master new online teamwork techniques, making it in many ways more efficient and economic, the need for direct human communication and connection is ever more necessary. 

GEORG
Impartial collaboration platform

Within GEORG, there are close interactions between academia, industry and public authorities, which has contributed to better collaboration within and between the three sectors. The cooperation focuses on furthering interdisciplinary collaborations, notably with partners from socio-economic, volcanology and agricultural disciplines. On the international level, GEORG partnered with many renowned international institutions, which have resulted in closer and more comprehensive collaborations.

Board

The Board of Directors of GEORG is composed of nine representatives of GEORG’s members, a Chairperson and eight directors: four directors represent the universities and research organizations and four directors represent the energy companies and private sector. Members of the Board are elected for a term of two years.  The following individuals were elected as a BoD member at the General Annual Assembly on May 19, 2020:

  • Sigurður Magnús Garðarsson
    Sigurður Magnús Garðarsson Chairman of the Board

    University of Iceland

  • Bjarni Pálsson
    Bjarni Pálsson Landsvirkjun
  • Carine Chatenay
    Carine Chatenay Verkís
  • María S. Guðjónsdóttir
    María S. Guðjónsdóttir University of Reykjavík
  • Kristín Steinunnardóttir
    Kristín Steinunnardóttir COWI
  • Halldór Geirsson
    Halldór Geirsson University of Iceland
  • Rúnar Unnþórsson
    Rúnar Unnþórsson University of Iceland
  • Vala Hjörleifsdóttir
    Vala Hjörleifsdóttir Reykjavík Energy
  • Bjarni Gautason
    Bjarni Gautason Iceland GeoSurvey

TEAM

We’d love to hear from you. Contact our team via E-mail, Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn for any inquiries or visit the website About GEORGsection to learn more about us and further contact details. 

Growth of key operational figures in 2020

Income 

0 %

Cumulative Project Funding

0 %

GEORG’s
Outreach

Looking to raise the profile of geothermal energy with a diverse set of audience, GEORG launched in 2018 two new geothermal communication concepts/initiatives. #GeothermalFriday, a weekly series on social media to promote geothermal efforts and #LetsTalkGeothermal, a series of video interviews with geothermal actors who are shaping the future of the geothermal energy. 

GEORG
2020 Highlights

The World #Geothermal Congress 2020+1 will take place in a hybrid format – Starting with a virtual kick-off on March 30 and ending with an on-site event in Reykjavik, Iceland in October 2021.

From Reservoir Engineering to Direct use to Exo-Plant Geothermal, the WGC 2020 will be all-encompassing and the largest geothermal event of its kind ever and bound to shape the direction of geothermal for the years to come. GEORG’s participation is a recognition of the growing influence of the Cluster and the philosophy of teamwork and bridge building GEORG is founded on.

GEORG’s
Story

GEORG was founded in 2009 based on a successful proposal to the Centre of Excellence and Research Cluster Program of the Icelandic Centre for Research (RANNIS).  The proposal was a seven-year project with the purpose to create and build strategic opportunities in the geothermal sector and position Iceland at the fore front of the field by creating a stronger base for entrepreneurship.    

From the very beginning there was a strong emphasis to serve GEORG partners well and to create a sustainable cooperation platform, beyond the project duration.  This has now been achieved and GEORG has become a key player in bridging a critical gap between different geothermal communities and has evolved to become a self-sustained research-driven international geothermal non-profit organization.   

Thanks to the long-term vision and commitment of GEORG’s board and its operational team, GEORG has thrived and acts as an impartial collaboration platform by building bridges between Research, Industry, and Public Authorities, for the benefit of society. 

Partners

partners

LEGAL DISCLAIMER

This online Annual Report is published solely online, GEORG reserves the right to update the report if any errors,
discrepancies
, and/or any other inconsistencies are to be discovered. 

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