August 27, 2025
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Agios Efstratios becomes Greece’s first energy-autonomous island

A hybrid energy project transforming Agios Efstratios into the first energy-autonomous island in Greece is in trial operation. The system consists of a wind turbine, solar power plant, batteries, electric boilers and a district heating network.

It is a benchmark for the non-interconnected islands that won’t be connected to the mainland grid with undersea power cables.

Agios Efstratios is no longer renowned only for its history and natural beauty. It is an example of energy autonomy and sustainability. The island, also known as Ai Stratis, became the first non-interconnected Greek island with a 100% electricity supply from renewables. And more.

A pioneering energy complex is in trial operation. Agios Efstratios, which has only some 250 permanent residents, is in a group of small islands undergoing transformation through projects launched at the national level and benefiting from European Union funding.

Terna Energy completed hybrid energy system in Agios Efstratios

The Centre for Renewable Energy Sources and Saving (CRES or KAPE), an independent public entity, is responsible for the endeavor, on behalf of the Municipality of Agios Efstratios. Terna Energy, owned by Masdar, is the contractor for the works in the small North Aegean island.

The new hybrid energy system includes a 900 kW Enercon E44 wind turbine and a solar power unit of 225 kW. Their combined annual output is estimated at above 3 GWh.

Excess electricity is stored. One unit is a Tesla Megapack battery energy storage system (BESS) of 1.25 MW in operating power and a two-hour duration. It means the capacity is 2.5 MWh. There is also an electric boiler facility of 1 MW with hot water storage tanks that can hold 500 cubic meters of water at 120 degrees Celsius. It corresponds to 25 MWh.

The district heating network in Agios Efstratios is four kilometers long. It will be tested in the winter.

An oil-fired generator operated by state-controlled Public Power Corp. (PPC) remains as backup. It can work alongside the hybrid power plant.

Greece is connecting many islands to mainland power grid

The solutions from Agios Efstratios can be applied in other islands or in microgrids, CRES noted and said residents are getting cheaper energy.

The government launched its Islands Decarbonization Fund last year, with financing from the European Investment Bank (EIB). Together they aim to provide at least EUR 1.6 billion, and mobilize total investments of EUR 3 billion to EUR 5 billion.

In the hot summer months, there are many non-interconnected islands that can’t meet their power demand, especially because of the tourist season. Some are also struggling with water supply, prompting the need for desalination, which requires electricity. They rely on fuel oil generators.

The country’s Independent Power Transmission Operator (IPTO or, in Greek, Admie) is investing in major interconnection projects. A link to the mainland grid has improved the living conditions in the Cyclades islands of Syros, Paros and Mykonos. Together with a project for the western part of the archipelago, the transmission system operator is planning subsea cables to the Dodecanese and the Northeast Aegean.

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August 19, 2025
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Heat pump sales in Europe plunge in 2024

The European Union has an ambitious goal to lift the number of heat pumps to 60 million by 2030. Still, total sales of the devices in 19 European countries fell by a combined 22% last year, according to the European Heat Pump Association (EHPA).

As part of its energy transition strategy, the EU aims to have 60 million heat pumps in operation by 2030 at the latest. It would allow at least half of European buildings to be heated, and partly cooled, using renewable energy sources. Gas consumption in buildings would be 40% lower than in 2022, saving EUR 60 billion in energy imports and significantly cutting CO₂ emissions.

More than 25 million heat pumps have already been installed in Europe

The intermediate target of 20 million by 2026 was surpassed before the end of 2024, EHPA data shows. Last year, Europe had more than 25 million heat pumps installed. However, reaching 60 million units in less than six years now appears increasingly challenging.

The report notes that after steady sales growth through 2022, the market declined in both 2023 and 2024. Last year, sales in the observed group of 19 countries fell by 22%. The steepest drops were recorded in the Czech Republic (64%) and Germany (48%).

