GRÓ GTP's impact over almost 50 years: 'Investing in people is the most powerful renewable energy of all.'
The impact of nearly fifty years of Iceland‘s efforts to promote and advance geothermal energy around the world through the GRÓ Geothermal Training Programme was highlighted at the first event of a series focused on the four GRÓ Training Programmes: From Knowledge to Development Impact that took place on the 5th of November 2025 at the University of Iceland’s Ceremonial Hall. The recording is available online.
Dr. Silja Bára Ómarsdóttir, Rector of the University of Iceland, welcomed the over 120 attendees in person, as well as the close to 700 participants that took part online from all over the world. She mentioned that many GRÓ fellows have completed Masters and PhD degrees at the University of Iceland after graduating from the Training Programmes, thus expanding the international reach and reputation of the university.
Þorgerður Katrín Gunnarsdóttir, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, opened the series, focusing on the impact of the four GRÓ training programmes; on geothermal energy, fisheries, land restoration and gender equality. In total, 1,839 fellows from more than 100 countries have completed the training. She said the focus of the series was to shed light on the positive impact the fellows have had in their home countries after graduation.
'There are countless stories of the impact fellows have made in their home countries and beyond. We in Iceland can take great pride in having played a role in supporting them and their home institutions in their vital work', said the Minister. She mentioned the GRÓ GTP’s role in advancing geothermal energy development in countries around the world such as Kenya, China, El Salvador, Indonesia and the Philippines.
'At the heart of development cooperation lies a simple belief: that our shared humanity binds us together — that progress for one nation uplifts us all. Development cooperation is an investment in our common rights and freedoms, bringing us closer to a more stable, just, sustainable and peaceful world. Today‘s challenges – from climate change to the health of our oceans, from ecosystem collapse to persistent inequality – demand stronger international cooperation, not less.'
Capacity building: foundation for Kenya’s geothermal success
Kenya is today ranked 6th globally in terms of geothermal capacity and recognised as a leader in geothermal development. Geothermal energy accounts for 47% of Kenya’s electricity generation and is the largest source of clean energy in the country’s national mix. Kenya is the GRÓ GTP’s biggest partner country, with more than 160 fellows trained since 1982.
The keynote speaker, Mr. Peter Maina from Kenya, a GRÓ GTP 2022 fellow and currently a GRÓ PhD scholarship recipient, explained Kenya’s geothermal journey. He said the impact of GRÓ GTP in Kenya has been extraordinary. 'This progress did not happen by chance. It’s the result of deliberate investment in human capacity, supported by partners like GRÓ GTP, and the Government of Iceland.' He explained how Kenya’s geothermal journey is built on several key pillars. 'A strong government commitment, robust institutional collaboration, access to modern technology, and an unwavering focus on sustainability. But the foundation — the glue that holds all these together, is capacity building. Because technology without people is potential unrealized. Through the years, Kenya’s partnership with Iceland has ensured that our people remain at the heart of geothermal growth', Mr. Maina said.
People are the core of Kenya’s geothermal success story
GRÓ GTP and Kenyan partners have since 2005 participated in holding annual short courses where over 400 Kenyan professionals have been trained. Mr. Maina explained how its influence now extends far beyond Kenya’s borders — with over 450 regional participants from Ethiopia, Tanzania, Djibouti, Uganda, Madagascar, Malawi and other African countries gaining expertise. Many GRÓ alumni today hold leadership positions in KenGen, GDC, the Ministry of Energy, and other key stakeholder institutions.
'Ultimately, people are the core of Kenya’s geothermal success story. Our scientists, engineers, and technicians — many of whom are trained here in Iceland — have fostered a strong culture of innovation and problem-solving. They’ve turned knowledge into national growth and inspired the next generation of geothermal professionals. This is the real power of GRÓ GTP, not just in the energy it produces, but in the human energy it unleashes', Mr. Maina said.
Across East Africa lies immense untapped potential. Mr. Maina mentioned Ethiopia, Tanzania, Djibouti, Uganda and Malawi, that all are partner countries of the GRÓ GTP, and said that with continued partnership between Iceland and Africa, the entire region‘s geothermal promise could be unlocked, making clean, reliable energy a reality for millions more.
'The story of Kenya’s geothermal success is, above all, a story of people empowered through knowledge, driven by collaboration, and united by a shared vision of a cleaner, more sustainable future. GRÓ GTP has been the bridge that made this possible, linking Icelandic expertise with African ambition, transforming potential into progress, and laying the foundation for a regional geothermal revolution. Investing in people is the most powerful renewable energy of all', Mr. Maina concluded.
