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 FROnT manual of good practices provides guidance for policy makers establishing successful support schemes for renewable heating and cooling. It does so in order to help them effectively deliver competitive, affordable, and sustainable solutions for consumers and at the national level.
It was expected that European Commission would launch its proposal for the ‘review of the energy efficiency directive and the energy performance of buildings directive’ this week , as a first step to implementing the EU Heating and Cooling (H&C) Strategy and the Energy Union principles.
Now postponed to December 2016, the European geothermal sector is confident that this additional time will be used for improving and clarify the current EU energy efficiency legislation.
We strongly believe that the conclusions of the H&C Strategy should firstly be implemented through the following measures:
A globally-applicable and harmonised standard for reporting geothermal resources has been approved for the United Nations Framework for Fossil Energy and Mineral Reserves and Resources 2009 (UNFC).
The new integrated SET-Plan Communication defines the EU’s Research and Innovation strategy for coming years. It identifies actions based on system needs, adapts structures created under the original SET plan to ensure more effective interaction between stakeholders, and measures progress against established performance indicators.The plan focuses on 10 actions, the first two of which concern Europe becoming number one in renewables.
The new board of the European Geothermal Energy Council was elected at the European Geothermal Congress yesterday. The new board is comprised of:
More than 800 participants are joining the European Geothermal Congress in Strasbourg this week. The event, organised every three years by the European Geothermal Energy Council, brings together stakeholders from the entire Geothermal community for sessions covering science, markets, and social issues, an exhibition, courses, and side events.
On 25th July 2016, Italian renewables developer Enel Green Power SpA inaugurated its innovative geothermal power plant Bagnore 4, in Tuscany, Italy.
The forthcoming revision of the renewable energy directive must act as a spine for the 2030 renewable energy target and hold Member States to account, say renewable energy associations. Read the full statement here.
We are pleased to announce that the European Technology and Innovation Platform (ETIP) on Deep Geothermal has been recognised by the European Commission on 30th June 2016.
The Commission officially acknowledges the ETIP as a tool to strengthen cooperation with Stakeholders under the Strategic Energy Technology Plan (SET-Plan), as part of the H2020 programme.
For further information on the ETIP on Deep Geothermal please visit the Geoelec website.
