Geothermal energy utilization includes direct uses of hot water, and indirect uses of shallow geothermal energy for air-conditioning (heating/cooling) and deep geothermal energy for electric power generation. This study is to present various policies for environment-friendly development and utilization of geothermal energy, and its dissemination. For this purpose, the available potential of geothermal energy (including both shallow and deep geothermal energy) is estimated, and compared with the spreading target value of the government. Estimated available potential of geothermal energy in Korea is 20,988ktoe/year, which is seventeen times as much as the government spread target value for 2030. Yet, economic feasibility and sustainability in utilization of geothermal energy should additionally be taken into account for effective and sustainable uses of geothermal energy resources.

Geothermal energy utilizations can make environmental influences such as contaminants leakages in processes of well drilling or/and managements, groundwater quality and quantity changes, land subsidence, and so on for shallow geothermal energy utitlizations. For deep geothermal energy utilizations, some environmental impacts include aquifer contamination due to hazardous materials in hot groundwater, atmospheric pollution, microearthquakes, landscape changes, land subsidence, and so on. Among aforementioned environmental problems, some can be resolved with aid of technology developments, but regulatory supports should be improved for effective and eco-friendly developments and utilizations of geo