Periodic Reporting for period 1 - SU-DG-IWG (Support Unit for the Deep Geothermal Implementation Working Group)
Okres sprawozdawczy: 2019-02-01 do 2020-07-31
Geothermal energy is one of the most promising renewable energy sources for producing electricity and heating. Geothermal energy will be a key component of the future European energy systems.
In the SET plan, Europe has set its ambitions also for geothermal. A specific geothermal Implementation plan is developed. In order to reach the goals of placing Europe at the forefront of the low carbon energy scene, an Implementation Working Group for Deep Geothermal (DG-IWG) was created to move forward the Deep Geothermal Implementation Plan (DG-IP), endorsed by the SET Plan Steering Committee. In the same objective, in order to support the work of the DG-IWG, a Support Unit was created in order to facilitate the work foreseen by the aforementioned DG-IWG. The work of the DG-IWG is based on the coordination work of a number of SET Plan countries forming the consortium of GEOTHERMICA (supported by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programme under grant agreement No. 731117). Within this project the country participation will be extended with geothermal industry and research stakeholders who are already cooperating in platforms such as European Technology and Innovation Platform (ETIP) on deep geothermal, European Energy Research Alliance - Geothermal (EERA-Geothermal as well as the European Geothermal Energy Council (EGEC). Before GEOTHERMICA, the development of geothermal energy, which is crucial for the European society as a whole moving towards a decarbonised economy, was mainly based on national funding for research, development and deployment (RD&D) and market support measures, with few exceptions of country-to-country bilateral and cooperative agreements.
In particular, the vast deep geothermal potential is still underestimated and therefore creating the urgent need to increase awareness of its advantages, especially among decision makers, civil society and investors. It is also crucial to invest in new geothermal technologies and to improve existing ones through RD&I with the primary objective to progress along the learning curve and decrease its cost. Major investments in deep geothermal research and innovation are necessary to develop and deploy the next generation of geothermal technologies and answering the challenges for the transformation of our energy system towards a decarbonisation of our economy. In this RD&I framework, the EU-level added value is very clear in a sector where engineers and manufacturers all over Europe are facing similar challenges to develop and operate efficient systems and to reduce costs.
The growth of the European geothermal sector is supported by three pillars, the first pillar is the geothermal industry; the second is the geothermal research community; and the third and center pillar is the public sector. The establishment and operation of the DG-IWG is based on this three pillars structure and will enable the set-up of the agora and provide the adequate nexus for a comprehensive interaction and discussion between the different stakeholder groups.
In the SET plan, Europe has set its ambitions also for geothermal. A specific geothermal Implementation plan is developed. In order to reach the goals of placing Europe at the forefront of the low carbon energy scene, an Implementation Working Group for Deep Geothermal (DG-IWG) was created to move forward the Deep Geothermal Implementation Plan (DG-IP), endorsed by the SET Plan Steering Committee. In the same objective, in order to support the work of the DG-IWG, a Support Unit was created in order to facilitate the work foreseen by the aforementioned DG-IWG. The work of the DG-IWG is based on the coordination work of a number of SET Plan countries forming the consortium of GEOTHERMICA (supported by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programme under grant agreement No. 731117). Within this project the country participation will be extended with geothermal industry and research stakeholders who are already cooperating in platforms such as European Technology and Innovation Platform (ETIP) on deep geothermal, European Energy Research Alliance - Geothermal (EERA-Geothermal as well as the European Geothermal Energy Council (EGEC). Before GEOTHERMICA, the development of geothermal energy, which is crucial for the European society as a whole moving towards a decarbonised economy, was mainly based on national funding for research, development and deployment (RD&D) and market support measures, with few exceptions of country-to-country bilateral and cooperative agreements.
In particular, the vast deep geothermal potential is still underestimated and therefore creating the urgent need to increase awareness of its advantages, especially among decision makers, civil society and investors. It is also crucial to invest in new geothermal technologies and to improve existing ones through RD&I with the primary objective to progress along the learning curve and decrease its cost. Major investments in deep geothermal research and innovation are necessary to develop and deploy the next generation of geothermal technologies and answering the challenges for the transformation of our energy system towards a decarbonisation of our economy. In this RD&I framework, the EU-level added value is very clear in a sector where engineers and manufacturers all over Europe are facing similar challenges to develop and operate efficient systems and to reduce costs.
The growth of the European geothermal sector is supported by three pillars, the first pillar is the geothermal industry; the second is the geothermal research community; and the third and center pillar is the public sector. The establishment and operation of the DG-IWG is based on this three pillars structure and will enable the set-up of the agora and provide the adequate nexus for a comprehensive interaction and discussion between the different stakeholder groups.
