GTR-H - Geothermal Regulations in Europe, the Kistelek Process

Abstract

The IEEA, Altener funded GeoThermal Regulation ? Heat (GTR-H (www.gtrh.eu)) project will review and establish the regulatory barriers and deficiencies for geothermal heat resources of four, unregulated EU target countries through a process of discussion and consultation with key target actors and stakeholders at a national level. The ?target? countries are Hungary, Ireland, Northern Ireland/UK and Poland. A review of the current best practice regulatory frameworks in three ?example? countries will be carried out. The regulated countries are France, Germany and Netherlands and expertise in these jurisdictions will provide a review of geothermal legislation and regulation currently in place through key, national stakeholder interviews and study tours to assess the effectiveness of the regulations. This review will be combined to provide national framework documents in the four target countries aimed at increasing overall sectoral investment in geothermal energy for the exploration and exploitation of heat across the EU. Following from the national framework documents, guidelines for the establishment of geothermal regulation in other EU countries will be provided and disseminated to a broader international audience. The GTR-H project will build on previous EU projects such as K4RES-H in the renewable energy sector.