NATIONAL TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY OF ATHENS
Laboratory of Thermal Turbomachines
Increasing policy makers’
awareness and public
acceptance
Dr. Karytsas Constantine
Centre for Renewable Energy Sources
Increasing policy makers’ awareness and public acceptance
• Geothermal energy is a versatile renewable energy source that is among the
cleanest of the commercially viable technologies available today.
• However there has not been the predictable development in this field as it is for
most other “alternative” energy sources.
• An important reason is that many geothermal projects face strong opposition
from politicians, neighbouring communities or environmental pressure groups.
This is why there is a global tendency for geothermal companies to develop their
policy and their social responsibility.
• The goal of the geothermal community is to make policy makers’ aware of the
need of a strategy by examining the policy that should be followed in order to
eliminate any social opposition, analyzing the reasons for the generally weak
social acceptance, and identifying possible solutions for changing the situation.
K.C. Giannakoglou, Lab. Thermal Turbomachines, NTUA, Greece
2
Reasons for weak social acceptance of geothermal projects
The main aspects that affect the success of the geothermal projects and
should be taken into account during the process of geothermal energy
development in a specific environment are :
1. The initial phase of project development
2. The environmental impact
3. The public acceptance
4. The political acceptance
K.C. Giannakoglou, Lab. Thermal Turbomachines, NTUA, Greece
3
The initial phase of project development
The initial phases of development of a geothermal project often includes test drillings
with dirty, noisy equipment and without contact with, or involvement of the local people.
After the initial completion of a geothermal system, local people and politicians have, in
front of their eyes, a system of irregularly located boreholes, pipelines passing through
properties in a “strange” way. Therefore, in the initial phase of development, benefits are
not obvious, and appear to be outweighed by negative changes to the surroundings.
It was found that many elements of the complex nature of geothermal energy can be
the reason for weak public support in some areas. A lot of work is necessary to change
the resistance by spreading honest information in an understandable way, accommodated
to the culture and cultural level in question.
K.C. Giannakoglou, Lab. Thermal Turbomachines, NTUA, Greece
4
The environmental impact
When news spreads about the possibility of having a geothermal project initiated in
a given area, many residents eulogize natural heat. Individual and collective attitudes
towards geothermal development usually change with time as the project reaches the drilling
stage, and work begins for plant construction.
Reaction often grows against landscape modifications and alteration of natural
features of cultural or religious interest, caused by civil and industrial works and by changes
in the use of public areas resulting from project activities.
The elements of the environmental impact can contribute positively if the focus will be on :
1.
2.
3.
4.
the quality of the organizational approach of project development,
the quality of project design,
the organization of work during construction and completion,
the quality of the operations.
K.C. Giannakoglou, Lab. Thermal Turbomachines, NTUA, Greece
5
Social Acceptance
• Social acceptability is one of the most important parts of the process of geothermal energy
development in a specific environment and should be taken into account.
• In order to attain social acceptability, the project activities should not result in drastic
changes from the regular conditions of the area, and the affected sectors should be able to
see some advantages issuing from the project.
•Social acceptability is the condition upon which the technical and economic objectives
of the project may be pursued in due time and with the consensus of the local
communities (in the respect of the people's health, welfare, and culture).
•It is not possible to complete a successful project if initially not identifying the elements of
the local environment, which can influence its social acceptance and not designing honest
organizational, technical, economic, and other solutions in order to prevent the
development of negative opinions.
K.C. Giannakoglou, Lab. Thermal Turbomachines, NTUA, Greece
6
Measures that have been successfully applied
1. Enforcing legislation separating geothermal resources from the mining code
Geothermal regulation should be also taken into account. The present lack of regulation for geothermal energy
exploitation over most of the EU is inhibiting the effective exploitation of this underutilized resource. The process
is planned to outline and encourage investment in geothermal energy by private and public sector partnerships.
