Abstract

During 2014, a team of researchers from CEGA, along with the Aysén ministry of mining, won a public bidding to develop a 2 year geothermal exploration campaign encompassing the whole region (PGA for the Spanish acronym). In January of 2015, CEGA began an exploration campaign focused on two main objectives: i) To develop a regional geothermal resource assessment and ii) the proposal of a pilot project for the direct use of geothermal energy. The Aysén region, located in southern Chile, has favorable conditions for the formation of geothermal systems: the existence of shallow magmatic processes, abundant rainfall and active fault systems, along with the occurrence of many high temperature (> 50ºC) geothermal spring waters. Its capital Coyhaique, with ~63,000 inhabitants, is one of the most polluted areas in the country, mainly due to a high amount of wood heating. Since the onset of the project, there has been an approach on outreach to the general public and the development of scientific documentation. This work documents the main achievements of the campaign so far and elaborates on the importance of a clear state strategy for geothermal progress, as economic feasibility by itself has not been an effective tool for the development of geothermal power plants. The role of outreach in local communities is of paramount importance for the development of direct uses in isolated areas, as it allows a positive feedback between researchers looking for data and potential users looking for solutions.