What can be learned from leading countries in Europe and what still needs to be achieved?

The possible role of Shallow

Geothermal Energy in the context of

the Clean Energy for all Europeans

initiative

Shallow geothermal energyA clean and ecological alternative for heating and cooling in Europe

Ground source heat-pumps

• Use 1 part of electricity to produce 4 to 5 parts of heat!

• Get cold even for free!

Source: https://www.aptalaska.com/heat-pumps-101/

Shallow geothermal energyA clean and ecological alternative for heating and cooling in Europe

Climatization of large building complexes

• Minimize environmental impact by heating and cooling (full climatization)

• Avoid pollutants like exhausts or hot air for climatization

• Benefit from financial scaling effects

• Benefit from a non-volatile energy source

Large scale groundwater heat pump use at the campus of the University of Economics in Vienna

Installation of a 3 MWth heat open loop system for heating and cooling of the campus.

Source https://www.wien.info/en/sightseeing/architecture-design/wu-campus

Shallow geothermal energyA clean and ecological alternative for heating and cooling in Europe

Low temperature heating and cooling grids (“anergy grids”)

• Bidirectional grids for providing heat and cold at low temperature levels (<30degC) linked to decentral booster heat pumps

• Enable sector coupling to waste heat and electricity sector

• Combinable with other RES (e.g. solar thermal)

• Supports prosumer approaches

• Minimize grid losses and investments into pipelines

Anergy grid Suurstoffi (Switzerland)Source: https://www.zugestates.ch/nachhaltigkeit/zero-zero.html

Source: Project DEGENT-NET (Austria)

Shallow geothermal energyThe current market situation

Source: EGEC market report 2019 (preview)

Sto

cks

Sales (%)

Underdeveloped markets

Emerging markets

Saturated markets

+6.1%+4.1%

+6.4%

+10.9%

+9.3%

+5.0%

+62.6%+2.0%

+9.7%+17.7%

+3.1%

+12.2%

+10.4%

The ground source heat-pump market in the EU

• Leading nations (Sweden, Germany, France) show saturation effects

• Emerging markets (Poland, The Netherlands, UK and Belgium) have different drivers

• Still as significant number of underdeveloped markets

Shallow geothermal energyThe current market situation

The ground source heat-pump market in the EU

• Heat pump market dominated by air based systems (market share sales 2018: 92%)

• Ground source heat pumps do not fully participate at the diffusion of heat pumps in Europe (annual growth 2018: +12%)

• Main barriers for ground source heat pumps: low awareness, high initial investments and complex licensing

Normalized market development (annual sales in Europe) 2006 – 2016, source: EHPA

-17%

+92%

Ground source

systems

Air source

systems

Efficiency losses:

0.8 GWel/yr or 1.4 Twhel/yr

Higher seasonal performance factor might subsitute 1 – 2 coal fired power plant per year!

Shallow geothermal energyOpportunities for the next decade (2021 – 2030) with regard to the Clean Energy for all Europeans initiative

The building sector is crucial for a future decarbonized Europe

• Buildings are the largest energy consumer (40% of final energy consumption, 36% GHG emissions)

• Share of RES in the HC sector still rather low (2017: 19.5%1)

• Heat-pumps identified as key technology for building sector2 (limitation in the deployment of bio-energy)

• Reducing energy imports will require diversification of energy sources and higher energy efficiency (€300 billion in energy imports over last 2 years3)

Source: Heat Road Map Europe project (https://heatroadmap.eu)

1Source: ec.Europe.eu/Eurostat2Source: Heat Road Map Europe

Source: Clean energy for all Europeans (https://ec.europa.eu/energy/en/topics/energy-

strategy-and-energy-union/clean-energy-all-europeans)

3Source: Clean energy for all Europeans

Shallow geothermal energyOpportunities for the next decade (2021 – 2030) with regard to the Clean Energy for all Europeans initiative

Cooling will gain importance in Europe

• Space cooling will be rapidly growing market in the next decades (more than 100% increase at EU level and up to 20% of heating demand1)

• Urban building sector will play a key role (urban heat island mitigation strategies)

1Source : Heat Road Map Europe

• Excess heat will have an added value for the decarbonization of the building sector (recovery by underground thermal energy storage)

Source : Heat Road Map Europe

Shallow geothermal energyActions need to be taken now!

Barriers to overcome

• Low awareness and visibility of shallow geothermal

• Financial and administrative barriers hinder the participation at the growing heat pump market

Future assets

• Fulfill enhanced energy efficiency (+32.5% in 2030)

• Enhance the use of on-site, non-volatile heating sources and sinks

• Mitigate urban heat islands

Adaption: Identify and promote appropriate sectors of applications

Innovation: develop, demonstrate and promote future solutions

Influence: enhance the socio-economic boundary conditions

The next decade is crucial to invest into long-term sustainable solutions for

the building sector!

Shallow geothermal energyCurrent initiatives

14 urban pilot areas for integrating shallow geothermal in heating and cooling strategies

Visit us at:https://geoera.eu/projects/muse/

MUSE – Managing Urban Shallow Geothermal Energy

• 14 urban pilot areas across Europe

• Build-up sound geoscientific basis for decision making

• Efficient and sustainable use of shallow geothermal in an urban environment

• Include shallow geothermal in heating and cooling strategies

Shallow geothermal energyCurrent initiatives

GeoPLASMA-CE

• Providing a platform for shallow geothermal in Central Europe

• Provide modern web based information systems

• Harmonize management standards

• Foster the efficient and sustainable use of shallow geothermal in Central Europe

6 pilot areas in Central Europe

1 joint web portal for Central Europe

Visit us at:

https://portal.geoplasma-ce.eu/

Shallow geothermal energyUpcoming event

Shallow geothermal energy days 2019, September 24 / 25, Brussels

• September 24: Policy summit

• September 25: Scientific summit

Supported by

Further information will be available soon!

–Heat Road Map Europe

“…European Union should focus on implementing change and enabling markets for

existing technologies and infrastructures in order to take advantage of the benefits of

energy efficiency … for the heating and cooling sector specifically.”

“Reducing emissions and transforming the energy system does not imply that the

livelihoods of Europeans need to suffer.”

–Clean energy for all Europeans