2. Demonstration of very small scale geothermal pilot power plants (a few kWe)
3. Providing strong incentives to investors
4. Communicating positive impact of geothermal development through independent
experts
5. Educating local society and company staff
Education programs can be really helpful in order to make geothermal energy more friendly and accepted by
children and their communities in general. Educative materials can be prepared for students and professors with
suitable style.
6. Communication best practices by inviting local journalists to foreign geothermal
power plants
K.C. Giannakoglou, Lab. Thermal Turbomachines, NTUA, Greece
7
A Successful case
Geothermal Projects in El Salvador
BASELINE STUDIES
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT
QUALITY AIR, WATER, AND SOIL MONITORING
PROGRAMME
K.C. Giannakoglou, Lab. Thermal Turbomachines, NTUA, Greece
8
Milos and Nicyros case
Milos and Nisyros are islands rich in geothermal potential.
Several geothermal fields of high and low enthalpy are allocated in these islands.
In Milos, the first attempt for the exploitation of the island’s geothermal potential became
during 1980’s, aiming at the manufacturing and operation of a pilot unit of 2 MW power
production.
Series of episodes and accidents with environmental impacts as well as erroneous energies, led
the local society to shape completely negative position and imposed the pause of the station’s
operation .
In Nisyros island, the geothermal researches began in 1973 as part of a geothermal project of
the Institute of Geological and Mineral Exploration and for the power production. In 1982 and in
1983 the geothermal potential of the island was explored from the Public Power Corporation
(They drilled two wells from an Hungarian company “NIREX” in 1983 with financing of EC).
The experience from the test drillings in the island of Nisyros, as well as the relative problems in
Milos, led the residents of Nisyros, to express their opposition in every thought of exploitation
of this potential, with referendum that was held in 1997.
These facts, influenced in total the sector of geothermics in Greece in combination with the
entire lack of relative legislative framework.
K.C. Giannakoglou, Lab. Thermal Turbomachines, NTUA, Greece
9
Identity of the survey
Age
Milos
The chosen sample from Milos was 250 units and
was representative of the population characteristics
in every region, like
4,40%
16,00%
10,80%
13,20%
18,00%
14,40%
23,20%
14-19
20-29
30-39
Education
40%
22,40%
17,60%
20%
12,00%
10,00%
8,00%
10%
3,20%
0%
15,20%
15%
10%
6,80%
Without education
Primary school graduate
High school graduate
College graduate
Trade school graduate
Technological educational Institute graduate
4,40%
2,00%
5%
University degree
>70
28,80%
25%
7,20%
60-69
30%
30%
20%
50-59
Occupation
31,20%
28,40%
40-49
2,80%
0%
Public servant
Private servant
Businessman
Farmer
Pensioner
Student
Housewife
Unemployed
K.C. Giannakoglou, Lab. Thermal Turbomachines, NTUA, Greece
10
Survey results - Comments - Conclusions
Α. Knowledge of local society about geothermal energy
Nisyros
Milos
13,20%
5,56%
94,44%
86,80%
Yes I do
No I don’t
Yes I do
No I don’t
Local society knows about geothermal energy.
K.C. Giannakoglou, Lab. Thermal Turbomachines, NTUA, Greece
11
Survey results - Annotation - Conclusions
Α. Knowledge of local society about geothermal energy
Milos
Relatively similar stance by the proportional
age-related teams.
3,23%
8,29%
10,14%
56,68%
21,66%
Energy from the ground
Steam
Wells
Environment
In Nisyros island, the sense of the connection
of geothermics with volcanic action is,
logically, much more intense.
Other
Nisyros
8,24%
Percentage higher than 75% answered that it is
“energy from the ground” or “steam” and is
presented in young and medium ages.
23,53%
54,12%
Those who used the term of “wells”, it appears that
they know, at least, part of technological side of the
subject.
