Geothermal Energy

Partner regions of the S3 Partnership GEOTHERMAL ENERGY 2.0 will share, test and jointly develop new solutions to help overcoming existing concerns in the geothermal sector, by developing a new governance model respecting territories and supporting private businesses.

Geothermal Energy

New challenges have emerged for the geothermal sector, adding to those already existing and related to technological competitiveness. Currently, a further expansion of this market is indeed limited by some social and environmental concerns, often closely linked to technological constraints.

In order to overcome these problems, but also to expand the use of geothermal energy and increase the use of the heat of the Earth, both for electricity and direct uses, a new model of governance respecting territories and improving sustainable development is necessary. This new model can be called Geothermal Energy 2.0 and its goal is very clear: it should be found a synthesis among purposes, expectations and contrasts inside the communities, towards sustainable development, respecting the vocation of territories and communities and supporting private businesses. The way to achieve these objectives should give great attention to citizens: Regional Authorities should listen to local communities, involving municipalities in decision making processes and collecting positive remarks from people.

European Regions have created the S3 EUGEOREG Partnership to join their efforts in improving thecompetitiveness and innovative potential of the geothermal energy sector by addressing technological, socialand environmental constraints. Partner Regions are all engaged in projects and investments in geothermal energy technologies.
 

Left:. Biancane, © O. Pippucci        Centre: GEODH_plant, © COSVIG Scrl          Right: Geoth Well drilling, © COSVIG Scrl 

Left:Geoth spirulina greenhouse, © COSVIG Scrl      Centre: Larderello, © A. Burgassi       Right: Steamline, © COSVIG Scrl   

Thematic working areas

The partners have jointly identified five main areas of work, taking into account different value chains belonging to the geothermal sector and referring to markets quite different, usually with different actors:
 
  • Geothermal energy systems for built environment, led by Scotland
  • Direct uses, including district heating and cooling systems and other systems for heating and cooling, as well as productive processes
  • Power generation, including hydrothermal systems and EGS (Enhanced Geothermal System) for power generation
  • Material recovery from geothermal resources
  • Social and environmental aspects of deploying geothermal investments, led by Tuscany

In order to consider different aspects related to a geothermal system, all these working areas will take into account issues related to both surface (e.g. piping and technologies into a geothermal plant) and subsurface infrastructures (e.g. those related to wells, borehole heat exchangers, UTES and ATES), as well as challenges related to the competitiveness, sustainability and social acceptance of this resource (e.g. impacts reduction, monitoring, communication and building capacity).
1. Pico Vermelho
2. Pico Alto geothermal powerplants in Azores, © Azorean Government

Left: Pico Vermelho and Right: Pico Alto geothermal powerplants in Azores, © Azorean Government

List of regions involved

Contact details of the leading regions

Dario BONCIANI
CoSviG, Consortium for the development of geothermal areas, Tuscany
Edo BERNINI
Director for Environment at Tuscany Region

Contact details of JRC

Related documents

Monitoring reports containing a management report and a progress report prepared by the lead regions are available here:
Monitoring report Geothermal July-December 2020
English
(261 KB - PDF)
Download 

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