GEORG has influenced the European funding programs by participating informing strategy for H2020 calls through, among other things, the Geothermal ERA-NET, ETGIP and the Energy Committee. This has influenced the significant increase in the portion of funding within the renewable energy sector that is allocated to geothermal energy and heating and cooling. This has, in turn, increased the number of calls in these fields and increased the success rate of GEORG’s partners in European funded projects. This has resulted in success in several projects during the 2014-2015 funding period, where projects with Icelandic participation have yielded a total of ISK 8000 M, of which ISK 1500 M has been allocated to Icelandic partners. The funding period 2016-2017 is also promising.
GEORG participates in European projects in the field of geothermal energy. This includes participation in the FP7 and Horizon 2020 program committees to be able to influence European geothermal policies. Support for geothermal energy has increased significantly in the Horizon 2020 framework compared to the previous framework programs. Currently, new ways of work has been put to the Horizon Europe and Clean Energy Transition activities.
ERA-Net Cofund scheme
GEORG was a key player in establishing the Geothermal ERA-NET, launched in 2012 and supported by a 2 M€ grant from the European Commission. Its principal aim is to deepen European cooperation on geothermal research at national and administrative levels and enable the integration of national research programs. This first four-year phase (2012-2016) was led by Orkustofnun, Iceland’s National Energy Authority, to bring together research and innovation program owners and managers from France, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Switzerland, and Turkey, thus creating a strong platform for continued collaboration.
Find out more at http://georg.cluster.is/eranet/
DEEPEGS
GEORG participates in the 44M€ DEEPEGS project funded in 2015 by almost 20M€ from the Horizon 2020 Program. It is co-ordinated by the Icelandic energy company HS ORKA, with participants from five countries. It is a four-years project and GEORG is, among other things, responsible for running the project office. DEEPEGS will demonstrate advanced technologies in three geothermal reservoir types, in Iceland and France, which all provide unique conditions for demonstrating the applicability in different geological conditions. It will demonstrate EGS for widespread exploitation of high enthalpy heat (i) beneath the existing hydrothermal field on the Reykjanes Peninsula (volcanic environment) with temperature up to 550°C and (ii) very deep hydrothermal reservoirs at Valence (crystalline and sandstone) and Riom (limestone) with temperatures up to 220°C.
The main objectives of DEEPEGS are based on testing
of stimulating technologies for EGS in deep wells in different geologies that will deliver new innovative solutions and models for wider deployments of EGS reservoirs with sufficient permeability for delivering significant amounts of geothermal power across Europe.
The industry-driven project consortium is capable
of implementing the project goal through cross-fertilization and sharing of knowledge. The focus on business cases will demonstrate advances in bringing EGS-derived energy routinely to market exploitation, and on its potential to mobilize project outcomes to full market. The consortium will seek to understand social concerns about EGS deployments and will address those concerns in a proactive manner, where the environment, health, and safety issues are prioritized and awareness raised for social acceptance. Through risk analysis and hazard mitigation plans, the project will ensure that relevant understanding of the risks will be implemented
as a core of the business case development.
Find out more at www.deepegs.eu
EEA and Norway Grants
EEA- grants bilateral cooperation has been well developed between GEORG and EEA stakeholders in the past five years. GEORG participated in promotion and instalment of Renewable Energy Systems in several public buildings located in Grevena city, Greece. In the above framework, Greek region cooperated with a partner from a Donor Country (Norway, Iceland or Lichtenstein) in order to exchange good practices on issues related to RES and their applications.
In EEA grants collaboration GEORG partnership to develop a business relationship related to matters of RES promotion and applications.
ETIP- DG
The ETIP-GT will be an open stakeholder group, including representatives from industry, academia, research centres, and sectoral associations. It will cover the entire deep geothermal energy exploration, production and utilization value chain.
The European dimension has always been important for the operation of GEORG and will continue to remain one of the main focus areas.
Visit https://www.etip-dg.eu/
