Klima-, Energi- og Forsyningsudvalget 2024-25
KEF Alm.del Bilag 42
Offentligt
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European Parliament
2019-2024
TEXTS ADOPTED
P9_TA(2024)0049
Geothermal energy
European Parliament resolution of 18 January 2024 on geothermal energy
(2023/2111(INI))
Med danske kommentarer angående brug af overfladenær geotermisk energi,
termonet og distribuerede geotermiske varmepumper
Kommentarer er udarbejdet af journalist Bjørn Kasssøe Andersen (Termonet
Danmark) med bistand fra geolog ph.d. Søren Erbs Poulsen (docent, Via University
College) og cand. merc. Søren Skjold Andersen (Termonet Danmark, direktør i
GeoDrilling og tidl.
Management Commitee member af COST-arbejdsgruppen
Geothermal DHC).
De kommenterede dele af resolutionen er fremhævet med gul markering.
Kommentarer er indsat i grå bokse i tilknytning til de fremhævede dele af
resolutionsteksten.
Resolutionen vedrører ”geothermal energy”, hvilket i Danmark benævnes både som
geotermi og jordvarme. I kommentarerne følges den international sprogbrug, hvor
geotermi udgøre et samlebegreb, der underopdeles i kategorier.
Resolutionens ordlyd afspejler den forudgående
Report on geothermal energy
(2023/2111(INI))
udarbejdet af Parlamentets Committee on Industry, Research and
Energy.
Rapportør var polakken Zdzisław Krasnodębski. Tre danske MEP var
skyggerapporterer: Pernille Weiss (K); Niels Fuglsang (S) og Morten Helveg
Petersen (R).
I rapportens ”explanatory statement” gives blandt andet følgende sammenfattende
beskrivelse af den aktuelle situation I EU: ” The development of geothermal energy
is hindered largely by limited knowledge about existing technologies and their
potential, particularly for shallow geothermal, among policy makers, local
authorities, economic actors and the general public. Other challenges are of
financial, legal and technical nature.”
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I resolutionen udspecificeres ”geothermal energy” i punkt 16 som omfattende
”geothermal energy in the shallow, medium, deep, and ultra-deep subsurface”.
Det fremgår af resolutionens punkt 2, at der mindre udspecificeret skelnes mellem
”shallow geothermal resources that are available in all Member States” og ”deep
geothermal energy that can be directly used for heat and power generation”.
GEUS - De Nationale Geologiske Undersøgelser for Danmark og Grønland skelner
mellem ”dyb geotermisk energi (800-3000 meters dybde)” og ”overfladenær
geotermisk energi/jordvarme (0-300 meters dybde)”.
Sprogbrugen hos GEUS
afspejler formodentlig, at der i Danmark ved brug af ordet geotermi (fra græsk
geo-,
jord-, og -termi, -varme) ofte tænkes på dyb geotermi, mens der ved brug af ordet
jordvarme ofte tænkes på overfladenær geotermi.
The European Parliament,
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having regard to Article 194 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union
(TFEU),
having regard to Regulation (EU) 2021/1119 of the European Parliament and of the
Council of 30 June 2021 establishing the framework for achieving climate neutrality
and amending Regulations (EC) No 401/2009 and (EU) 2018/1999 (‘European Climate
Law’)
1
,
having regard to Directive (EU) 2023/2413 of the European Parliament and of the
Council of 18 October 2023 amending Directive (EU) 2018/2001, Regulation (EU)
2018/1999 and Directive 98/70/EC as regards the promotion of energy from renewable
sources, and repealing Council Directive (EU) 2015/652
2
,
having regard to the amendments adopted by Parliament on 14 March 2023 on the
proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on the energy
performance of buildings (recast)
3
,
having regard to the Commission proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament
and of the Council on Amending Regulations (EU) 2019/943 and (EU) 2019/942 as
well as Directives (EU) 2018/2001 and (EU) 2019/944 to improve the Union’s
electricity market design,
having regard to the amendments adopted by Parliament on 14 September 2023 on the
proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing a
framework for ensuring a secure and sustainable supply of critical raw materials and
amending Regulations (EU) No 168/2013, (EU) 2018/858, (EU) 2018/1724 and (EU)
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1
2
3
OJ L 243, 9.7.2021, p. 1.
OJ L, 2023/2413, 31.10.2023.
Texts adopted, P9_TA(2023)0068.
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2019/1020
1
,
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having regard to the amendments adopted by Parliament on 21 November 2023 on the
proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on establishing
a framework of measures for strengthening Europe’s net-zero technology products
manufacturing ecosystem (Net Zero Industry Act) (COM(2023)0161)
2
,
having regard to the Commission communication of 18 May 2022 entitled
‘REPowerEU Plan’ (COM(2022)0230),
having regard to the amendments adopted by Parliament on 14 December 2022 on the
proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council amending
Directive (EU) 2018/2001 on the promotion of the use of energy from renewable
sources, Directive 2010/31/EU on the energy performance of buildings and Directive
2012/27/EU on energy efficiency
3
,
having regard to the Sustainable Finance Taxonomy Regulation (EU) 2019/2088
4
and
the associated Delegated Regulation establishing the technical screening criteria for
determining the conditions under which an economic activity qualifies as contributing
substantially to climate change mitigation or climate change adaptation and for
determining whether that economic activity causes no significant harm to any of the
other environmental objectives
5
,
having regard to Commission Regulation (EU) No 813/2013 of 2 August 2013
implementing Directive 2009/125/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council
with regard to ecodesign requirements for space heaters and combination heaters
6
,
having regard to Directive 2014/52/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council
of 16 April 2014 amending Directive 2011/92/EU on the assessment of the effects of
certain public and private projects on the environment
7
,
having regard to Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/138 of
21 December 2022 laying down a list of specific high-value datasets and the
arrangements for their publication and re-use
8
,
having regard to the International Renewable Energy Agency report of February 2023
entitled ‘Global geothermal market and technology assessment’
9
,
having regard to the report of the Clean Energy Technology Observatory entitled ‘Deep
Geothermal Heat and Power in the European Union – 2022 Status Report on
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1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Texts adopted, P9_TA(2023)0325.
