The potential of geothermal energy for the green transition

Key points

The EESC:

• underlines that geothermal energy production has extremely low greenhouse gas emissions, thus reducing the continent’s dependence on fossil fuels and facilitating its decarbonisation, thereby making a significant contribution to achieving the EU’s 2050 climate neutrality goals.
• highlights that the potential of geothermal energy in Europe is significantly untapped. Therefore, the Committee calls on the Commission to draw up a general European strategy for geothermal energy development in order to harness the potential of geothermal energy.
• believes that investments in geothermal power plants will not work without Member State intervention: government funding and incentives are needed to attract and de-risk initial investments. Changes in energy policy or financing may affect the economic attractiveness of geothermal projects.

Additional information

Section: Transport, Energy, Infrastructure and the Information Society (TEN)

Opinion number: TEN/843

Opinion type: Own-initiative

Rapporteur: Zsolt Kükedi (Group III - Hungary)

Co-rapporteur: Thomas Kattnig (Group II - Austria)

Date of adoption by section: 26 September 2024

Result of the vote: 46 in favour, 0 against, 0 abstentions

Date of adoption in plenary: 23-24 October 2024

Result of the vote: 238 in favour, 0 against, 5 abstentions

Contact

Marco Pezzani

Press Officer

Tel.: +32 2 546 9793 | Mob: +32 470 881 903

E-mail: marco.pezzani@eesc.europa.eu

António Ribeiro Pereira

Administrator

Tel.: +32 546 9363

E-mail: antonio.ribeiropereira@eesc.europa.eu