2260 2. GLOBAL DATA AND EVOLUTIONARY TRENDS Historical analysis of the World Geothermal Congresses (WGC 1995-2020) reveals a dual expansion: linear growth in electricity generation, which increased by more than 130% (reaching 15,950 MWe), and an exponential boom in direct thermal use, which multiplied twelvefold. This evolution is supported by a direct correlation between installed capacity and generated energy, evidencing Plant Factors exceeding 73%—and up to 95% in modern plants—consolidating geothermal as the most reliable renewable base load source against solar or wind intermittency. This dynamism was accentuated in the 2015–2020 period, registering the largest historical expansion (+26.2% in capacity) and reconfiguring the geopolitical map towards a multipolar scenario (Bertani, 2010; Huttrer, 2021). While traditional leaders like the U.S. maintain moderate growth (+19.6%), new players like Turkey (+1,789%) and Kenya (+614%) have transformed their energy matrices through incentive policies, validating the technology's scalability beyond historical markets. 2.1. The Potential of Southern Peru and the Mining-Geothermal Cluster Spatial analysis by INGEMMET (2021) identifies Region 5 (Southern Volcanic Axis) as a strategic zone with heat flows of 50–80 mW/m² and gradients >100 °C/km (Figure 1a). This region concentrates highenthalpy fields (>81 MWe) that geographically coincide with large-scale mining, defining two operational clusters (Figure 1b): the Arequipa Cluster, where Cerro Verde is located within the radius of influence of fields like Chachani and Achumani ; and the Moquegua-Tacna Cluster, linking the operations of Cuajone, Quellaveco, and Toquepala with geothermal systems like Calacoa and Tutupaca. Figure 1 – a) Zoning of thermal regions highlighting the Southern Volcanic Axis (Region 5). b) Distribution of geothermal potential (MWe) and its coincidence with southern mining units, evidencing the formation of energy clusters (Adapted from INGEMMET, 2021).
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTM0Mzk2