Texts adopted, P9_TA(2023)0401.
Texts adopted, P9_TA(2022)0441.
Regulation (EU) 2019/2088 of the European Parliament and of the Council of
27 November 2019 on sustainability‐related disclosures in the financial services sector,
OJ L 317, 9.12.2019, p. 1.
OJ L 442, 9.12.2021, p. 1.
OJ L 239, 6.9.2013, p. 136.
OJ L 124, 25.4.2014, p. 1.
OJ L 19, 20.1.2023, p. 43.
ISBN: 978-92-9260-495-0.
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Technology Development, Trends, Value Chains and Markets’
1
,
–
having regard to the report of the Clean Energy Technology Observatory entitled
‘Overall Strategic Analysis of Clean Energy Technology in the European Union – 2022
Status Report’
2
,
having regard to the European Commission study entitled ‘Geothermal plants and
applications emissions: overview and analysis’
3
,
having regard to the Commission report entitled ‘District heating and cooling in the EU
– Overview of markets and regulatory frameworks under the revised Renewable Energy
Directive’
4
,
having regard to the Joint Research Centre report entitled ‘The heat pump wave:
opportunities and challenges’
5
,
having regard to the European Commission 2023 study entitled ‘Overview of heating
and cooling - Perceptions, markets and regulatory frameworks for decarbonisation’
6
,
having regard to its resolution of 15 December 2021 on the implementation of the
Energy Performance of Buildings Directive
7
,
having regard to its resolution of 10 July 2020 on a comprehensive European approach
to energy storage
8
and the Commission recommendation of 14 March 2023 on Energy
Storage – Underpinning a decarbonised and secure EU energy system
9
,
having regard to its resolution of 21 January 2021 on access to decent and affordable
housing for all
10
,
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1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Bruhn, D. et al.,
Clean Energy Technology Observatory: Deep Geothermal Heat and
Power in the European Union – 2022 Status Report on Technology Development,
Trends, Value Chains and Markets,
Publications Office of the European Union,
Luxembourg, 2022.
Georgakaki, A. et al.,
Clean Energy Technology Observatory: Overall Strategic
Analysis of Clean Energy Technology in the European Union – 2022 Status Report,
Publications Office of the European Union, Luxembourg, 2022.
Ernst & Young, RINA Consulting S.p.A , Vito
Study on ‘Geothermal plants’ and
applications’ emissions: Overview and analysis,
Publications Office of the European
Union, Luxembourg, 2020.
Bacquet, A., Galindo Fernández, M., Oger, A. et al.,
District heating and cooling in the
European Union – Overview of markets and regulatory frameworks under the revised
Renewable Energy Directive. Annexes 6 and 7 – Final version,
Publications Office of
the European Union, 2022.
Toleikyte, A., et al.,
The Heat Pump Wave: Opportunities and Challenges,
Publications
Office of the European Union, Luxembourg, 2023.
Breitschopf, B., et al.,
Overview of heating and cooling – Perceptions, markets and
regulatory frameworks for decarbonisation – Final report,
Publications Office of the
European Union, 2023.
OJ C 251, 30.6.2022, p. 58.
OJ C 371, 15.9.2021, p. 58.
OJ C 103, 20.3.2023, p. 1.
OJ C 456, 10.11.2021, p. 145.
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A.
having regard to Rule 54 of its Rules of Procedure,
having regard to the report of the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (A9-
0432/2023),
whereas geothermal energy is a valuable and local source of renewable energy that can
provide, in a cost-effective way, dispatchable electricity, heat or a combination of both
and has great potential for the power sector and for heat production, as well as for
sustainable production of raw materials and can be a source of quality jobs;
whereas the EU solar energy strategy stated that the proportion of the energy demand
covered by solar heat and geothermal must increase at least threefold if the EU is to
meet its 2030 climate and energy targets;
whereas the production and use of energy account for more than 75 % of the EU’s
greenhouse gas emissions; whereas regrettably more than a half of final energy
consumption in the residential sector for space heating is covered by fossil fuels
1
;
whereas the energy price crisis and Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine have
demonstrated the urgent need to increase Europe’s open strategic autonomy; whereas
geothermal heating, cooling and power has already contributed to the EU’s efforts to
reduce imports of fossil fuels;
whereas geothermal energy can contribute to the objectives laid out in the REPowerEU
Plan, especially to increasing the production of clean energy and diversifying energy
supplies and it has the potential to provide reliable and affordable electricity and heat to
industries and businesses, particularly to SMEs, strengthening their competitiveness, as
well as to citizens, addressing, among other things, the problem of energy poverty;
whereas geothermal energy is a renewable, constant and reliable source of energy that is
readily accessible once the necessary infrastructure is in place and that provides a net-
zero and local solution to decarbonise district heating networks, in line with the Energy
Efficiency Directive’s
2
definition of ‘efficient district heating and cooling systems’, and
which can contribute to building local ‘energy communities’ and to collective self-
sufficiency in renewable energy consumption;
Kommentar: Geotermisk energi, herunder overfladenær geotermisk energi kan
bidrage til etablering af lokale energifællesskaber. EU's definition af lokale
energifællesskaber, som er fastlagt i tre direktiver, omfatter blandt andet, hvad der i
Danmark kendes som forbrugerejede fjernvarmeselskaber.
B.
C.
D.
E.
F.
G.
whereas the energy sector’s integration of geothermal technologies will play a crucial
role in enhancing the flexibility and efficiency of the energy sector and decreasing its
carbon footprint;
whereas heat pumps and geothermal energy technologies are listed as strategic net-zero
Eurostat 2021, Energy consumption in households.