14,12%
Energy from the ground
Renewable source of energy
K.C. Giannakoglou, Lab. Thermal Turbomachines, NTUA, Greece
Volcano
Steam
12
Survey results - Annotation - Conclusions
Β. Sources of knowledge
Milos
Nisyros
90%
90%
79,26%
80%
80%
70%
70%
60%
60%
50%
50%
40%
40%
30%
30%
20%
20%
10%
1,38%
0,92%
Television
Newspapers
or magazines
8,76%
9,68%
71,8%
18,8%
9,4%
10%
0%
0%
Friends
Other
I have seen it
Television
Newspapers
or magazines
Friends
Other
I have seen it
The main source of information and knowledge of the people is personal experience.
Particularly small the role of school.
The media don’t seem to provide any useful information at all.
It is associated
with the non-existence of policy but also interest for interventionist action from the side of
State in the sector of informing.
K.C. Giannakoglou, Lab. Thermal Turbomachines, NTUA, Greece
13
Survey results - Annotation - Conclusions
C.
Geothermal energy and environment
Geothermal energy = Pollutant activity?
Milos
The overwhelming
positively.
17,51%
The younger
scepticism.
majority
ages
present
82,49%
Yes its affect
answers
higher
Nisyros
No it is not affect
The majority answers positively.
31,76%
The younger ages (<30 years old) are positively
encountered in their total, about environmental
impacts.
68,24%
Yes its affect
No it is not affect
K.C. Giannakoglou, Lab. Thermal Turbomachines, NTUA, Greece
14
Survey results - Annotation - Conclusions
C.
Geothermal energy and environment
Compatible actions?
Geothermal energy – Environment and Tourism
Μilos
90%
80%
70%
60%
50%
77,42%
84,52%
40%
30%
20%
22,58%
15,48%
10%
It is not certifies a rousing environmental
sensitivity and therefore the views that
present
negative
confrontal
against
geothermal energy due to the tourism
development of the island don’t seem to be
substantiated.
0%
Tourism business
Yes its affect
No tourism business
Nisyros
No it is not affect
More intense environmental
sensitivity for people that the
tourism business is their main
occupation.
90%
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
72,73%
60%
40%
27,27%
Tourism business
Yes its affect
No tourism business
No it is not affect
K.C. Giannakoglou, Lab. Thermal Turbomachines, NTUA, Greece
15
Survey results - Annotation - Conclusions
D. Environmental impacts of geothermal energy
Nisyros
Milos
50%
60%
57,6%
46,07%
45%
39,53%
50%
40%
35%
36,4%
40%
30%
25%
30%
20%
20%
12,30%
15%
10%
10%
5%
1,05%
0,52%
0,52%
Noise
Visual impact
Other
0%
Air pollution
Ground/w ater
pollution
Marine pollution
6,1%
0%
Air pollution
Ground/water Marine pollution
pollution
Noise
Visual impact
Other
The placement of local societies is explicit as for the problem of air pollution
(Μ=46%, Ν=58%).
Follows the ground/water pollution (Μ=40%, Ν=36%).
With great difference follows the marine pollution (Μ=12%, Ν=6%).
K.C. Giannakoglou, Lab. Thermal Turbomachines, NTUA, Greece
16
Survey results - Annotation - Conclusions
Ε. Classification of environmental impacts
Milos
13,97%
5,03%
It absolutely dominates in young ages (<30).
It is appreciated that despite the fact that the
senior ages today have past experience, it
appears to be also transported in the younger
generations with proportional intensity.
81,01%
Air pollution
Ground/water pollution
Marine pollution
Nisyros
1,72%
Proportional and in particular in more
intense expression the placement of
residents of Nisyros island.
Only senior ages (>70) and especially
women, indicate the marine pollution as
more harmful for the environment.
