Geothermal Bridge Initiative: Strengthening Collaboration between Iceland & Romania
The Geothermal Bridge Initiative is a bilateral project between Iceland and Romania. The project is funded by EEA & Norway Grants, and is part of the Energy Programme Romania which aims to reduce carbon intensive energy and strengthen energy security. Project partners are GEORG, the National Energy Authority of Iceland (Orkustofnun), and the Executive Agency for Higher Education, Research, Development, and Innovation Romania (UEFISCDI). The objectives of the project include knowledge transfer and capacity building; promoting R&D and technological advancement; and building long-term strategic cooperation between Iceland and Romania in the field of geothermal energy. Through a series of three high-impact workshops, the initiative brought together stakeholders from public authorities, academia, and industry to promote knowledge exchange and strengthen regional partnerships.
Budget: €320,080
Duration: 1 June 2024 – 31 March 2025
Key activities include:
- Project launch in Bucharest in June 2024.
- Study visit & workshop in Iceland in September 2024.
- Workshop in Bucharest in October 2024.
- Workshop in Oradea, Romania in January 2025.
- Participation in Final Event of the EEA Grants Programmes in Romania in March 2025.
The project identified and focused on several core themes, such as improving regulatory and legal frameworks; enhancing capacity building and education; facilitating public engagement and social license to operate; and exploring innovative geothermal applications such as district heating and agri-food production. Important connections were made during the project that will undoubtedly result in future bilateral and multilateral projects involving Iceland and Romania, while supporting broader European goals for clean energy transition, innovation, and regional energy resilience.