Directive 2012/27/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of
25 October 2012 on energy efficiency, amending Directives 2009/125/EC and
2010/30/EU and repealing Directives 2004/8/EC and 2006/32/EC, OJ L 315,
14.11.2012, p. 1.
H.
1
2
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technologies for Europe in the annex of the Commission’s proposal for a Net Zero
Industry Act;
I.
whereas the industry estimates that geothermal energy can supply more than 75 % of
the heating and cooling consumed in Europe and over 15 % of its electrical power by
2040;
whereas the comprehensive policy conditions and frameworks needed to boost the
development and use of geothermal energy in Europe are still absent at EU level;
whereas advances in different policy areas at national level are also urgently needed so
as to enable geothermal actors to boost deployment of projects through improved
research, strengthening of the supply chain, efficient support schemes and increased
public awareness.
J.
Development and potential
1.
2.
Notes that the development of technologies has broadened the area suitable for cost-
efficient geothermal projects and their scope;
Stresses the potential of the ubiquitous low-temperature, shallow geothermal resources
that are available in all Member States;
Kommentar: De nævnte allestedsnærværende overfladenære geotermiske ressourcer
anvendes, når der i overfladenære geotermiske anlæg indvindes termisk energi til
fremføring i et termonet (dvs. et net af uisolerede rør, som fremfører termisk energi
på tværs af matrikler).
”Termonet” er et nydannet danske ord, der første gang blev benyttet af aktører i
branchens i 2016. Det er siden 2020 blevet udbredt af foreningen
Termonet
Danmark
med følgende præcise definition: ”Et termonet er et forsyningsnet af
uisolerede rør, som transporterer termisk energi fra forskellige typer af energikilder
på tværs af flere matrikler ved en temperatur relativt tæt på jordtemperatur.”
Når indvinding af overfladenær geotermisk og evt. anden energi via et termonet
bindes sammen med distribuerede varmepumper, benævnes det samlede koncept
”fjernvarme baseret på termonet” eller ”termonet-fjernvarme”. Sådanne anlæg
findes udbredt over hele EU, hvor der er identificeret
mere end 50 anlæg
uden for
Danmark, og dertil et stort antal anlæg i Storbritannien. Det ældst kendte termonet-
system blev etableret i Tyskland i 1980 og er stadig i drift. I Danmark er der aktuelt
13 anlæg for varmeforsyning baseret på overfladenær geotermi og termonet, og 40-
50 eller flere er under udvikling, primært i landsbyer.
Indvindingen af overfladenær geotermisk energi kan ske ved vandret optag, typisk
ved nedpløjning i 1-2 meters dybde af ledninger svarende til dem, som benyttes til
vand- og gasforsyning. Hvis der ikke er åbne tilgængelige arealer kan i stedet
anvendes lodrette lukkede geotermiske boringer, hvor plasticrør går ned i op til 200
meters dybde og op igen i lukket sløjfe, hvor boringen efter etablering proppes af på
en måde, som minder om, hvordan man afpropper udtjente vand- og prøveboringer.
Endvidere kan benyttes ATES (Aquifer Thermal Energi Storage), som er åbne
boringer, der udnytter og lagrer geotermiske energi i dertil egnede geologiske
formationer. Der findes aktuelt cirka 40 ATES-anlæg i Danmark.
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highlights the potential of deep-
geothermal energy that can be directly used for heat and power generation;
3.
Notes that geothermal energy still often plays a peripheral role in the discussion on
renewable energy; draws attention to the fact that geothermal installations do not
require critical raw materials to the same extent as other renewables; notes that, based
on a sustainable life-cycle approach, geothermal has low environmental impact and
typically requires limited land use and can easily be integrated into the landscape;
Emphasises that geothermal energy offers long-term benefits that can outweigh the high
upfront costs associated with its development, such as its being a sustainable source of
energy with a low environmental impact, stable and predictable energy costs, low
operating costs, long lifespan and reliability that creates business and employment
opportunities in local communities, and helps to reduce dependence on imported fuels;
Kommentar: Det adresseres her indirekte, at anvendelsen af geotermiske
varmepumper giver langsigtede fordele sammenlignet med referencescenarier, fx
luft/vand-varmepumper, fordi geotermiske anlæg har høje etableringsomkostninger,
som imidlertid mere end modsvares af lavere emissioner, bedre energieffektivitet,
stabile og forudsigelige energiomkostninger, lave driftsomkostninger, lang levetid
og driftssikkerhed, og at der skabes erhvervs- og beskæftigelsesmuligheder i
lokalsamfund.
4.
5.
Regrets that the potential of geothermal energy has not been sufficiently exploited
sooner and that its recent uptake is largely being driven by the energy crisis and an
urgent need to ease the socio-economic pressure of demand for heating and cooling in
Europe; warns that that influx of subsidised gas, limited public awareness and high
upfront investments needed have been effectively hampering the development of
geothermal energy for years;
Kommentar: Det adresseres her, at det geotermiske potentiale, herunder det i punkt
2 fremhævede potentiale for den allestedsnærværende overfladenære geotermi, ikke
er blevet udnyttet tilstrækkeligt. Endvidere påpeges, at en af forklaringerne er
offentlighedens begrænsede opmærksomhed og de høje etableringsomkosteringer,
som i årevis har forsinket udviklingen af geotermisk energi.
6.
Underlines the potential of geothermal energy to make a substantial contribution to
attaining key strategic objectives within the EU, including reaching climate targets by
decarbonising different industrial sectors, bolstering the EU’s open strategic autonomy
by strengthening energy security needs, eliminating fossil-fuel dependencies on
unreliable third countries, such as Russia, increasing the competitiveness of European
industries and empowering consumers thanks to an affordable and reliable supply of
heat and electricity;
Stresses that the process of extracting raw materials from geothermal brines in an
environmentally sustainable way could help contribute to securing a local and reliable
7.
