EU Energy Ministers are meeting today (29th October) in Luxembourg to discuss energy security (winter 2026/27 and long-term) and the post-2030 framework targets.
Geothermal is central to providing Europe with secure, efficient and affordable energy whilst also achieving the EU’s climate goals. It is the only energy source that can provide continuous baseload renewable electricity, enhance the efficiency of heat pumps as well as decarbonised district and industrial heating and cooling systems, and deliver the least land-intensive and cheapest energy storage solutions, as well as the most environmentally sustainable means of extracting lithium and other raw materials.
EGEC is convinced that a geothermal-specific target must be included in the Action Plan for Geothermal for the upcoming European Geothermal Stakeholder Partnership, as announced in the framework of the Electrification Action Plan (published by the European Commission on 17 July 2026). Furthermore, it believes that the upcoming new Regulation on the Governance of the Energy Union and Climate Action (which will replace Regulation (EU) 2018/1999) will turbocharge investment in geothermal energy projects and facilitate significant private capital leverage.
The current energy crisis requires new responses that address the challenges of the 21st Century. Repeating the same responses that were made to previous energy crises would represent a serious strategic failure, EGEC argues.
Geothermal must be at the heart of the answers to ensuring energy security and sovereignty with clean electricity and heating & cooling from home-grown and renewable sources at an affordable price for all consumers.
EGEC proposes that the European Union should aim to increase the utilisation of geothermal energy with a target of at least 250 GW total capacity (including heat, cooling and electricity) in the EU27 by 2040.
Reaching this target would enable geothermal energy to provide more than 1,000 TWh of energy per year, which represents around 20 percent of the EU’s projected Final Energy Consumption (not including transport) in 2040. Progress towards this target should be monitored by the European Geothermal Stakeholder Partnership (to be established in 2027) and in the new Regulation on the Governance of the Energy Union and Climate Action.
“If the EU wants to achieve energy independence, a strong economy with affordable energy prices, and end our dependence on fossil fuels, then we urgently need to accelerate the deployment of geothermal solutions for heating and cooling as well as electricity generation” said Philippe Dumas, EGEC’s Secretary General.
“Our analysis shows how the Member States can increase the combined capacity of installed geothermal systems from 41.4 GW currently to 250 GW by 2040, so that geothermal can cover 20% of the EU’s total energy needs for buildings, industry, agriculture and services. This will also deliver benefits in terms of enhancing Europe’s industrial competitiveness and reducing energy costs for consumers.”
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