Policy Documents

The European Geothermal Energy Council (EGEC) welcomes the European Commission’s initiative to review the Climate and Environmental Delegated Acts of the EU Taxonomy legislation. We strongly support the objectives of simplification, reduction of administrative burden, and alignment of Taxonomy with the EU’s industrial and climate ambitions. In this context, and with the intention of contributing to a more coherent and technology-neutral sustainable finance framework, we wish to suggest the following modifications. Remove the emission threshold and mandatory LCA requirements for geothermal technologies Create a coherent taxonomy category for geothermal heat pumps Clarify the scope of the “Manufacturing of renewable energy technologies” category Address practical challenges in DNSH criteria for DHC networks   Read EGEC’S full position  

EGEC 's proposals for a European Geothermal Strategy and Action Plan, published on 5 December 2025. 

With a letter to Commissioner for Economy and Productivity Implementation and Simplification Valdis Dombrovskis, EGEC provided its answer to a call for feedback by the Platform on Sustainable Finance on the draft report on preliminary recommendations for the review of the Taxonomy Climate Delegated Act and additional technical screening criteria for the EU Taxonomy. 

The European Commission ‘Competitiveness Compass’ released on Wednesday  29 January sent the right signal for the Clean Industrial Deal.  EGEC supports the initiatives set out for ensuring a competitive energy for people and business.  To supply affordable energy, more competition is required on energy markets to supply electricity, heating and cooling, and for storage. 

Brussels, 16th December 2024 – The European Geothermal Energy Council (EGEC) is delighted with the Hungarian Presidency for initiating the proposal and to all Member States for adopting today the Council conclusions.

Brussels, 13th December 2024 – The European Geothermal Energy Council (EGEC) welcomes the publication of the International Energy Agency’s (IEA) historic and ground-breaking report outlining geothermal’s role in improving energy security and economic resilience whilst addressing the climate crisis.

Dan Jørgensen, the Commissioner-Designate for Energy and Housing, committed to European strategy for geothermal at his confirmation hearing in the European Parliament yesterday, November 5th, 2024. 

IOGP, the international association of oil and gas producers, outlined a series of measures required to create market maturity for geothermal across Europe. They identify three key measures: i) Strategic funding; ii) policy support, and iii) risk management as the key ingredients of Europe’s geothermal action plan. Read The Full Statement Here

Over 200 stakeholders across the value chain of the geothermal sector, government agencies, municipalities, consumers, academia, researchers, think-tanks and civil society called on the European Commission to prepare a European geothermal energy strategy and action plan.  

EGEC welcomes the opportunity to contribute to the Commission’s guidelines on designating renewables acceleration areas (RAAs) and highlight the following: Need for a fair evaluation of geothermal-based electricity A higher use of non-price criteria is needed Need for renewable energy auctions by technology Read the full EGEC Response. See EGEC factsheet on Auctions to deploy geothermal.