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supply of strategic critical raw materials, including lithium, therefore strengthening the
EU’s economic resilience; notes, in this regard, that facilities that extract both
geothermal energy and raw materials induce higher employment effects than traditional
geothermal plants as well as attract businesses looking to use multiple resource streams;
8.
Draws attention to geothermal solutions that are able to store excess wind and solar
energy for subsequent use in heating, cooling and power production, and their crucial
role in the development of renewable-based energy systems; stresses in this regard the
role of inactive mines that are particularly well suited to large scale seasonal thermal
storage and long-duration electrical storage; underlines the potential of geothermal
energy for grid balancing and auxiliary services due to its high capacity factor,
flexibility of supply and dispatchable potential;
Kommentar: Parlamentet henleder opmærksomheden på, at geotermiske løsninger
kan lagre overskydende energi fra vind- og solanlæg.
I relation til den overfladenære geotermi kan overskydende strøm benyttes til drift af
distribuerede varmepumper, hvor varmen kan døgn- og sæsonlagres i de tilsluttede
vandrette eller lodrette anlæg for indvinding af termisk energi.
9.
Stresses that the greatest potential of geothermal energy use in the EU lies in district
heating and cooling systems and networks of shallow geothermal installations;
highlights that they can provide local, baseload and flexible renewable energy and
protection against volatile and rising fossil fuel prices;
Kommentar: De nævnte ”networks of shallow geothermal installations” er, hvad der
i Danmark af branchens aktører benævnes for termonet-fjernvarme, tidligere også
kaldet kold fjernvarme.
”Networks” henviser til, at flere varmekilder, fx anlæg for overfladenær geotermisk
indvinding og restvarme med temperatur tæt ved jordtemperatur med fordel kan
forbindes via uisolerede rør (termonet). Som del af netværket indgår distribuerede
større eller mindre geotermiske varmepumpe, normalt placeret så tæt på
forbrugsstedet som muligt, da dette er bedste løsning ud fra økonomi og
energieffektivivet.
stresses that geothermal can
help to decarbonising heating and cooling sector that accounts for almost half of the
EU’s overall final energy consumption and contributes up to 35 % of the EU’s
greenhouse gas emissions related to energy use; notes the potential and growing need
for geothermal district cooling that will be an important element of sustainable
adaptation to climate change in cities as warmer temperatures and heat waves are
expected to become more frequent;
10.
Notes the substantial potential of geothermal heat for industrial processes, in particular
for low to medium energy intensive processes (below 200 degrees), representing up to
half of industrial heat production in Europe; stresses, in this regard, that developing the
use of geothermal heat for this purpose would boost the competitiveness of European
companies by providing a reliable and affordable source of heat;
Underlines also the potential of geothermal heat in domestic food production, in
particular for the production of agricultural products, horticulture, and aquaculture;
11.
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notes that there are already successful examples of geothermal application in these
sectors in different European regions; underlines that the use of geothermal heat will
contribute to decarbonisation of these sectors and to more sustainable and
environmentally friendly practices, while reducing production costs, high energy costs,
price volatility for producers as well as promoting resilience in food systems;
12.
Notes the potential of cascaded use, where the same geothermal fluid is used for
multiple purposes; stresses the need to foster cross-industry synergies between
geothermal and other sectors, including through shared use of sites, infrastructure, data
and workforce skills;
Considers that the presence of geothermal energy should be taken into account when
designating the geographical location of ‘net-zero industry valleys’ as part of the Net-
Zero Industry Act;
13.
Policy recommendations
14.
Calls on the Commission to present an EU geothermal strategy giving concrete
guidance to Member States and local administrations to accelerate the deployment of
geothermal energy in order to decarbonise heating and contribute to the EU’s energy
independence and to meet the objective of at least tripling the share of energy demand
covered by solar heat and geothermal energy by 2030 as announced in the EU Solar
Strategy; highlights that 151 businesses and industries called on the Commission in
2022 to prepare a European strategy to unlock the potential of geothermal energy;
Stresses that national and EU-wide measures for geothermal energy should be based on
an assessment of Europe’s geothermal potential, taking into account the diverse
geological and climate conditions, and an estimate of the cost-efficiency of deploying
geothermal solutions;
Calls on the Commission to base the strategy on a comprehensive assessment of the
potential of geothermal energy in the shallow, medium, deep, and ultra-deep subsurface
across all 27 Member States; notes that this assessment should help identify the
potential of geothermal energy for various uses, including but not limited to, district
heating, cooling, industrial processes, food production, heat pumps, electricity
generation, and renewable hydrogen and lithium production; notes that this study should
also assess the impact of developing geothermal energy on the decarbonisation of the
economy, job creation, competitiveness, empowering of consumers, and cost-
effectiveness compared to other energy sources;
Kommentar: Parlamentet opfordrer Kommissionen til at basere sin strategi på en
vurdering af potentialet for geotermisk energi, så den omfatter alle typer geotermi,
herunder den overfladenære, og så den omfatter alle 27 medlemsstater. Det
bemærkes, at en sådan indsats er relevante bredt i forhold til lokal erhvervsudvikling
og grøn omstilling og kosteffektivitet sammenlignet med andre energikilder.
17.
Calls on the Commission to address in the strategy the obstacles for the development of
geothermal projects, including cross-borders issues and to provide a guide on best
practices in geothermal energy use in the EU for national and local authorities, project
developers, and financial institutions;
15.
16.
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18.
