From September 2-6, 2024, a delegation of experts from Romania participated in a workshop and site visit in Reykjavik, Iceland, under the “GeoThermal Bridge Initiative”—an international project funded through the EEA & Norway Grants mechanism. This project is led by Orkustofnun, Iceland’s National Energy Authority, in collaboration with Romanian partners, the Executive Agency for Higher Education, Research, Development and Innovation Funding (UEFISCDI), and Iceland’s Geothermal Research Cluster (GEORG) through the GEOTHERMICA Initiative. The project aims to enhance cooperation between Iceland and Romania to harness geothermal energy as a renewable resource and reduce CO2 emissions.
The event in Iceland brought together key figures from both countries—officials, experts, and specialists—to discuss solutions for national energy challenges and global climate issues. Participants benefited from Iceland’s leadership in geothermal energy, engaging in discussions on geothermal legislation, exploration methods, resource mapping, and cascading uses of geothermal energy, including household heating, electricity generation, and agriculture. The discussions are especially pertinent for Romania, which has untapped geothermal potential.
Iceland’s role in geothermal energy Iceland, with its geothermal potential, stands at the forefront of geothermal energy innovation, with over 90% of its energy deriving from renewable sources like hydropower and geothermal. Orkustofnun, the country’s energy authority, oversees geothermal exploration and management, ensuring a sustainable and legally sound framework. Through the GEOTHERMICA Initiative, Iceland promotes the development of geothermal technologies across Europe, sharing its unique expertise with partners like Romania to strengthen global geothermal capabilities.
Romania’s geothermal potential The visit provided Romanian experts with the chance to explore how they can capitalize on Romania’s geothermal resources while building stronger bilateral ties with Iceland. One of the main objectives is to develop legislative proposals that will encourage the growth of the geothermal sector in Romania. Babes-Bolyai University aims to leverage the knowledge gained during the visit to train specialists and expand the nation’s capacity in geothermal energy. The potential for district heating, agricultural applications, and sustainable fish farming using geothermal energy is promising. Further geological research will be conducted to refine Romania’s geothermal mapping, ensuring more efficient resource exploitation.
Strengthening bilateral cooperation This initiative serves as a bridge for technology transfer, encouraging innovation and collaboration between Iceland and Romania. The project is focused on three key objectives:
- Geothermal knowledge and capacity building: Iceland’s expertise will give Romania practical insights on efficient geothermal resource management.
- Research and innovation: Transnational projects will be developed to accelerate Romania’s geothermal development, with potential funding from international programs.
- Strategic long-term cooperation: A framework for ongoing collaboration will be established to address shared energy challenges, such as climate change, energy security, and sustainable development.
Contact our project lead, Ester Halldorsdottir, for more information.
