Following on from the European Union’s commitments to phase out energy imports from Russia, make energy affordable, boost industrial competitiveness, improve energy security and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the European Geothermal Energy Council (EGEC) insists that the European Commission must present an investment-orientated strategy and action plan to accelerate the deployment of all geothermal energy solutions. EGEC calls on the European Commission to publish a dedicated European Geothermal Strategy and Action Plan in the first quarter of 2026. This echoes requests made by EU Energy Ministers (see the TTE Council Conclusions of 16 December 2024) and also by the European Parliament (Resolution on geothermal energy, adopted on 18 January 2024). Indeed, the European Commissioner for Energy and Housing, Dan Jørgensen, has already confirmed (on 14 March 2025) that the Commission will present "an action plan on geothermal energy" before the end of March 2026. According to EGEC, the Commission’s proposal must include the following elements: An EU-wide target to reach 250 GW of geothermal capacity by 2040 covering all technologies. This will build on the 44 GW of installed capacity in the EU. A European Geothermal Charter, which codifies the 2040 target and launches the Geothermal Industrial Alliance to manage its delivery. Targeted European financial instruments to leverage private capital. Measures to make permitting processes more efficient and faster, as well as improving access to geological data. Sectoral or tripartite agreements with key energy consumers. Peer-to-peer guidance to help governments develop national and regional roadmaps to remove barriers, accelerate investments and build local supply chains. European instruments to support value chain development in local manufacturing and skilled professionals. The inclusion of geothermal energy as a central pillar of the EU’s Global Gateway and the Global Energy Transition Forum. Improvements to the collection and presentation of market data and statistics to enable better energy modelling. EGEC’s proposals are set out in a new policy document:The European Geothermal Strategy and Action Plan - Making Europe competitive, secure and affordable Watch EGEC's webinar on the launch of its recommendations for the EU Geothermal Strategy and Action Plan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pxUUaWHfuM8
The twelfth GeoTHERM, the largest geothermal trade fair in Europe, has taken place in Offenburg (Germany) last week, on 1-2 March 2018. Below you may find a photo gallery and a summary of events and activities organised by EGEC and its partners.
On May 22nd, join the EURACTIV event supported by European Copper Institute, AEBIOM, EGEC and Solar Heat Europe on heating and cooling.
EGEC Member Cranfield University has announced a new course on “Geothermal Energy – From Potential to Implementation” taking place 11-13 July 2018.
During the opening ceremony of the GeoTHERM Exhibition and Congress 2018, the European Geothermal Innovation Award 2018 was awarded to the Geothermal Development Facility (GDF) Latin America, the first multi-donor climate initiative offering risk mitigation for surface studies and appraisal drillings during the exploration phase of geothermal projects in Latin America.
During a visit to Iceland, Miki Plichta from Slovakia interviewed remarkable pioneers working with geothermal energy power in the island.
GeoEnergy Days (3-5 July 2018) is the first international event in France offering a unique opportunity to the 500 expected participants to share skills and experiences, develop partnerships and grow business with and within the geo-energy industries (upstream oil & gas, deep geothermal energy, geological storage + minerals & mining for the energy transition).
The Geothermal Panel of the European Technology and Innovation Platform on Renewable Heating & Cooling (RHC-ETIP) has announced the new Steering Committee for the period 2018-2020.
EGEC announces endorsed nominations for this year’s European Geothermal Innovation Award. EGEC is pleased to announce the five endorsed nominations for the European Geothermal Innovation Award 2018. The final candidates are (in alphabetical order):
The International Sustainable Energy Conference – ISEC 2018 has launched its call for abstracts. The conference is promoter for innovative ideas in the areas of renewable energy systems and resource efficiency, and is intended to be a forum for research, industry and energy policy.