Welcomes the growing awareness of, and support for, geothermal at national level; asks
the Member States to follow the example of countries that have developed geothermal
roadmaps, targets and dedicated policy measures for geothermal
1
; stresses the need to
facilitate the exchange of information about these measures and data to support
geothermal policies and to promote existing best practices and knowledge sharing;
Calls on the Commission to establish a ‘geothermal alliance’, including Member States,
geothermal adoption enablers, industry, the scientific community and civil society that
would facilitate the exchange of best practices and to implement the future geothermal
strategy;
Asks the Commission to explore the potential of geothermal energy to contribute to
objectives production of clean hydrogen established in the REPowerEU plan;
19.
20.
Geothermal district heating and cooling
21.
Underlines the need to modernise existing heating and cooling networks and build new
ones using the potential of geothermal energy; calls on the Commission and the
Member States to create strong incentives to support the above and to favour 4th and
5th generation heating and cooling systems;
Kommentar: Parlamentet anmoder Kommissionen og medlemsstaterne om at skabe
stærke incitamenter til at støtte 4. og 5. generations varme- og kølesystemer.
Internationalt anses det, der i Danmark betegnes som termonet-fjernvarme, som
hørende til 5GDHC (5th Generation District Heating and Cooling) defineret ved
fremføring af termisk energi tæt ved jordvarmetemperatur. Der skal her bemærkes,
at der er en videnskabelig diskussion om hvorvidt 5GDHC skal anses for at være del
af 4GDH (4th Generation District Heating) defineret ved brug af smarte enheder på
tæt ved forbrugspunkter og muligheden for at udnytte spildvarme. Denne diskussion
er ikke afspejlet i resolution, som benytter 5GDHC-betegnelsen uden forbehold.
notes that the development of heating
and cooling networks is integral to the preparation of comprehensive municipal heating
plans, as required by the Energy Efficiency Directive, and is aligned with the objectives
of national energy and climate plans; calls on the Commission to provide the Member
States with guidelines for the preparation of these plans, including for the assessment of
geothermal potential;
1
Such as the national initiatives launched by Poland (Multi-year Program for the
Development of the Use of Geothermal Resources in Poland – 2022), France (National
Action Plan on Geothermal Energy – 2023), and Germany (The German Geothermal
Energy Strategy 2022).
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Kommentar: Parlamentet bemærker her, at udviklingen af de nævnte 4. og 5.
generations fjernvarmesystemer, herunder altså også termonet-fjernvarme, er
centrale for forberedelsen af kommunale varmeplaner, hvilket i Danmark er bundet
sammen med, at fjernvarmeanlæg over 0,25 MW (svarende til ca. 35 moderne huse)
skal godkendes efter varmeforsyningslovens bestemmelser.
Endvidere anmoder Parlamentet om, at Kommissionen udformer retningslinjer for
forberedelsen af kommunale varmeplaner, så disse også omfatter vurderingen af det
lokale geotermiske potentiale.
Det aktuelle danske lovforslag om ændring af varmeforsyningsloven (2024) vil
undtage overfladenære geotermiske anlæg med termonet og distribuerede
varmepumper placeret i de tilsluttede huse fra varmeforsyningsloven. Vedtages
lovforslaget, vil sådanne geotermiske anlæg ikke længere indgå i kommunernes
varmeplaner, og vil derfor gå imod
EU's direktiv om energieffektivitet
fra 2023.
22.
Welcomes the growing number of projects involving conversion of existing district
heating and cooling (DHC) infrastructure into geothermal-based DHC; emphasises in
particular the potential of such conversions in Central and Eastern European countries,
where they can significantly contribute to decarbonisation policies; stresses that these
actions should be broadly supported by the Modernisation, Just Transition and Cohesion
Funds; calls for investments supported by the Modernisation Fund, which support the
conversion of exiting district heating systems, to always consider the potential for
geothermal energy to be supplied to such systems;
Expresses concern that all too often the development of geothermal projects is
prevented or significantly delayed by the lack of developed district heating and cooling
networks; stresses the need to ensure coordination between energy companies and local
authorities to jointly plan, invest and manage district heating and cooling networks;
Kommentar: Parlamentet udtrykker bekymring over, at udviklingen af geotermiske
projekter, stadig med reference til også 5GDHC og dermed termonet-fjernvarme, alt
for ofte forhindres eller forsinkes betydelig på grund af manglen på udviklede anlæg
for kollektive anlæg for opvarmning og køling. Endvidere understreges behovet for
at sikre koordinering mellem energiselskaber og lokale myndigheder med henblik
på fælles planlægning, investering i og drift af kollektive anlæg for opvarmning og
køling.
24.
Draws attention to the fact that some of recent geothermal DHC projects have been
implemented with new business models allowing private companies, including utility
companies, to build public infrastructure on behalf of local authorities; invites Member
States to explore innovative regulatory possibilities to foster the development of
geothermal DHC;
Kommentar: Det her beskrevne omfatter en særlig tilføjelse til den danske
varmeforsyningslovs substitutionsprincip, så mulighed for at gennemføre et projekt
for dyb geotermi i Aarhus blev fremmet. Den danske regering har således været i
front, når gælder fremme af dyb geotermi, men er nu ved at vanskeliggøre vilkårene
for overfladenær geotermi, der jf. resolutionens pkt. 9 indeholder det største
potentiale.
23.
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25.
Highlights the importance of making data available from existing district heating
networks, including the level of modernisation and heat demand, to geothermal
stakeholders across Europe; underscores that this data is crucial to evaluating the
potential of a region and engage with local authorities throughout the initial stages of a
project; calls on the Commission to facilitate and coordinate the availability of existing
DHC data;
Data availability
26.
