Next-generation geothermal technologies, including enhanced, advanced, and superhot geothermal systems, can unlock high-temperature heat, firm clean, dispatchable power, and cascading thermal uses across Europe. With the right strategy, geothermal can deliver clean heat, firm power, and industrial decarbonization at scale, all while strengthening Europe’s energy security and competitiveness. Geothermal must be a central pillar of Europe’s clean energy strategy, across both heating and power:
Heating:
- Geothermal offers 24/7 renewable heat for district heating networks with minimal land use.
- Ability to supply low- to mid-temperature industrial heat (<200°C), which represents ~37% of EU industrial heat demand.
- Rapid improvements in drilling efficiency, up to 35% learning rates, are lowering CAPEX for deeper, higher-temperature wells.
Power Generation:
- Next-generation systems enable firm, dispatchable electricity from deeper, hotter reservoirs, providing critical flexibility to the grid as renewables penetration rises.
- grope’s ~40 TW EGS technical potential offers a scalable pathway to high-capacity, geographically widespread geothermal power, comparable to 35× current EU installed capacity.
The letter calls for:
- A full-spectrum geothermal strategy, covering heat, power, and cascading applications.
- Strong support for R&D, field testing, and commercialization across Member States to help the EU lead in advanced and superhot geothermal technologies.
- Strengthening Europe’s geothermal value chain, from manufacturing to high-temperature drilling services, to workforce development.
- Robust risk-sharing mechanisms to unlock private capital and accelerate early projects.
- Create an EU-level stakeholder alliance to ensure coordinated, real-world implementation.
This is a pivotal moment as we also need more data and permitting measures. Read the full joint letter here.
You can also find FCA’s Geothermal Standpoint here.