Over 60 high-level Icelandic and EU representatives from geothermal industry, academia and finance met to discuss barriers to the growth of geothermal energy and, in particular, geothermal district heating in Europe. At the roundtable it was emphasized that more support from policymakers is needed to improve the contribution of secure, stable and indigenous renewable heat to the overall European Energy mix and that many lessons can be learned from Iceland's exemplary leadership in this field.
Iceland is a world leader in the use of geothermal district heating. Today, almost 90% of Iceland's houses and buildings are heated by natural hot water. Europe has considerable potential for geothermal energy and further development thereof would assist many EU Member States in achieving their renewable energy targets and becoming more self-sufficient.
Agenda of the high-level roundtable on geothermal energy in Europe (PDF)
Speech of Vice-President Günther H. Oettinger (PDF)