Notes the lack of easy access to subsurface data is currently an important barrier to de-
risking and thereby the fast deployment of geothermal energy projects; underscores that
easy and equitable access to subsurface data in Member States is crucial for the project
appraisal phase; underlines, furthermore, that this lack of data access prevents scientists
from creating the geological models that are essential to predict the potential and yield
of geothermal energy in a given subsurface area and are thus crucial in reducing
uncertainty for project developers;
Urges the Member States and the Commission to explore methods of collecting
different types of geological data from public and private entities with a view to
organising, systematising and making it available to the public by expanding existing
basic geological databases using the digital formats for collection of the data and
making it available; notes that this should be achieved in compliance with applicable
rules on data protection, on protection of commercially sensitive data, including the
protection of trade secrets, and the protection of intellectual property rights, as well as
security considerations and, where necessary, include incentives or compensation for
data sharing by private entities; expresses opinion that publicly funded geological data
needed for geothermal projects (such as those obtained due to public support received
for exploratory drilling) should be made available to the public within a short period of
time set by the Member State concerned; draws attention to the fact that in some
Member States geological data held by private entities is made available free of charge
to the public after a certain period of time;
Urges the Commission to explore the benefits of and barriers to harmonising national
legislation on granting access to subsurface data and the storing of geological data on a
centralised portal at the EU level that is freely and easily accessible to all;
Stresses that in areas with insufficient subsurface data, governments can play a role in
funding geothermal resource mapping and exploratory drilling; welcomes the fact that
some Member States have already taken steps in this direction; calls on the Commission
to continue supporting this data collection through relevant projects, such as European
Geological Data Infrastructure (EGDI), which aims to create a EU-wide atlas of
geothermal resources; highlights the relevance of the Copernicus Land Monitoring
Service (CLMS), which can provide reliable land temperature data, which is particularly
useful for surface geothermal energy;
Emphasises the geothermal potential of repurposing inactive oil and gas wells and
mines; calls on the Member States, in cooperation with oil, gas and coal companies, to
prepare public inventories and maps, including specifications, of depleted, abandoned
and end-of-life hydrocarbon infrastructure that has the potential to be used as a
geothermal resource; stresses the need to prioritise funds to carry out detailed studies of
the conditions of this infrastructure in order to assess the potential of each site;
27.
28.
29.
30.
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31.
Expresses its concern about the fragmented nature of statistics on geothermal energy;
stresses that it is very difficult to assess deployment of geothermal energy in Europe
because of the lack of standards for industry data reporting; calls on the Member States,
in cooperation with the industry and the Commission, to overhaul existing statistical
data collecting procedures for geothermal and to replicate best practices in the sector by
creating standards for industry data reporting;
Funding
32.
Reiterates that uncertainty about subsurface resources makes it challenging to secure
project funding; notes that the initial project phase, such as the exploration and
construction phase, requires a significant amount of upfront costs and major
entrepreneurial risks that hinder the investment decision calls on the Member States to
explore financial de-risking solutions appropriate to the maturity of their local markets,
such as grants, loans that are convertible to grants, state-backed guarantees, exploration
insurance and hedging mechanisms,
Kommentar: Parlamentet henleder her igen opmærksomheden på, at den generelle
usikkerhed omkring undergrundens energiressourcer gør det udfordrende at sikre
projektfinansiering. Problemet er, at de geotermiske projekter har høje
etableringsomkostninger og entreprenørmæssige risici. For at udnytte potentialet
opfordrer Parlamentet derfor medlemsstaterne til at undersøge løsninger for
finansiel risikosikring (”de-risking”), som matcher det lokale markeds modenhed,
herunder tilskud, lån som kan konverteres til tilskud, statslige garantier og
undersøgelse af mulighed for forsikrings- og hedgingmekanismer.
Parlamentets beskrivelse af den aktuelle situation er i overensstemmelse med de
udfordringer, som danske landsbyer, der ønsker at etablerer termonet, oplever.
Danmark har som et af få EU-lande allerede under varmeforsyningsloven etableret
den anbefalede form for lånegarantier, som imidlertid med det aktuelle lovforslag
(2024) om ændring af varmeforsyningsloven står til at blive fjerne specifikt for
projekter, der via kollektivt net (termonet) udnytter overfladenær geotermi, hvis de
distribuerede varmepumper placeres det optimale sted ift. økonomi og
energieffektivitet (i de tilsluttede huse).
notes examples of risk coverage mechanisms that
are backed up not only by public funds but also by contributions from the private sector;
notes, in this regard, that an EU financial risk mitigation scheme would be particularly
useful for the least mature markets in the geothermal sector; notes the importance of
other de-risking measures such as granting easy access to subsurface data, sharing best
practices on new types of business models offering synergies between public and
private funding;
33.
Expresses concern that high upfront drilling and installation costs tend to discourage the
selection of geothermal heat pumps (GHPs) in favour of less efficient technological
solutions; calls on the Member States to explore possible financial incentives to bridge
this gap, including through ‘pay as you save’ (PAYS) financing models; calls on the
Commission to address this issue in the upcoming EU heat pump action plan;
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Kommentar: Parlamentet udtrykker bekymring for at de høje
etableringsomkostninger ved geotermiske projekter har tendens til at afskrække
valget af geotermiske varmepumper til fordel for mindre effektive løsninger,
hvorved der må forstås luft/vand-varmepumper. Parlamentet opfordrer
medlemsstaterne til at udforske mulige finansielle incitamenter, som kan udligne de
højere etableringsomkostninger ved at vælge løsninger baseret på geotermi, fx betal-
i-takt-med-besparelsen finansieringsmodeller. Parlamentet anmoder Kommissionen
om at adressere disse forhold i EU's kommende handlingsplan for varmepumper.
Der kan argumenteres for, at varmeforsyningsloven nuværende rammevilkår,
herunder hvile-i-sig-selv-princippet og mulighederne for lånegarantier, faktisk
udjævner de høje etableringsomkostninger, forudsat at også termonet-fjernvarme
baseret på overfladenær geotermi forbliver under varmeforsyningsloven.
34.
