Geothermal Energy as Sustainable Energy Resource in Agriculture

Abstract

Geothermal energy resources are largely distributed in Europe and in the Mediterranean basin. They are utilized in electricity generation and in some directuses in agriculture, of which the most important one is represented by the greenhouse heating sector. According to the nowadays EU policies on environmental control and renewable energy as well, the potential market of geo-thermal energy as sustainable heat production could attract attention for commercial applications in agriculture. At present, a number of financial opportunities exist in the European programmes concerning the promotion of indigenous and local energy resources for productive applications in rural and isolated agricultural communities. The new EU objectives and the Agricultural Policy (CAP) include actions in favour of Member and non Member States, and this strongly increases the role and prospects to which geothermal energy resources could aspire given their high existing potential in Western, Central and Eastern countries of Europe and in the Mediterranean Basin.