Thanks to advances in technology, geothermal electricity can now be harnessed in many parts of Europe. These are the findings of a new study by the think tank Ember, which was published on Monday 9 February.
It stresses that the “next-generation” of geothermal energy has made it possible to extend the range of geological contexts suitable for the production of geothermal energy, aimed at exploiting the natural heat of the subsoil. These new techniques involve accessing underground heat without relying on natural heat pathways or creating closed-loop systems.
On a global scale, geothermal energy could cover up to 15% of the growth in electricity demand by 2050, according to Ember.
In the European Union, around 43 GW of enhanced geothermal capacity could be developed at a cost of less than €100/MWh today, which is comparable to the cost of electricity produced from coal and gas, according to the analysis.
The identified EU-level deployment could even deliver 301 TWh of electricity per year, reflecting around 42% of the electricity produced from coal and gas in the EU in 2025.
The most promising countries would be Hungary, followed by Poland, Germany and France.
According to Ember, this reflects the absence of a coherent EU-level policy framework and increases the risk that future scale-up will take place outside of Europe, particularly in North America.
Read the study: https://aeur.eu/f/kne (Original version in French by Pauline Denys)