Stresses that high upfront costs are stunting the growth of geothermal energy,
particularly for actors with limited financial resources, making them to favour
investments that are more profitable in the short term, but offer lower environmental
sustainability; calls on the Commission to take appropriate steps to ensure that
geothermal projects are better taken into account when using existing European funds
and instruments; asks the Commission to dedicate resources under existing funds to
support exploration, development, modernisation of geothermal projects, particularly
based on innovative technologies, and reskilling and upskilling of workers;
Kommentar: Parlamentet understreger, at de høje etableringsomkostninger hæmmer
væksten for geotermisk energi, specielt for aktører med begrænsede finansielle
ressourcer, hvilket får dem til at foretrække investeringer som bedre kan betale sig
på kort sigt, men som resulterer i lavere miljømæssig bæredygtighed.
Det her anførte svarer til situationen i landdistrikter i Danmark, hvor brugen af
individuelle luftbaserede varmepumper umiddelbart er billigere, men – som det er
fremgået andre steder – på langt sigt både har dårligere totaløkonomi og lavere
energieffektivitet.
Parlamentet anmoder Kommissionen at tage de nødvendige skridt, for at
geotermiske projekter fremover i højere grad tilgodeses, både i forhold til
finansiering og andre styringsmekanismer.
Regulatory issues
35.
Stresses that faster permitting rules for geothermal, in compliance with existing EU
environmental legislation, would facilitate the deployment of geothermal energy
projects across the EU; notes that deep geothermal energy projects are currently subject
to laws designed for large-scale mining projects, which are difficult to comply with,
particularly for smaller-scale geothermal projects; calls therefore on the Member States
to review existing mining laws in order to better reflect the specificity of geothermal
projects and to develop dedicated permitting rules for geothermal, while taking into
account the fact that different geothermal technologies have significantly different
impacts and risks for the geology and environment; asks the Commission to provide
guidelines to ensure the requisite level of coherence, similar to the approach taken for
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the regulatory framework supporting CO
2
storage (Directive 2009/31/EC
1
);
36.
Draws attention to the fact that in some Member States project assessment deadlines are
rooted in the tacit approval principle under clearly defined conditions unless a reply is
required by EU or national law; calls on Member States to explore the benefits of, and
barriers to, applying this principle to geothermal projects and to consider its
introduction in their legislation;
Expresses concern that geothermal projects encounter lengthy permitting processes;
urges the Member States to create more efficient streamlined and digitalised permitting
processes for new geothermal projects and for the expansion of existing facilities,
including by creating a one-stop shop – where this has not been done already – for the
whole permitting process across authorities and to provide support for local authorities
to ensure their workforce is adequately skilled; believes that these one-stop shops
should also promote information sharing about funding opportunities collected by the
Commission via a centralised portal;
Notes the differences between geothermal exploitation in urban and rural settings;
draws attention to the specificity of urban geothermal heating projects and calls on the
Member States to develop more efficient and streamlined permitting procedures for
geothermal heating projects, including facilitating access to urban plots suitable for
geothermal plants; calls, therefore, on the Commission to issue recommendations to
distribution system operators on the modalities of working with local authorities to
establish local heating and cooling plans with a focus on geothermal energy, in order to
facilitate the integration of geothermal energy use in both urban management plans and
modern approaches to underground space management;
Kommentar: Parlamentet bemærker her de forskelle, som gælder mellem by og
land, og opfordrer medlemsstaterne til udvikle mere effektive og strømlinede
processer for tilladelse til geotermisk varmeforsyning. Parlamentet opfordrer
Kommissionen til at give anbefalinger vedrørende udformning af lokale
varmeplaner og køleplaner, der udnytter geotermisk energi. Vedtages det aktuelle
danske lovforslag (2024) om ændring af varmeforsyningsloven undtages termonet-
fjernvarme der udnytter overfladenær geotermi med brug af distribuerede
varmepumper i de tilsluttede ejendomme fra at skulle indgå i de kommunale
varmeplaner, altså det modsatte af Parlamentets opfordring til Kommissionen.
39.
Notes that permits for geothermal installations must be made easier for project
promoters to expand to cover the extraction of raw materials or the production of
hydrogen from existing capacity under the same lease;
Calls on the Commission to issue guidance for permitting agencies on best practices
about managing shallow geothermal permitting applications and potential interference
with drinking water to accelerate the permitting process while ensuring the full
application of environmental standards;
37.
38.
40.
1
Directive 2009/31/EC of 23 April 2009 on the geological storage of carbon dioxide and
amending Council Directive 85/337/EEC, European Parliament and Council Directives
2000/60/EC, 2001/80/EC, 2004/35/EC, 2006/12/EC, 2008/1/EC and Regulation (EC)
No 1013/2006 (OJ L 140, 5.6.2009, p. 114).
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41.
Regrets that a life-cycle analysis is being applied to geothermal energy but not to other
renewables, which contradicts the technology-neutral approach of the Taxonomy
Regulation
1
, reduces the considerable potential of geothermal energy as a contribution
to decarbonisation, especially in heat supply, and exposes it to unequal competitive
conditions to other renewable energy sources; calls, therefore, on the Commission to
review the classification of geothermal energy applications in the taxonomy provisions
in order to put geothermal on an equal regulatory footing with wind and solar;
Stresses that geothermal should have the same regulatory status, including in EU
procurement, as already exists for other renewables, and in the Temporary Crisis and
Transition Framework, as well as in any subsequent measures;
42.
Workforce, training and skills
43.
