Page 40 - European Energy Innovation - Summer 2014
P. 40
Summer 2014 European Energy Innovation
GEOTHERMAL ENERGY
European Geothermal Energy Council for heating dependency, and a A lack of adequate regional policy
Renewable Energy House reassessment of this situation and regulation concerning District
63-67 rue d’Arlon should lead to a greater future Heating has been a significant
B - 1040 Brussels role for geothermal heating and barrier, but, following an
T : +32 2 400 10 27 cooling. assessment of existing regulatory
E : a.latham@egec.org frameworks and consultation
W : www.egec.org More positive news comes from with stakeholders, proposals for
the Geothermal District Heating regulations in Europe have been
sector, which looks set to see put forward and are available at
rapid and dynamic expansion in geodh.eu
the coming years- in 2013 alone
eight new systems were installed Geothermal District Heating gives
in Europe. Historically, the Paris a secure and stable supply of
and Munich basins have seen the heat with fixed, long-term prices,
most development, but there is however it is capital expensive
now increasing interest in Central and requires specialised business
and Eastern Europe. models. Various models are in
place across Europe, depending
To reap the full benefits of the on market maturity, but PPP are
technological developments growing in popularity throughout
in Geothermal District Heating, the continent. An investigation
non-regulatory barriers need to into financing models, and
be broken down. The GeoDH investigation into support
project, co-funded by the EU, schemes, and a model for
is working juvenile, transition, financiers will be published by
and mature markets in order to the GeoDH project in the coming
understand both market needs months.
and best practices, and develop
tools which can help Geothermal Although geothermal
District Heating to develop heating and cooling remains
everywhere. Key areas of work are underexploited, the outlook
regulatory frameworks, financial is generally positive. The
models, training, and awareness Renewable Heating and
raising. Cooling sector in general, and
geothermal in particular, has
The project has recently suffered from poor recognition
developed a Web-GIS which and understanding in the past.
shows the District Heating Now, the changing geopolitical
potential in 14 the project environment combined with
countries. We know now a necessary reassessment of
that thanks to technological the market as well as increased
developments, Geothermal research and development
District Heating systems could be should see geothermal for
developed in all EU-28 countries, heating and cooling playing a
become available to 28% of more central role in Europe’s
Europe’s population. future energy system. l
www.europeanenergyinnovation.eu
GEOTHERMAL ENERGY
European Geothermal Energy Council for heating dependency, and a A lack of adequate regional policy
Renewable Energy House reassessment of this situation and regulation concerning District
63-67 rue d’Arlon should lead to a greater future Heating has been a significant
B - 1040 Brussels role for geothermal heating and barrier, but, following an
T : +32 2 400 10 27 cooling. assessment of existing regulatory
E : a.latham@egec.org frameworks and consultation
W : www.egec.org More positive news comes from with stakeholders, proposals for
the Geothermal District Heating regulations in Europe have been
sector, which looks set to see put forward and are available at
rapid and dynamic expansion in geodh.eu
the coming years- in 2013 alone
eight new systems were installed Geothermal District Heating gives
in Europe. Historically, the Paris a secure and stable supply of
and Munich basins have seen the heat with fixed, long-term prices,
most development, but there is however it is capital expensive
now increasing interest in Central and requires specialised business
and Eastern Europe. models. Various models are in
place across Europe, depending
To reap the full benefits of the on market maturity, but PPP are
technological developments growing in popularity throughout
in Geothermal District Heating, the continent. An investigation
non-regulatory barriers need to into financing models, and
be broken down. The GeoDH investigation into support
project, co-funded by the EU, schemes, and a model for
is working juvenile, transition, financiers will be published by
and mature markets in order to the GeoDH project in the coming
understand both market needs months.
and best practices, and develop
tools which can help Geothermal Although geothermal
District Heating to develop heating and cooling remains
everywhere. Key areas of work are underexploited, the outlook
regulatory frameworks, financial is generally positive. The
models, training, and awareness Renewable Heating and
raising. Cooling sector in general, and
geothermal in particular, has
The project has recently suffered from poor recognition
developed a Web-GIS which and understanding in the past.
shows the District Heating Now, the changing geopolitical
potential in 14 the project environment combined with
countries. We know now a necessary reassessment of
that thanks to technological the market as well as increased
developments, Geothermal research and development
District Heating systems could be should see geothermal for
developed in all EU-28 countries, heating and cooling playing a
become available to 28% of more central role in Europe’s
Europe’s population. future energy system. l
www.europeanenergyinnovation.eu
