GEOTHERMICA, Increasing the Pace of Coordinated Research and Innovation in Geothermal Energy

Abstract

Europe aims to increase the share of renewable energy for direct heating and cooling, industrial processes, power generation and energy storage. Geothermal energy today is only utilized in choice market sectors and few regions. It is an under-utilized but widely distributed, clean, low carbon footprint and continuously available energy resource. Thus, it is uniquely positioned to substantially contribute to a safe and secure energy supply of Europe's Energy Union. GEOTHERMICA's objective is to combine the financial resources and know-how of 20 geothermal energy research and innovation programme owners and managers from 16 countries and their regions. With financial support from the European Commission, GEOTHERMICA has a framework of a first call launched eight joint projects. Mobilizing close to €44 million of private and public investment, GEOTHERMICA aims to demonstrate and validate novel concepts of geothermal energy deployment within the energy system and identify paths to commercial large-scale implementation. GEOTHERMICA’s ambition to represent the bulk of Europe’s coordinated national and regional funding agencies has a two-pronged approach: firstly, to launch joint actions that demonstrate and validate novel concepts of geothermal energy utilization within the energy system and that identify paths to commercialize. Secondly, GEOTHERMICA builds a tightly interconnected and well-coordinated network of European funding agencies that fosters knowledge sharing and coordinated strategy development. Ultimately, GEOTHERMICA strengthens Europe’s Energy Union, its geothermal energy sector and supports the implementation of Europe’s Strategic Energy Technology Plan on geothermal energy. To this end, GEOTHERMICA cooperates closely with the European Commission, Europe’s Energy Research Alliance and the European Geothermal Energy Council, and other key stakeholders.