The Support Unit for the Deep Geothermal Implementation Working Group has now concluded its 1st Reporting Period. This period, from February 2019 – July 2020 has been eventful and in the opinion of the authors of this report, a time of significant progress in the broad mobilisation of the geothermal community towards its goal of implementing the action in the Implementation Plan (IP) put forward by the SET-Plan Temporary Working Group on Deep Geothermal. SU-DG-IWG has in this regard been influential in the partnership that is the Clean Energy Transition Partnership (CETP) and the resulting Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (SRIA) and brought together stakeholders in a Round Table in co-operation with GEOTHERMICA. Additionally, SU-DG-IWG has been engaged in the revision of the IP and emphasised, in accordance with its role, a review process that welcomed engagement from the wider geothermal community. Furthermore, SU-DG-IWG has held a number of meetings and workshops and generally speaking, endeavoured to mobilise the geothermal community in all its work. During this period, the SU-DG-IWG carried out the work as set out in Annex 1 of the Grant Agreement as the following summary of public deliverables illustrates:
D4.1 Map of geothermal market actors
D3.1 Report on the Inventory of National and European Public RD&I actions
D3.3 Report on the national and European mobilisation of the eight RD&I activity resources - Year 1
D4.3 Annual report on execution of the IP by companies - Year 1
D5.2 Communication strategy and media plan
D5.3 Communication toolkit
D5.4 Brochure presenting the main results of the implementation plan
D6.5 Key Performance Indicators.
D6.6 Annual monitoring report - Year 1
D4.1 Map of geothermal market actors
D3.1 Report on the Inventory of National and European Public RD&I actions
D3.3 Report on the national and European mobilisation of the eight RD&I activity resources - Year 1
D4.3 Annual report on execution of the IP by companies - Year 1
D5.2 Communication strategy and media plan
D5.3 Communication toolkit
D5.4 Brochure presenting the main results of the implementation plan
D6.5 Key Performance Indicators.
D6.6 Annual monitoring report - Year 1
The SU-DG-IWG identifies areas where common research will accelerate progress for the entire sector. The SU-DG-IWG brings bringing together all stakeholders representing deep geothermal technologies for power and/or heat from industry, research, and the public sector from all over Europe. Its mission is 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 and Research organisations.
The SU-DG-IWG provides the DG-IWG with relevant data about the IP execution, from the various stakeholder groups and strategy support for the DG-IWG in their decision-making process and actions. The SU-DG-IWG promotes and organises initiatives to mobilise the geothermal community to implement the actions identified in the implementation plan, e.g.: workshops, brokerages, consortium building and exploitation of RD&I results. The SU-DG-IWG also provides a secretariat for the DG-IWG to assist on administrative issues and strategy support, facilitating the work of the DG-IWG.
The main expected impact is an accelerated and coordinated implementation of RD&I actions of the Deep Geothermal Systems IP and therefore contributing to achieving the research and innovation goals of the Energy Union. Furthermore, the SU-DG-IWG will add to the coordinated and accelerated implementation of the Cross-cutting actions, like knowledge transfer, training, supporting an open-science platform and increasing the awareness of the Deep Geothermal potential in the energy system.
The SU-DG-IWG supports measures to accelerate the achievement of the targets of the DG-IP. The main tools for reaching these targets are the RD&I actions defined in the DG-IP. The expected impact of the SU-DG-IWG relies on the fact, that better coordinated RD&I actions will generate more synergies and speed up the implementation of the following RD&I actions.
The SU-DG-IWG facilitates the transfer of knowledge and training and open-science management, which are crucial for supporting all RD&I actions as well as non-technical barriers/enablers.
The main impact of the projects will be visible in a new communication platform for stakeholders, a better connection between industry and academia, the implementation of the DG-IP during and beyond H2020, geothermal events, a dialogue between all stakeholders, a more harmonised and aligned European geothermal research arena with increased efficiency of research efforts and a more targeted joint strategic research innovation and deployment measures as well as the uptake of new technologies in the sector.
The SU-DG-IWG provides the DG-IWG with relevant data about the IP execution, from the various stakeholder groups and strategy support for the DG-IWG in their decision-making process and actions. The SU-DG-IWG promotes and organises initiatives to mobilise the geothermal community to implement the actions identified in the implementation plan, e.g.: workshops, brokerages, consortium building and exploitation of RD&I results. The SU-DG-IWG also provides a secretariat for the DG-IWG to assist on administrative issues and strategy support, facilitating the work of the DG-IWG.
The main expected impact is an accelerated and coordinated implementation of RD&I actions of the Deep Geothermal Systems IP and therefore contributing to achieving the research and innovation goals of the Energy Union. Furthermore, the SU-DG-IWG will add to the coordinated and accelerated implementation of the Cross-cutting actions, like knowledge transfer, training, supporting an open-science platform and increasing the awareness of the Deep Geothermal potential in the energy system.
The SU-DG-IWG supports measures to accelerate the achievement of the targets of the DG-IP. The main tools for reaching these targets are the RD&I actions defined in the DG-IP. The expected impact of the SU-DG-IWG relies on the fact, that better coordinated RD&I actions will generate more synergies and speed up the implementation of the following RD&I actions.
The SU-DG-IWG facilitates the transfer of knowledge and training and open-science management, which are crucial for supporting all RD&I actions as well as non-technical barriers/enablers.
The main impact of the projects will be visible in a new communication platform for stakeholders, a better connection between industry and academia, the implementation of the DG-IP during and beyond H2020, geothermal events, a dialogue between all stakeholders, a more harmonised and aligned European geothermal research arena with increased efficiency of research efforts and a more targeted joint strategic research innovation and deployment measures as well as the uptake of new technologies in the sector.