Support to the activities of the European Technology and Innovation Platform on Deep Geothermal

Project Information

DG ETIP

Grant agreement ID: 773392

DOI

10.3030/773392

Project closed

EC signature date 7 June 2017

Start date 1 July 2017

End date 30 June 2019

Funded under

• SOCIETAL CHALLENGES - Secure, clean and efficient energy

Total cost

€ 597 412,50

EU contribution

€ 597 412,50

Coordinated by

EUROPEAN GEOTHERMAL ENERGY COUNCIL
Belgium

Periodic Reporting for period 2 - DG ETIP (Support to the activities of the European Technology and Innovation Platform on Deep Geothermal)

Reporting period: 2018-07-01 to 2019-06-30

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

This project aims at assisting the mission of the European Technology and Innovation Platform on Deep Geothermal (ETIP-DG). The ETIP-DG was established in the framework of the European Strategic Energy Technology Plan (SET-Plan) and it is made up of stakeholders from industry, research and policy, with the overarching objective to identify the ways in which new technologies and methods will shape the future of geothermal and how they can be cost-effectively bought to market, allowing more citizens to benefit from this renewable, stable resource.
Geothermal energy is a valuable and local source of energy that can cost-effectively provide base- load/dispatchable electricity, heat or a combination of both. It has great potential as a renewable source, but the relevant resources are far from being fully developed.
To allow geothermal energy to fully meet its potential in the renewable energy mix, it is necessary to tackle some issues to improve performance and reduce costs, and make widespread implementation possible. The mission of the ETIP-DG is therefore to provide a framework for stakeholders to define and implement an innovation strategy to increase the use of geothermal and to foster the growth and the market uptake of the relevant European industries. The primary objective is overall cost reduction, including social, environmental and technological costs. These goals are addressed by the strategic targets of the SET PLan Declaration of Intent on Deep Geothermal Energy.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

In March 2018, the Vision for Deep Geothermal outlined the goals to be achieved in terms of performance and cost‐reductions.

The Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda published in April 2019, recommended actions and research priorities that should be addressed to achieve the key technological and transversal challenges that could make the Vision a solid reality between now and 2050.

The European Technology & Innovation Platform on Deep Geothermal (ETIP-DG) has released in June 2019 its Implementation roadmap for Deep Geothermal, which aims to identify a path forward, developing high performance, cost-effective and sustainable deep geothermal technologies that can expand the production of electricity, heating and cooling while reinforcing EU industrial capacity and leadership in the sector.

The Roadmap 2020-2030 is ranking short to medium term challenges and actions, tracks long-term strategy, and offering a description of topics and goals, providing performance indicators.
To fund these research and innovation activities for deep geothermal, The ETIP-DG estimates that € 1.85 billion is required for the successful implementation of this Deep Geothermal Roadmap. It is necessary to strengthen R&I private investments and increase the public funding budget for R&I projects at European, national and regional levels for the next decade. Moreover, a strengthening of the market deployment policy and knowledge sharing for deep geothermal is also required.

A new generation of deep geothermal systems and technologies, the adaptation of existing technologies for new applications and markets, novel applications to be demonstrated, standardised and combined in hybrid systems, and the promotion of pre-existing technologies will all contribute to an accelerated deployment of geothermal in Europe in the context of the 2030 milestones.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

At the start of the DG ETIP project, the platform had 195 members. In M24, the platform has over 407 active members representing 256 organist ions. The number of members is showing a steady growth with a few jumps related to major dissemination events. The majority of members are from Europe (358), of which 319 from the EU, but there also members from all over the world. Italy, Germany and France are the most represented countries.

Three important milestones mark the 2018 geothermal market:
(i) total installed capacity is now more than 3 GWe;
(ii) the sector has doubled its capacity in 6 years;
(iii) as of 2018, more than 300 geothermal district heating systems are in operation, compared to 187 in 2010.

According to our estimation, the total turnover of geothermal industries in the EU was € 2.7 billion in 2018.

The ETIP-DG estimates that € 1.7 billion is required for the successful implementation of this Deep Geothermal Roadmap.
The expected resources to be committed by European industry (38%), the European Commission (32%) and Member States & Regions (30%), respectively, across the 2020 – 2030 period, are an average of € 185 million allocated annually to deep geothermal research and innovation activities.

ETIP DG flyer 1

ETIP DG roadmap

ETIP DG flyer 2