SET Plan Geothermal Implementation Working Groups

New website available > www.geothermal-iwg.eu

The European Strategic Energy Technology Plan (SET Plan) is a key stepping-stone to boost the transition towards a climate-neutral energy system through the development of low-carbon technologies in a fast and cost-competitive way.

The SET-plan is implemented by 14 Implementation Working Groups (IWGs), each focusing on one key technology. The Geothermal IWG is one of these and has recently revised its Implementation Plan in September 2023.

SET Plan Structure

• The SET Plan contains a dedicated vision for each technology area and sets targets to be reached in the next decades to achieve the next generation of low-carbon energy technologies. For each of these technology areas, Implementation plans have been developed that facilitate the achievement of these targets.
• To execute the R&I activities presented in the Implementation plans, interested SET Plan countries, and relevant industrial and research stakeholders have formed Implementation Working Groups (IWG). In total there are 13 IWGs that support the work of the SET Plan: (see below)

These Implementation Working Groups have the objective to advance the respective Implementation plans, reaching collectively the agreed technology targets.

The Geothermal Implementation Working Group (IWG)

• Objective: Its mission is to coordinate research and innovation efforts and jointly support the transition to a resilient and climate-neutral Europe which utilises geothermal energy to its full potential

Structure: The Geothermal IWG identifies the pressing issues for the development of Europe’s geothermal energy market aligning the industry support and R&I activities of its respective member states.

Members of the Geothermal Implementation Working Group:

– Member States and non-EU government representatives:

Belgium, Cyprus, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Portugal, The Netherlands, Turkey, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland;

– representatives of the European Commission;

– the European Geothermal Energy Council (EGEC)

– the EERA Joint Programme Geothermal Energy (JPGE)

– the European Geothermal ETIP

Geothermal IWG Vision for 2050

The IWG envisages a net-zero Europe in 2050, where:

• Geothermal heat supplies more than 25% of Europe’s demand for space heating and cooling, and

more than 25% in the agricultural sector (greenhouses) and 5% in industrial sectors in the low to

medium temperature range.

• 10% of the power production in SET Plan countries is from geothermal power.

• Underground thermal energy storage supplies more than 10% of Europe’s demand for space

heating1 mainly for district heating, thus requiring collective systems.

• Co-production of minerals and critical raw materials (CRM) such as lithium for resilient

transportation sector and strategic autonomy is established in at least 10 European regions.

In line with EU goals on resilience, the IWG aims to increase resilience of the geothermal energy

supply chain, and to have 40% of the supply chain “Made in Europe” by 2030.

Key Activities of the Geothermal Implementation Plan & Enabling Framework

A. Heating & Cooling

B. Electricity

C. Thermal Underground Storage

D. Co-production of Minerals & Geothermal Energy

E. Power Generation

F. Non-technical Barriers/Enablers & Cross-cutting Topics

More details here

Funded by the European Union from the Horizon Europe programme under the grant agreement n° 101075400 – GEOTHERM FORA. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or CINEA. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.

The sole responsibility of this publication lies with the author. The European Union is not responsible for any use that may be made of the information contained therein. This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement
No[838814 — SU-DG-IWG]