EU calls for faster geothermal energy deployment

The EU called on member states on Monday to create a plan to boost geothermal energy deployment by adopting measures for its promotion.

Among these measures are “easier access to finance to address high upfront investment costs, as well as enhancing the workforce in the geothermal sector and strengthening cooperation in research on geothermal energy,” the European Council said in a statement following a meeting of energy ministers of the member states in Brussels.

The Council highlighted geothermal energy’s capacity to provide secure heating, cooling, and stable electricity generation, making it instrumental in decarbonizing buildings and enhancing industrial sustainability.

The Council, the EU’s primary decision-making body, urged the Commission to develop a comprehensive decarbonization strategy for heating and cooling, including a European Geothermal Action Plan with concrete measures to accelerate geothermal energy deployment.

“The Council calls on the member states to streamline their rules to make geothermal energy easier to use, and also issue permits faster,” the statement added.

“One of the proposed actions for member states is facilitating projects which reconvert underground fossil facilities in order to use them for geothermal energy,” it added.

The Council also called for boosting European industrial capacity in drilling, construction, and equipment manufacturing. Additionally, it proposes a European Geothermal Alliance, led by the Commission, to bring together policymakers, industry, and investors to identify and address barriers to geothermal energy deployment.

• European Council
• Geothermal energy