Opportunities and Challenges of Geothermal Energy: A Comparative Analysis of Three European Cases—Belgium, Iceland, and Italy

• Published in: Energies
• Main Authors: Rauan Meirbekova, Dario Bonciani, Dagur Ingi Olafsson, Aysun Korucan, Pinar Derin-Güre, Virginie Harcouët-Menou, Wilfried Bero
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2024
• Subjects: geothermal energy; semi-structured interviews; market development; geothermal policy; opportunities; barriers; Technology; T; Iceland
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.3390/en17164134; https://doaj.org/article/858cb205538c4c9b86fc355c86598d4f

Geothermal energy is a unique energy source in the energy policy mix that would help the clean energy transition and energy independence, supporting the energy needs in heating and electricity. Although there have been studies on the opportunities and challenges of renewable energy, this paper is the first paper that concentrates on geothermal energy for three distinct countries, Italy, Belgium, and Iceland, for the first time. Using semi-structured interviews that will cover the stakeholders representing the quadruple helix (academia, citizens, policymakers, and industry), this paper aims to find the unique and common opportunities and barriers the geothermal sector has. Shared challenges include financial barriers, regulatory complexities, environmental issues, and the need for improvement in the social acceptability of geothermal energy. Despite these challenges, geothermal energy, a promising energy source for clean transition, could create opportunities like improved household welfare through combined uses in district heating and electricity and have the potential to generate employment opportunities.