Photo (EHPA): Number of heat pumps sold every year from 2012 to 2024

The report’s authors warned that if current trends continue, the EU could fall short by about 15 million units in 2030, or 25% below the target.

Leading markets and new data from Southeastern Europe

France and Italy had the strongest sales in 2024, with 546,000 and 348,000 units, respectively. However, looking at the share of households using heat pumps, Scandinavian countries are in the lead.

Scandinavian countries are in the lead in the household heat pump segment

Norway has 632 heat pumps per 1,000 households, followed by Finland, with 524. Sales remained strong in 2024, with 48 and 33 heat pumps per 1,000 households, the highest levels in Europe.

Photo (EHPA): Number of heat pumps sold per 1,000 households in 2024

EHPA published sales estimates for nine additional European countries for the first time, including some that Balkan Green Energy News tracks. Sales in Bulgaria and Croatia amounted to 8,000 units each last year. In Cyprus, 3,000 were bought, compared to 18,000 in Greece, 4,000 in Latvia, 1,000 in Luxembourg, 6,000 in Malta, 10,000 in Romania and 13,000 in Slovenia. There are no historical data for the countries in the group for comparison.

The estimates are based on 2023 sales figures from the EurObserv’ER Heat Pump Barometer 2024, supplemented with 2024 sales estimates provided by heat pump manufacturers.

UK records the largest growth in heat pump sales

The United Kingdom, Ireland, and Portugal were the only countries achieving growth last year. Although the total number of heat pumps in the UK remains relatively small, sales increased by 56% in 2024.

Photo (EHPA): The table shows the number of units sold in 2024, followed by the decrease or increase in sales from 2023 and the total number of heat pumps at the end of 2024 by country

According to EHPA, the progress was driven by a combination of clear and stable policy, the government’s Boiler Upgrade Scheme – offering up to GBP 7,500 per household to replace fossil fuel systems – as well as removing hybrid systems from subsidy schemes, raising public awareness, and increasing the number of trained installers.

Ireland also saw strong sales growth, 19%, underpinned by long-term policy stability and a clear commitment to renewable energy. It ranks fifth in Europe in the share of heat pumps among households. The market initially grew in the new-build sector, where heat pumps have become standard, while the renovation segment is expanding thanks to subsidies and a rising carbon tax.

Additional measures needed

EHPA pointed out that stronger strategic support at the EU level, along with stable legislation and regulations, is crucial for achieving the targets.

“More heat pumps is a win-win for Europe – and it must also be the smart choice for consumers. To get there, electricity prices must be made more competitive, good long-term support schemes put in place and installers trained up, so buying a heat pump is affordable and easy,” said EHPA Executive Director Paul Kenny.

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July 30, 2025
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Romania preparing EUR 300 million in subsidies for geothermal heating, cooling

The Romanian Government has drafted a state aid mechanism for the production and transport of geothermal energy for district heating or cooling systems. The proposed scheme would be worth EUR 300 million, sourced from the European Union’s Modernisation Fund.

In addition to solar and wind energy, hydropower and battery energy storage systems, Romania is increasingly counting on geothermal potential for its energy transition and decarbonization efforts. The government in Bucharest is preparing EUR 300 million in subsidies for geothermal district heating or cooling systems, Profit.ro reported.

It drafted a state aid package that would be covered from the Modernisation Fund. It is a tool for supporting investments in renewables, energy efficiency, storage and networks and a just transition in 13 European Union member states with lower incomes. The funds are from the proceeds of the sales of greenhouse gas emission certificates within the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS).

The proposed subsidies are aimed at the production and transport of heat from geothermal energy, including modernization projects, to the points of connection with the district heating network, according to the document.

No need for auction as budget is sufficient for all mature projects

The budget would be divided into EUR 50 million per year through 2030. The funds are intended to cover the net additional costs of the projects – funding gaps. Typically, they are determined as the difference between the net present value of the factual scenario and the counterfactual scenario over the life of the project, the update reveals.