98,28%
Air pollution
Ground/water pollution
K.C. Giannakoglou, Lab. Thermal Turbomachines, NTUA, Greece
Marine pollution
17
Survey results - Annotation - Conclusions
F. Effect of geothermal energy and its gravity, in the existing
economic activities
Nisyros
Milos
56,5%
56,5%
60%
51,8%
50%
48,2%
43,5%
43,5%
60%
54,38%
50%
40%
40%
30%
30%
20%
20%
10%
10%
43,78%
34,56%
40,55%
0%
33,64%
31,80%
41,94%
5,07%
14,29%
0%
Agriculture
Tourism
Positive
Negative
Fishery
Not at all
Agriculture
Tourism
Positive
Negative
Fishery
Not at all
Contradictory placement, if it is combined with the answers on the environmental
impacts and their classification
Tourism seems to be affected less despite the fact that the air pollution is counted as the most
important problem in the environment.
K.C. Giannakoglou, Lab. Thermal Turbomachines, NTUA, Greece
18
Survey results - Annotation - Conclusions
G. Correspondence in new activities
90%
80%
?
70%
57,20%
60%
51,60%
50%
Milos
40%
39,60%
30%
22,40%
20%
10%
0%
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
Not classify
Classification
Potable w ater
District heating
Greenhouses heating
Bathing
Fish farming
Drying of agricultural products
Pow er production
Main Choices
1. Power production
Senior ages (> 50 years old)
2. Desalination
Young ages
Potable water
Wider range of choices
Better knowledge
K.C. Giannakoglou, Lab. Thermal Turbomachines, NTUA, Greece
19
Survey results - Annotation - Conclusions
G. Correspondence in new activities
Nisyros
100%
90%
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
?
65,56%
56,67%
36,67%
17,78%
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
Not classify
Classification
Potable water
District heating
Greenhouses heating
Bathing
Fish farming
Drying of agricultural products
Power production
Single Choices
1. Power production
Complete ignorance of other possible applications
and uses of geothermal energy
2. Desalination
K.C. Giannakoglou, Lab. Thermal Turbomachines, NTUA, Greece
20
Survey results - Annotation - Conclusions
G. Correspondence in new activities
Is the choice of activities related to the object of employment of public?
Milos
100%
90%
80%
70%
The farmers, overwhelmingly, scorn
uses that are related with their interests
(drying of agricultural products –
greenhouses heating).
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
1st
2nd
3rd
Not classify
Classification
Potable w ater
District heating
Greenhouses heating
Bathing
Fish farming
Drying of agricultural products
Pow er production
100%
80%
Those who are dealing with the tourism are
unable to associate applications, as the air
conditioning or the spa therapy, with their
enterprising interests.
60%
40%
20%
0%
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
Not classify
Classification
Potable w ater
District heating
Greenhouses heating
Fish farming
Bathing
Drying of agricultural products
Pow er production
K.C. Giannakoglou, Lab. Thermal Turbomachines, NTUA, Greece
21
Survey results - Annotation - Conclusions
G. Correspondence in new activities
Is the choice of activities related to the object of employment of public?
100%
80%
60%
40%
Nisyros
20%
0%
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
Not classify
Potable water
District heating
Greenhouses heating
Bathing
Fish farming
Drying of agricultural products
Power production
Proportional placement of those dealing with the tourism. Complete disdain, of applications
that can contribute to the development of tourism and in the extension of “tourist” period
for the island.
K.C. Giannakoglou, Lab. Thermal Turbomachines, NTUA, Greece
22
Survey results - Annotation – Conclusions
G. Correspondence in new activities
Milos
The great part of population which is positive,
does not wish initiatives to be undertaken from
the same institution that is connected with
relative past actions in the island.
27,20%
72,80%
Yes, I am in favour of
No, I am not in favour of
Positive correspondence in new applications
Pollutant activity
Nisyros
48,89%
Almost levelled views.
