The GRETA Project

Abstract

The Alpine region community is facing rising energy consumption with impacts such as increasing CO2 emissions, related mostly to heating needs. To decouple CO2 emissions from increasing energy demands, the project GRETA (Near-surface Geothermal Resources in the Territory of the Alpine Space) is aiming to improve the energy efficiency and sustainable production of renewable geothermal energy in the Alpine region. GRETA is built on three specific objectives:
• Increase the knowledge of the spatial distribution of Near-Surface Geothermal Energy (NSGE) in the Alpine region.
• Exchange knowledge and best practices for the utilization of NSGE transnationally.
• Develop a knowledge base for the inclusion of NSGE in planning tools.
The objectives will be accomplished by creating and providing geothermal potential maps to support the integration of NSGE information into policy instruments such as energy supply and demand plans and strategies, e.g. for the spatial planning of geothermal installations by public and private stakeholders.
In addition, guidelines will be developed to encourage the harmonization of regulations, authorization procedures and operational criteria for NSGE utilization in the Alpine region. Strategies for the inclusion of NSGE in policy instruments will also be formulated, thus contributing to a growth of NSGE utilization.