The government estimated that nine projects would split the available funds

There would be nine beneficiary projects, translating to EUR 33.3 million each, the government estimated. Eligible are thermal energy producers and municipal authorities and their units.

There won’t be a competitive bidding process for allocating the state aid, as the Ministry of Energy received too few mature proposals since 2023, within its exploratory public call, the document adds. The government has concluded the budget would cover the potential demand.

Bucharest, Timișoara among potential beneficiaries

State-owned Electrocentrale București (ELCEN), which produces thermal energy for the district heating system in the capital Bucharest, and National Company Bucharest Airports (CNAB), are among the entities interested in the subsidies.

Bucharest’s Sector 1 administrative authority and the Municipality of Timișoara are in the group as well. The latter, Romania’s fifth-largest city, established cooperation last year with OMV Petrom for district geothermal heating.

The article noted that Green Tech International, listed on the Bucharest Stock Exchange (BSE or BVB), is on the list. It operates geothermal wells in Călimănești-Căciulata in the country’s south. The company also supplies heat and sanitary hot water in Nădlac in Arad county in the northwest.

One other company interested in the state aid scheme is Transgex. The city of Oradea, where it is based, inaugurated an 18 MW geothermal district heating plant two months ago.

The government recently launched a EUR 56 million grant program for municipal authorities for geothermal energy projects.

In other relevant news from Southeastern Europe, Slovenia launched a EUR 51.2 million cofunding package for green district heating and cooling ten days ago, for companies and cooperatives.

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July 23, 2025
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Slovenia kicks off grants program for renewables-based district heating, cooling

The Ministry of the Environment, Climate and Energy of Slovenia launched a public call for cofunding the construction or restructuring of district heating and cooling systems using renewable energy sources. The grants, for companies and cooperatives, are from the European Union’s cohesion support mechanisms.

The introduction of renewables-based district heating and cooling systems reduces pollution, greenhouse gas emissions and the dependence on fossil fuels. Much of the European household and business sectors still rely on gas boilers for heating. In addition, the ever-increasing severity and length of heat waves are prompting the need for a systemic cooling solution.

As part of its decarbonization and energy efficiency efforts, Slovenia launched a EUR 51.2 million cofunding package for companies and cooperatives.

The program covers the construction or restructuring of district heating and cooling systems using renewable energy sources. The first deadline for applications is September 11, followed by one on January 8, the Ministry of the Environment, Climate and Energy said.

The public call will be open until the entire sum is allocated, or at the latest until September 11, 2026, the third deadline. The EU’s cohesion funding accounts for 85% and Slovenia is providing the rest.

District heating projects that include cooling get additional points

While primarily aimed at increasing the production of electricity and heat from renewable energy sources and from waste heat, the scheme includes additional points for projects that involve cooling. The systems are required to cover at least 350 kW of consumption.

Eligible equipment includes heat pumps, solar collectors, wood biomass boilers and combined heat and power (CHP or cogeneration) solutions.

Large companies can receive up to 45% of their investment, while mid-sized ones can get 55%. The cap for small and micro enterprises is 65%. The maximum individual grant is EUR 30 million.

Slovenia’s current calls for subsidizing sustainable mobility, energy efficiency and renewables projects are worth more than EUR 300 million altogether. The government is preparing four more, for EUR 62 million overall.

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July 7, 2025
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EU’s Modernisation Fund disburses EUR 3.66 billion for clean energy projects in nine countries

Energy modernization projects in nine member states of the European Union will receive a total of EUR 3.66 billion from the Modernisation Fund, in the largest disbursement to date from the facility financed by carbon pricing revenues, according to a press release from the European Commission. The selected projects focus on renewable energy, grid upgrades, energy storage, and energy efficiency.

The largest beneficiary of the latest disbursement is Poland, which will receive EUR 1.33 billion for its projects, followed by the Czech Republic, with EUR 1.05 billion, and Romania, with EUR 712.3 million. Hungary will get EUR 181.3 million, Croatia EUR 170 million, and Greece EUR 113.6 million. The rest will go to Latvia (EUR 40 million), Lithuania (EUR 37 million), and Slovenia (EUR 19.7 million).

