Geothermal district heating is a cost-effective, environmentally friendly way to transport the heat required for large-scale heating and cooling in residential and commercial properties. It is a method well-suited for a decarbonization roadmap, as geothermal district heating systems (GDHS) hold great potential for providing clean, sustainable and efficient heating. Nonetheless, scaling up and fully exploiting such systems requires addressing and solving the following typical problems where: the geothermal (GT) gradient is unfavorable; favorable GT gradient areas and O&G infrastructure areas don’t overlap (i.e., high mob and operating cost); the well is expensive; there is no aquifer; drilling must occur close to urban/usage areas as opposed to the usul O&G rural areas; infrastructure is expensive; long laterals and potentially large casing is required for sufficient heat transfer if there’s a closed loop system; well stimulation limitations in certain areas. To overcome these challenges, governments must co-operate with the geothermal industry to provide innovative private/public partnerships which incentivize new-project investment. As regards the role of technological innovation, It is important to: use novel drilling rigs and techniques, so as to drill deep enough to find high enough temperatures;a hire a reliable local workforce and scale up enough to drive down cost (i.e., to build a local ecosystem); use multi-purpose rigs for drilling and completion; use quiet, automated and low carbon-footprint equipment with hi-line power; create closed loop or stimulated reservoir systems to introduce fluid; and, where possible, repurpose coal power plants for power and heat. Finally, international cooperation can also help accelerate geothermal deployment across Europe and over the world by encouraging the exchange of best practices between countries, particularly between those with more developed geothermal sectors (e.g., USA, Iceland or France) and those which represent the less-developed geothermal countries. This article will try to cover all these relevant issues in analyzing the present and future of geothermal district heating and cooling.

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