Brussels, 19/09/2014 (Agence Europe) - More than 60 representatives of the geothermal industry, universities and the financial sector met in Brussels on Friday 19 September, for a high-level round table between the EU and Iceland to discuss the obstacles to the growth of geothermal energy, particularly geothermal urban heating in Europe. This provided Energy Commissioner Günther Oettinger with the opportunity to reiterate the EU's desire to work more closely with Iceland, which was represented on Friday by its Minister for Trade and Industry, Ragnheidur Elín Árnadóttir.
During the debates, the experts stressed the need for increased support from the decision-makers to improve the contribution of heat from renewable sources to the energy mix of the EU, and the fact that many lessons can be learnt from Iceland in this area.
The country, which has considerable resources as a result of its unique geology and plentiful hydrography, is a model in the use of renewable energies, which provide more than 80% of its primary energy production (more than 65% geothermal, 15% of the hydraulic). Volcanoes, fumaroles, solfataras, geysers, boiling mud pools and natural hot pools all feed into Iceland's geothermal energy. The island is a world leader in the use of geothermal urban heating: thanks to technological progress and Icelandic engineering which has been pioneering in geothermal expertise, nearly 90% of houses, public buildings and greenhouses in the country are heated by natural hot water. (EH)