Croatia will finance renewable heat production and zero-emission transportation, and Slovenia will upgrade power grid to integrate renewables

In Croatia, EUR 80 million will be used for the production and use of heat from renewable energy sources and energy efficiency improvement in heating and cooling systems. The rest will go to investments in zero-emission transportation. In Slovenia, the funding will facilitate renewables integration through the modernization and development of the electricity transmission and distribution network.

Greece, which became a Modernisation Fund beneficiary in January 2024, intends to replace urban diesel buses with new electric buses, improve energy efficiency in municipal swimming pools, and switch the heating and cooling systems in its greenhouse infrastructure to renewables.

In Romania, the funding will help improve the energy efficiency of facilities covered by the European Union’s Emissions Trading System (EU ETS), support the contract-for-difference (CfD) scheme for onshore wind and solar, and finance the installation of solar and wind power plants for self-consumption in the agricultural and food sectors and public institutions. It is also intended for investments in new solar, wind, and hydropower capacities and to support the modernization and rehabilitation of the district heating network.

In the Czech Republic and Lihtuania, the funding will support energy storage projects

Other example projects include investments in storage capacity for renewable electricity in the Czech Republic, investments in large-scale energy storage capacities in Lithuania, and a clean air program in Poland that focuses on energy efficiency improvements and heat source replacements in single-family houses, according to the press release.

The investments will reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the energy, industry, and transportation sectors, improve energy efficiency, and help the beneficiary states meet climate and energy targets, the commission said.

The projects will also help improve people’s everyday lives, by reducing bills, improving public services, creating jobs, and making the energy transition real, fair, and beneficial for all, according to Teresa Ribera, the European Commission’s Executive Vice-President for Clean, Just and Competitive Transition.

With this latest round of funding, the total disbursements from the Modernisation Fund since January 2021 have climbed to EUR 19.1 billion. The fund is financed by revenues from the auctioning of emission allowances under the EU ETS.

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July 6, 2025
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Slovenia’s sole coal-fired power plant Šoštanj to keep main unit offline until fall

As of this year, Slovenia’s only coal-fired power plant, Termoelektrarna Šoštanj (TEŠ), has shifted its primary focus to supplying heat, with electricity now sold as a byproduct. The ongoing overhaul of its unit 6 is expected to be completed in the coming days, but the 600 MW block will not be restarted until the end of September, when demand for heat is set to rise.

As part of the coal-phaseout process, targeted for completion in 2033, the Government of Slovenia decided last year to set aside EUR 403 million to save TEŠ and coal mine Velenje from bankruptcy and take over both from state-owned power utility Holding Slovenske Elektrarne (HSE).

TEŠ hopes the fall months will drive revenues

TEŠ hopes that the fall months will enable it to meet this year’s revenue target, as the operation of unit 6 is unprofitable in the summer due to low market prices for electricity and reduced demand for heat. This year, the power plant aims to earn EUR 400 million from the sale of heat and electricity.

Apart from unit 6, TEŠ operates only one other coal-fired generator, unit 5, with a capacity of 345 MW, while its first four blocks have been shut down.

The changed circumstances have been challenging for TEŠ, according to its CEO, Branko Debeljak. As HSE no longer sells TEŠ’s electricity, the plant had to set up its own sales department and seek customers on the market. Even so, the first four months of 2025 were quite successful when it comes to electricity sales, says Debeljak. The plant sold 1,045 GWh of electricity, generating revenues of EUR 138 million, or EUR 29 million more than initially planned, according to him.

The overhaul of unit 6 began in April

The overhaul of unit 6 began on April 22 and was expected to be completed by June 20. However, due to delays in the delivery of components, it had to be extended until early July. The completion of the overhaul will be followed by a short trial run, and a restart is planned at the end of September when the need for heat supply is set to rise again.