51,11%
Yes, I am in favour of
No, I am not in favour of
K.C. Giannakoglou, Lab. Thermal Turbomachines, NTUA, Greece
23
Survey results - Annotation - Conclusions
G. Correspondence in new activities
Milos
100%
80%
All group ages express themselves positively for the
undertaking of initiatives aiming at the
geothermal developement in the island, in
percentage greater than 70%. This positive
placement is blunted in medium and senior ages.
60%
40%
20%
0%
14-19
20-29
30-39
Yes, I am in favour of
40-49
50-59
60-69
>70
No, I am not in favour of
Nisyros
100%
The Nisyros public is presented
more divided.
80%
60%
The productive ages are rather
negative, the group age of 20-30
years old is vertically negative
placed.
40%
20%
0%
14-19
20-29
30-39
Yes, I am in favour of
40-49
50-59
60-69
>70
No, I am not in favour of
K.C. Giannakoglou, Lab. Thermal Turbomachines, NTUA, Greece
24
Survey results - Annotation - Conclusions
G. Correspondence in new activities
More important reasons of negative attitude
Milos
1. The consequences on people’s health
and onto the environment.
2. The weakness of right implementation
of the project.
Nisyros
13,24%
6,82%
35,29%
16,18%
22,73%
56,82%
13,64%
35,29%
Condequences on people's health and onto the environment
Condequences onto the environment
Condequences on people's health
We don’t w ant it
Its not going to be done right
Other
Its not going to be done right
Other
A major part of the public in both islands believes that the project will not be properly
constructed. This view depicts the lack of trust towards the state authority and its
representatives, as well as towards the ways of supervision and control of the project.
A part of local society of Nisyros is placed with the simple answer….we do not want
it…
K.C. Giannakoglou, Lab. Thermal Turbomachines, NTUA, Greece
25
Conclusions
The majority of Milos and Nisyros population is aware of the exact objective of
geothermal energy. The main source of information and knowledge of people is their
personal experience. The information by Media and school is practically non-existent.
Main sources of environmental burden are considered to be the air and the ground/water
pollution in both areas. The classification appoints the air pollution as most important as a
result of personal experience.
From all the usages that can come from exploitation of geothermal energy, the public
selects those which practically reflect the every day needs (power production and
desalination).
The fact that the applications of geothermal energy in agriculture, fishery and tourism are
not considered as choice from the public leads to the conclusion that the knowledge of the
multiple and combined usages of geothermal energy and mainly of the low enthalpy is
especially limited in the total of the local societies.
In Milos, the public in a great percentage is in favour of the exploitation of the island’s
geothermal potential. The speculations about environment don’t seem to affect the
receptivity for total development of the area.
The Nisyros public is presented divided in relation to their response in new activities.
The lack of confidence in the Institutions that undertake the project, is the main reason for
the opposition of geothermal development for the majority of the public.
K.C. Giannakoglou, Lab. Thermal Turbomachines, NTUA, Greece
26
Propositions
Methodical and well-founded enlightenment of local society
Geothermal energy and
environment
Prospect utilization of geothermal potential
and local economic activities
Integrated and model
development of the islandsBenefits to local societies
Particular attention in “sensitive” categories of population
Senior ages with intensely their
personal experience
K.C. Giannakoglou, Lab. Thermal Turbomachines, NTUA, Greece
27
Propositions
Re-establishment of lost confidence of public
Terms and conditions on the
development of geothermal potential.
Attendance of local institutions in
their configuration
Completion of institutional framework
with the clarification of mechanisms of
follow-up and control of (State and
local institutions)
Encouragement of business dexterity of local population
Establishment of effective motives for
the undertaking of enterprising action
(Central and Regional level)
Aid of role of Regional bodies in
awarding licences for low enthalpy
projects
K.C. Giannakoglou, Lab. Thermal Turbomachines, NTUA, Greece
28
NATIONAL TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY OF ATHENS
Laboratory of Thermal Turbomachines
Increasing policy makers’
awareness and public acceptance
Dr. Karytsas Constantine
Centre for Renewable Energy Sources