First GTP fellow from 1979 among those that gave testimonies
In a video about the impact of the Geothermal Training Programme GTP fellows shared their personal stories of how the Programme benefitted them and their home institutions and countries, including Mrs. Agnes Reyes who was one of the first two Philippine fellows that attended the Programme in its first year of the Six-Month Training, in 1979. Mrs. Reyes emphasised the importance of the support of the Programme on her long and prosperous career, both during the training and after. With the initial support and knowledge gained from Iceland, she went on to become one of the big names in geothermal development worldwide, and is still active today at the age of 70, having recently founded her own consultancy company in geothermal research.
GRÓ GTP‘s transformative role for geothermal development
Mr. Bjarni Richter, Director of the GRÓ Geothermal Training Programme, moderated a panel discussion with three GRÓ GTP fellows where Mrs. Nursanty Elisabeth Banjarnahor, PhD scholarship recipient from Indonesia, Mr. Alvaro Josué Campos Ramos, MSc scholarship recipient from El Salvador, and Mr. Daryl Eastman James, 2025 Six-Month fellow from Dominica, shared insights into how the GRÓ GTP has contributed to advancing geothermal development in their home countries.
Mr. Ramos said the GRÓ GTP had been transformative for El Salvador‘s geothermal sector. In total 48 professionals from El Salvador have graduated from the programme and today nearly a quarter of El Salvador‘s electricity demand is supplied with geothermal. He said the GRÓ GTP training has directly strengthened LaGeo, the national geothermal company, by ensuring a highly skilled workforce capable of managing and expanding El Salvador’s geothermal fields. He also shared a personal experience from his training in 2023. 'I learned to apply a micro seismic processing algorithm for geothermal monitoring. With this update in methodology, we reduced processing time and improved earthquake location accuracy, helping us better understand fluid circulation in our fields. It’s a direct example of how GRÓ GTP training translates into practical improvements back home.'
Mrs. Banjarnahor, said the cooperation with the GRÓ GTP has played a crucial role in strengthening Indonesia’s geothermal capacity, both on a technical and institutional level. 'Over the past four decades, more than fifty Indonesian fellows have been trained in Iceland, covering reservoir engineering, utilization, exploration, and environmental management. The knowledge transferred through GRÓ GTP has empowered professionals in companies like Geo Dipa Energi and Pertamina Geothermal Energy to introduce better design, monitoring, and operational practices, bridging the gap between Icelandic expertise and Indonesian field realities,' she said.
Mr. James, is only the sixth GRÓ GTP fellow from Dominica. The cooperation with his country started in 2010. He said the Dominican fellows have been trained in five different specialisation areas and that they have all contributed to the development of geothermal in his country, which aims to open its first geothermal power plant at the end of 2025. He said Dominica will be the first English speaking country in the region to have a geothermal power plant and expressed a hope that Dominica could serve as a template for other Caribbean countries. 'We should collect as much data and knowledge as possible to share when needed since most of the other countries will most likely have the same challenges as us', he said.
Both Mrs. Banjarnahor and Mr. Ramos said that the skills acquired through GRÓ GTP have led to specialised training in their countries. In the case of El Salvador, GRÓ GTP has been central to success in this area, said Mr. Ramos, 'creating a cycle where trained specialists strengthen institutions, and those institutions, in turn, contribute to regional leadership in sustainable energy. El Salvador has become a regional training hub by hosting GRÓ GTP short courses and the Geothermal Diploma course for Latin America. These courses bring together professionals from across Latin America, effectively turning our country into a centre for geothermal knowledge-sharing, where GTP alumni have become educators. This combination demonstrates how the skills gained through GRÓ GTP have been institutionalized and multiplied, ensuring long-term impact.'
External evaluation highlights impact of GRÓ alumni
Mrs. Nína Björk Jónsdóttir, Director of the GRÓ Centre for Capacity Development, Sustainability and Societal Change, closed this first event focusing on the impact of the four GRÓ Training Programmes. She informed the participants about an external evaluation conducted by the company GOPA in 2024 on the impact of the work of the four training programmes in 2018-2023. She pointed to interesting statistics that further highlight the important impact of GRÓ alumni around the world. In an alumni survey 73% reported large career advancements due to the training. More than 80% had trained others, more than 65% conducted research, about 50% introduced new initiatives and another 50% advised local communities. More than 35% had advised policy and decision makers. Many other interesting findings could be found in the evaluation.
The Director General thanked all the staff of the Geothermal Training Programme over its almost five decades long history, including the four directors of the programme. The next events, focusing on the GRÓ Fisheries Training Programme, the GRÓ Gender Equality Studies and Training Programme and finally the GRÓ Land Restoration Training Programme, will take place over the coming months.