Slovenia aims at a 55% drop in emissions by 2033, and an early closure of its only coal-fired plant could help achieve that target. It seems likely that TEŠ will be shut down within a few years or operate at minimum capacity.

In June, Ireland’s Moneypoint power plant stopped burning coal, marking the end of coal use in the country. Slovakia and Spain officially intend to exit coal in 2025, followed by Greece (2026), France and Hungary (2027), and Denmark and Italy (2028). However, the dates could be pushed forward, and more countries could join the group in the meantime.

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May 16, 2025
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North Macedonia adopts Law on Energy

With a majority of votes, 62 out of 120, the Assembly of North Macedonia adopted the Law on Energy. The government’s representatives say it is systemic, comprehensive, and reform-oriented legislation laying the foundation for the country’s new energy policy. The act aligns the country’s legal framework with the European Union.

The new Law on Energy will bring numerous benefits to the country and its energy future, according to the Government of North Macedonia. They include a liberalized, transparent and competitive electricity market ensuring fairer prices and more choice for consumers, the introduction of smart meters for more accurate consumption measurement, and daily insight for consumers into their electricity usage.

The law is compatible with the reform agenda for the Western Balkans and with EU directives. Its pillars are:

  • A significant increase in the share of renewable energy sources in final consumption;
  • Greater energy efficiency and reduction of losses;
  • An open energy market in which citizens become active participants – producers, sellers, and members of energy communities.

The law supports new concepts such as citizen energy communities and demand-side management models, increased market liquidity, and broader access to energy sources for the economy, along with equal investment opportunities.

It addresses infrastructure stability through investments in storage systems and their digitalization, as well as providing a stable, transparent, and predictable framework for domestic and foreign investors. The law strengthens the capacities of regulators and operators, creates conditions for greater integration with regional and European energy networks, and enables new investments in solar, wind and other renewable sources, district heating, gasification, storage and digitalized grid infrastructure.

Božinovska: New law paving way for energy sovereignty for Macedonia

Minister of Energy, Mining and Mineral Resources Sanja Božinovska said in parliament ahead of the vote that the Law on Energy is the foundation of the national transformation toward a clean, sustainable and fair energy future.

„This is a law that creates opportunities but also demands responsibility. Energy is not just the engine of the economy; it is the basis for a quality life. With this law, we are opening the door to an energy sovereign, green and European Macedonia. This law is more than a normative act – it is a signpost for the future. A chance we must not miss,” she said.

Transparent, predictable investment framework

The law includes provisions for protecting vulnerable groups, supporting the fight against energy poverty and ensuring fair access to energy for all.

According to the ministry, the law provides a stable, transparent and predictable framework for domestic and foreign investors.

All EU energy directives have been implemented, said President of the Energy, Water Services and Municipal Waste Management Services Regulatory Commission (ERC or RKE) Marko Bislimoski. Of note, yesterday he spoke at the Belgrade Energy Forum – BEF 2025, organized by Balkan Green Energy News.

The drafting process involved institutions, experts, the business community, operators and the national regulator. A total of 61 amendments were adopted.

Unlike the ruling majority, the Left (Levica), an opposition party, claimed the Law on Energy does not protect consumers or national interests. Out of 11 amendments that it submitted, only four were adopted. They include provisions aimed at protecting consumers from unrealistically high electricity bills.

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April 22, 2025
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Turkey aims to become major lithium producer with its geothermal wells

Turkey is using only 10% of its geothermal potential, according to Chairman of the Geothermal Power Plant Investors Association (JESDER) Ufuk Şentürk. He said existing wells alone could open the way for the country to become one of the world’s major producers of lithium.

Studies are underway to determine the accessibility of valuable minerals in Turkey’s geothermal waters. There are already some one thousand wells with 100,000 tons of water coming out every hour, Chairman of JESDER Ufuk Şentürk told Anadolu Agency Energy Terminal. He pointed to the potential for the extraction of lithium, cesium, selenium and silicon.

