EGEC hosted a Policy Session on 9 June as part of the European Sustainable Energy Week (EUSEW) in Brussels. The Policy Session ‘European Geothermal Action Plan for energy security, affordability and competitiveness’ was prepared in close partnership with the European Commission (DG Energy) and Canada’s Mission to the EU.
The session was introduced by EGEC’s Policy Director, Sanjeev Kumar, who reminded the audience that for many years EGEC has been calling for the adoption of an ambitious Geothermal Action Plan at European level in order to accelerate the deployment and maximise the utilization of geothermal energy throughout Europe (see EGEC’s proposals).
The European Commission was represented by Mechthild Worsdorfer (Deputy Director-General, DG Energy). She confirmed that the Commission is currently finalising a package of proposals that should be published before the end of July. This package will include measures to accelerate Europe’s clean energy transition and mobilise all renewable energy resources, including geothermal, building on the EU Green Deal legislation and the AccelerateEU plan.
Callie Stewart (Head of Trade Section, Canada’s Mission to the EU) highlighted Canada’s support for next-generation geothermal technologies. She underlined that unlocking the potential of these technologies requires supportive policies, and confirmed Canada’s willingness to collaborate with the EU and other international partners.
Marcin Kaniewski (Business Development Consultant with Eavor Technologies Inc.) described Eavor’s pioneering closed-loop geothermal demonstration project in Geretsried (Germany), which was realised with funding from the EU Innovation Fund and a loan from the European Investment Bank. Eavor’s closed loop technology can reliably provide both electricity and heat, with a relatively small environmental footprint and low operating costs.
Marco Baresi (Vice-President of EGEC / Director of Marketing & Institutional Affairs, Turboden S.p.A.) said that when it comes to scaling up geothermal energy, Europe should learn from what has worked in the USA, notably in terms of political leadership and vision, favourable policies and suitable financial frameworks.
Lily Burge (Global Policy Lead at Climate Bonds Initiative) explained that the EU could help to drive up investment in geothermal projects by providing policy stability and by making permitting procedures both simpler and faster.
Thomas Homer-Dixon, Executive Director at the Cascade Institute, agreed that having an enabling regulatory environment is vital for drawing in private capital. He echoed the demand for faster permitting and licensing procedures, and he also called for close collaboration between the public and private sectors.
Bringing the session to a close, Sanjeev Kumar emphasized that Europe’s geothermal sector is calling for a Geothermal Action Plan that will be a stand-alone document, and which will include ambitious targets for increasing Europe’s geothermal capacity in terms of heating and cooling as well as electricity generation.
Scroll down for more photos (© European Union 2026) and a video recording of the Policy Session …
BE SOCIAL & SHARE