Policy Documents

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Geothermal heating, cooling, permanent electricity supply, underground thermal storage, and sustainable lithium extraction are critical solutions to meeting the EU’s 2030 and 2050 targets to avert the climate crisis.

Geothermal heating, cooling, permanent electricity supply, underground thermal storage and sustainable lithium extraction are critical contributors to energy efficiency improvements and the achievement of the EU’s 2030 and 2050 targets for energy efficiency and climate change mitigation.

Brussels, 15 December 2021 – Today the European Commission has released its proposals for establishing a new EU framework to decarbonise gas markets, promote hydrogen and reduce methane emissions.

Geothermal heat pumps are a proven technology to deliver renewable heating and cooling. A recent IEA study also highlight their cost-competitiveness compared to fossil gas boilers, mainstreaming an argument long put forward by the geothermal industry that on a life cycle basis they are an extremely cost-efficient solution.

The EPBD revision should apply the Energy Efficiency First (EE1st) principle in a way that stimulates integrated renovations aiming at highly energy efficient, renewable-based and flexible buildings integrated in the increasingly variable energy system. The entire building stock should become capable of adjusting their very low energy consumption, their on-site renewable generation and their energy storage potential in response to external signals. This holistic approachto the implementation of the EE1st principle leads to multiple benefits such as emissions reductions, grid optimisation and system efficiency. It also delivers tangible benefits to citizens, including the most vulnerable ones, strengthens the EU’s clean energy industrial leadership, boosts local job creation and economic recovery.   Download the full joint letter

Brussels 26 October: Reacting to the conclusions of the extraordinary Energy Council, the heads of 7 renewable energy associations call upon Europe to prioritise the diversification of renewable energy supply as a matter of urgency. A wider range of renewables will deliver a cleaner energy system that protects citizens and businesses from future energy shocks. To deliver on this 100% renewables future, action is needed now: • The revised Renewables Directive needs a sub-target to incentivise national governments to roll out innovative and diverse renewable sources by 2030; • The 2022-23 Horizon Europe Work Programme should prioritise diverse renewable energy technologies with the greatest potential for innovation and scale-up; • The European Commission needs to start modelling how a system of diverse renewables will operate, and to inform policy-making with these findings.   Download the full PR text

The Commission adopted this week a Communication on Energy Prices, to tackle the exceptional rise in global energy prices, which is projected to last through the winter.

Following the sharp increase in electricity and gas prices over the summer, and as consequences are increasingly being felt by European households with the beginning of the winter heating season, EGEC wrote a letter to the European Council and the European Commission.

EGEC sent an official letter to the members of the Platform on Sustainable Finance to ensure that the “Full list of Technical Screening Criteria” in Annex B accurately reflects the environmental benefits of geothermal technologies.