This article reviews the characteristics of the EGS, sources of clean energy that promise to be an alternative to face the problems related to global warming caused by the use of fossil fuels like oil and natural gas. Currently in Colombia the geothermal systems of interest are hydrothermal, so there are no plans for the development of EGS yet, however, this article pretends to be an introduction to the reader interested in EGS and to be a reference to future projects developed in the national territory, describing the most significant places in the world where this technique has been used, along with its social perception and associated impacts. In addition, it seeks to analyze the differences between the hydraulic stimulation technique in the EGS and the fracking used for the extraction of shale gas. © 2020 Universidad Industrial de Santander.