Turkey is utilizing only 10% of its geothermal potential, Şentürk stressed. An inventory is under development of wells that were drilled to find oil and left unused, he added. The temperatures are as high as 150 degrees Celsius and the said resources can provide heat for 5,000 hectares of greenhouses, the organization’s chief said.

Researchers have found a lithium source in Turkey of 20 parts per million in geothermal water

The İzmir Institute of Technology (İYTE) and Afyon Kocatepe University have been conducting studies for two years, within the Turkish-German Energy Partnership, on obtaining minerals, Şentürk noted. He said there are 100 parts per million of lithium in one geothermal source in Germany, while 20 parts per million were found in Turkey.

Investment costs are much lower without exploratory drilling, if lithium is extracted from geothermal water already coming to the surface. The head of JESDER, Geothermal Power Plant Investors Association, estimated that Turkey could produce 35,000 tons per year and said global production came in at 36,000 tons last year.

“Even if we obtain 10%, we will still be one of the countries with the largest lithium resources in the world,” he stated.

Volumes of lithium extracted from geothermal waters are still symbolic

As Şentürk didn’t elaborate, it remains unclear if he compared the country’s potential to the output from so-called direct lithium extraction (DLE) or perhaps evaporation from brine pumped from underground. They make up one tenth and one quarter, respectively, of the 240,000 tons of lithium produced last year in the world. The rest is mined.

A different benchmark, the lithium carbonate equivalent or LCE, is almost five times larger. Additionally, about 5% of lithium ion batteries are recycled. The volumes of lithium extracted from geothermal waters are still symbolic.

Investors are betting on the combination with geothermal energy, to make lithium production cost effective, as it is found in very small quantities in underground water. Direct extraction of the alkali metal from water has an immeasurably lower environmental impact than mining.

Existing geothermal power plants can provide heat to 4,000 hectares of greenhouses

Şentürk pointed out that Turkey hosts 65 geothermal power plants of 1.74 GW overall. They generated 11.2 TWh in 2024 of the total 350 TWh.

Geothermal energy currently heats 7,000 hectares of greenhouses in Turkey and 160,000 homes, Şentürk said. The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry is providing incentives for greenhouse zones of 2,800 hectares in total. But existing geothermal power plants alone could, with such support, provide for 3,500 to 4,000 hectares of greenhouses, the association’s chief estimated.

On a global scale, Turkey trails only the United States, Indonesia and the Philippines in geothermal power. Nevertheless, after several years of rapid growth, it only added 120 MW in capacity since 2020.

A recent study, conducted within the project called Li+Fluids, showed geothermal waters in north Germany and its Thuringia state contain between 0.39 and 26.5 million tons of lithium. The country’s demand for 2030 is projected at 0.17 million tons.

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April 15, 2025
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Bulgaria suspends ill-designed solar energy support program

The Ministry of Energy of Bulgaria doesn’t intend to publish the second call for subsidies for households for solar panels with batteries and solar collectors. The program is partly covered by the European Union’s Recovery and Resilience Facility, so now the country risks losing the funds.

The Ministry of Energy of Bulgaria told Kapital that it does not plan to launch a second procedure to support households in purchasing and installing rooftop photovoltaic panels and solar water heaters. The measure was one of the few for citizens in the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP) rather than businesses or municipalities.

Through the first call, 1,500 households were selected for grants, worth some EUR 20.5 million in total. There is EUR 123 million for the entire scheme, called Support for Renewable Energy for Households. The solar power panel segment includes an option to install batteries as well.

Procedure too complicated

Initially there were fears that there would be more applications than the sum can cover, the article adds. But the procedure turned out to be so complicated that few people actually submitted documentation, the news outlet wrote. So now Bulgaria is about to lose the funds, after the European Commission already blocked the second NRRP tranche late last year.