Expresses its concern over the reported backlogs and delays in the installation of GHPs,
the drilling of wells and the granting of the requisite permissions owing to a shortage of
qualified staff; highlights that the need for a skilled workforce will further increase in
future and urges the Member States, in collaboration with industry and, where
appropriate, with trade unions, to step up measures for the skilling and reskilling of
specialists for geothermal since having an adequate pool of workers will be critical to
meeting the objectives for geothermal deployment;
Calls on the Member States to ensure that certification schemes or equivalent
qualification schemes are available, particularly for installers of small-scale shallow
geothermal systems and heat pumps;
Notes that only a limited number of university courses are dedicated to geothermal
energy and are of short duration and optional, with the majority of classes offered only
covering basic skills; therefore encourages the Member States to cooperate with
educational establishments with a view to updating and strengthening degrees dedicated
to geothermal energy so as to adequately train the future generations of workers in the
sector; welcomes projects supported by Erasmus+ to remedy the lack of qualified junior
graduates in the geothermal energy value chain, such as the Geo3En programme, which
aims to lay the foundations for a future Erasmus Mundus Master’s degree in geothermal
engineering; underlines, that the geothermal industry needs to raise awareness among
students, and teaching staff about the geothermal sector and the career opportunities it
offers;
44.
45.
Technology development
46.
Stresses that while the EU is the leader in geothermal research and development, high-
value patents, publications and manufacturing, support measures for next-generation
geothermal technologies are needed at European and national level in order to maintain
this position, particularly in geothermal storage and industrial applications;
Notes that investment in research and development (R&D) in the geothermal energy
field has received considerably less funding than other sectors, with only two projects
on geothermal energy being supported so far by the Innovation Fund; calls, therefore,
Regulation (EU) 2020/852 of the Council of 18 June 2020 on the establishment of a
framework to facilitate sustainable investment, and amending Regulation (EU)
2019/2088 (OJ L 198, 22.6.2020, p. 13).
47.
1
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on the Commission to support investments in R&D in geothermal technologies, such as,
the development of reliable pump technology and new drilling techniques;
48.
Underlines, in particular, the importance of underground pumped hydroelectric and
thermal storage projects; calls on the Commission and the Member States to support
R&D in these solutions and to implement large-scale pilot plants; asks for broader
support for these projects, particularly those developed on a basis of decommissioned
mines and quarries that can be converted into water reservoirs, in calls of EU Innovation
Fund and Horizon Europe framework, since this solution can be a vital piece in
development of decarbonised electricity systems;
Highlights that some Member States have expressed concerns over the lack of
conformity of some imported heat pumps to their declared energy efficiency status;
stresses that third-party conformity assessment (instead of self-declaration) should be
discussed as part of the revision of the ecodesign energy labelling rules;
49.
Territories in transition
50.
Stresses that the exploitation of geothermal potential, in particular for district heating, is
one of the natural resources that can contribute to a just energy transition in the affected
areas by offsetting job losses, as mines and other extractive facilities close, eradicating
energy poverty, and strengthening the self-sufficiency of local communities and their
administrations by reducing their dependence on energy imports;
Regrets that the potential of repurposing for geothermal applications of depleted,
abandoned and end-of-life hydrocarbon reservoirs as well as oil and gas wells is not
being fully tapped;
Draws attention to existing repurposing projects in decommissioned mines, where
applied cavern thermal energy storage technology is able to provide heating or cooling;
notes the development of projects which plan to use oil reservoirs for geothermal energy
storage; takes note of ongoing projects to repurpose decommissioned oil and gas wells
for geothermal applications, thereby greatly reducing exploration risks and drilling
costs;
Notes that many of these projects are being implemented by the fossil-fuel industry,
which sees them as an opportunity to be part of the energy transition, and that there is a
need for an even stronger, early involvement of this industry in exploring the potential
for geothermal; stresses that early assessment of resources, while the mines are still
accessible, ensures the more efficient development of their alternative use; notes that
due consideration should be given to the liability regime;
Calls on the Member States to make use of existing European funding opportunities to
support the re-skilling of the workforce in transition areas, with a view to capitalising on
the jobs arising from geothermal projects; notes that oil and gas industry skills can be
applied to and be highly valuable for the geothermal sector; stresses, therefore, the need
to attract and support relevant workers to the geothermal sector, including by the
creation of incentives and training programmes;
Draws attention to the specific needs of the outermost regions to develop renewable
energy sources in line with their geographical, geological and meteorological
characteristics; points out that, due to their geographical remoteness, these regions are
51.
52.
53.
54.
55.
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not connected to European energy grids; notes that a large proportion of the outermost
regions are volcanic territories, presenting high potential for the production of both
surface and deep geothermal energy; underlines the essential role that geothermal
energy can play in these regions to guarantee their energy autonomy;
Visibility and public acceptance
56.
Draws attention to the online mapping of existing geothermal installations in a given
city or region as a good practice that can raise the visibility of geothermal solutions and
help support public and private investment decisions;
Notes that public acceptance remains a challenge for geothermal projects, particularly
on the basis of environmental concerns such as the possible interference with ground
water, non-condensable gas emissions, over-exploitation of water resources, and
seismic activity; recalls the importance of maintaining high environmental and scientific
standards throughout all stages of geothermal energy projects and of taking a
sustainable life-cycle assessment approach; stresses that strict observance of these
requirements, transparency of the investment, greater stakeholder engagement, and
involvement of local communities in the planning and implementation phases can serve
as an efficient way of addressing public concerns and overcoming distrust; calls on the
Commission, in cooperation with the geothermal industry and Member States, to
develop guidelines and best practices for cooperation between project promoters and
local authorities and communities in order to build trust, foster support and create
mutually beneficial relationships;
57.
International cooperation
58.
Stresses the need to share best practices, technological know-how, results of research
and innovation on geothermal technologies with partner countries and organisations that
have already developed deep and surface geothermal energy on a larger scale or are in
process of implementing ambitious plans to rapidly grow the geothermal energy sector;
Highlights the importance of inclusion of geothermal energy in the cooperation agenda
with developing countries in a view of transfer of environmentally sound technologies,
knowledge sharing and capacity building to meet growing energy demand;
°
°
60.
°
59.
Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council and the Commission.