Shortly after assuming the rotating EU Presidency, Hungary joins forces with Poland to deploy geothermal energy in Europe.
The next Hungarian Presidency of the EU will boost approval across the block of an initiative for the expansion of the geothermal energy before the end of the year, in order toincrease security in the sector for potential investorsas stated by a Hungarian official during an event held on July 3 in Brussels.
At a conference organized by the European Geothermal Energy Council (EGEC)Viktor Horváth, Undersecretary of State responsible for the energy transition in Hungary, stated that this energy emanating from the earth’s crust is available locally and will improve energy securityand underlined the importance of making public the data on the geological bases of all EU countries to give investors the certainty they so need.
Countries like Germany, Austria, Croatia, France, Hungary, Ireland and Poland have national geothermal roadmaps to support investment and grow their industrial bases, according to EGEC, which estimates that Some 60 million Europeans receive heat and ten million consume electricity from geothermal sources.
Horváth stated that Budapest is “working in close cooperation” with the Polish Government, which will assume the rotating Presidency of the EU Council from 1 January 2025, and “He also wants to include geothermal energy on his agenda“, to ensure that this energy source is high on the Council’s agenda.
Hungary has great geothermal potential, but currently only 10% of it is explored, according to the official. “We want to include this topic [la geotermia] on the Council’s agenda and we hope there will be a big push,” Horváth told attendees, adding that geothermal has “huge potential in Europe” with an untapped market to explore in light of recently adopted EU lawsas the net zero industry lawthe EU plan to invest in national clean technologiesincluding geothermal.
“[Hungría] wants reduce greenhouse gas emissions and, since we are substantially dependent on fossil fuel imports, we would like to reduce this trend. If we reduce this, we increase Hungary’s energy security“Horváth said.
The challenges related to labor, skills and construction are obstacles to unleash the full potential of geothermal energy, said Horváth, who proposed the creation of a European Geothermal Action Plan to establish future policy, followed by a European Geothermal Alliance that brings together industry, policy makers and civil society.
“Together with Poland, we would like to emphasize this action plan to improve the geothermal potential we have…in terms of regulation and financing, we want to rationalize geothermal energy production with mining, hot spring management and environmental Protection“Horváth said.
These proposals will be included in the agenda of the Member States to be debated in the Council, said the Hungarian.
“We have to ensure that Member States that do not have financing systems also move in this direction“he added, referring to financial support similar to that of the hydrogen bank created by the community Executive.
Daniel Mes, from the office of the European Climate Commissioner, Wopke Hoekstra, said that Investors are clearly attracted to the production potential of geothermal energybut backed Horváth’s call, stating that more certainty is needed, adding that “sending investments into a dead end is not the smart way.”
“We have to study how to invest in this business casehow to invest in drilling, drive permitting and share best practices on safety and public acceptance,” Mes said. “Safe drilling has to happen quickly, It is not a question of public awareness but of permissions“.
Drilling safety and permitting will have different approaches depending on the geological characteristics of the countryMes added, giving examples such as Netherlandswhere the perforations must be deeper, and Icelandwhere the process should be more fluid.
“I like the idea of alliance [geotérmica europea]it’s a good place to share best practices and advance according to the needs of each Member State“Mes said.