The Ministry of Energy said it expects all the remaining contracts from the first round to be signed by the end of the month.

The program covers up to 70% of the costs for PV panels and 100% for solar collectors

According to Balin Balinov from Greenpeace, the government is once again demonstrating lack of commitment when it comes to energy poor households.

The program covers up to 70% of the costs for PV panels and 100% for solar collectors. But beneficiaries must buy them on their own and get reimbursed afterward. Notably, people who can afford such devices don’t want to deal with the bureaucracy, the report adds.

Installers struggling with backlogs amid tight deadlines

Moreover, Balinov said, there are hardly any firms available at the moment for installing solar panels, and the deadlines are short. Another issue is the lack of a net metering mechanism for rooftop and balcony photovoltaics. In such a setting, the electricity that beneficiaries generate would be subtracted from their bills.

The draft Law on Energy from Renewable Sources, currently in procedure in the National Assembly of Bulgaria includes the introduction of virtual net metering for prosumers and renewable energy communities. The deadline for approving an application for the installation of a solar power system of up to 20 kW would be just one month, the ministry pointed out.

Moreover, to get a grid connection, prosumers with up to 10.8 kW would only be required to notify the operator.

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April 9, 2025
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Romanian town Beiuș to boost geothermal distring heating to 100%

The local authority in Beiuș, a trailblazer in geothermal district heating in Romania, should apply for European funding to cover the entire area, according to a new study. The town already has the cheapest energy in the country.

Beiuș is the only town in Romania where geothermal energy accounts for more than 70% of the district heating of homes, institutions and firms. A new technical study is opening the way to a system upgrade by using European grants, state news agency Agerpres reported.

The project was funded by Innovation Norway, a state-owned development bank based in Oslo. Mayor of Beiuș Gabriel Popa said at a presentation marking its completion that his municipality aims to achieve 100% coverage. Iceland managed the endeavor and a company from the island country conducted the study on the geology of the local geothermal water reservoir.

The research covered possibilities to prevent losses in the geothermal district heating system. Beiuș, in Bihor county in northwestern Romania, has just under 10,000 inhabitants.

According to the authors, European development programs are accessible. A new guide is under public consultation.

Dozens of local authorities including capital Bucharest are developing geothermal heating projects.

EEA funding available to get full coverage

The speakers at the conference presented prospects for development using subsidies from the European Economic Area (EEA). The region consists of European Union member states and Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway.

Engineer Horia Ban said heat pumps could save 30% to 50% of the energy of the water returned from the geothermal district heating system. He is the head of the Oradea-based SRG association, which promotes heat pump solutions for geothermal heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC), and of local renewable energy company Termoline.

The European Commission and European Geothermal Energy Council (EGEC) funded complementary research into air conditioning from geothermal wastewater.

Agriculture can tap water from geothermal district heating system in Beiuș

To lower the losses, the study’s authors recommend insulated PE-Xa pipes and directing the exit flow from the geothermal district heating system to greenhouses, wood dryers and fish farms.

Transgex, based in the county’s capital Oradea, supplies the geothermal water in Beiuș. The reservoir was discovered in 1996 at a depth of 2.6 kilometers. The temperature is 85 degrees Celsius.

The prefeasibility study was funded in 2017 in partnership with Iceland, through EEA Grants. Beiuș is now a town with the cheapest energy in Romania, the article adds.

An EU project worth EUR 33.6 million began a year ago for the construction of an aquapark. It envisages a facility with eight outdoor pools of 6,691 square meters overall in Beiuș. The grant amounts to EUR 12.5 million.

Looking at entire Southeastern Europe, Turkey sticks out as one of the main global players in geothermal energy including power plants, a more complex technology. The potential in Romania and Greece is among the highest in the EU. Bulgaria is also working with EEA funds. Serbia only has small projects for now.

Croatia hosts one geothermal power plant, though is currently offline due to an ownership dispute. Numerous municipal and private projects are underway.

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