The European Commission’s Electrification Action Plan, published recently, confirms that accelerating electrification is central to reducing Europe’s dependence on fossil fuels. Particularly in the buildings sector, geothermal energy and heat pumps are among the technologies highlighted for delivering affordable, secure and low-carbon heating. To support their deployment, the Action Plan announces the development of a Common Investment and Implementation Plan under the Strategic Energy Technology Plan by Q1 2027, aimed at accelerating investment and the uptake of clean energy technologies across the European Union.
“The opportunity is substantial for Romania. Geological data collected in the 1980s and 1990s, including measurements from boreholes reaching depths of around 3,000 metres, indicate favourable subsurface temperature conditions, highlighting significant potential for geothermal heat production, particularly for district heating and other direct heat applications. Romania’s parliament is meanwhile considering a draft law that would widen the legal framework beyond geothermal water alone to include emerging geothermal technologies too. It is a modest-sounding change, but if adopted, a better-defined framework could finally let the sector’s potential out of the ground“
— Alexandru Ciocan, Senior Researcher, EPG
A recent EPG report argues that turning this potential into deployed projects will require more than legislative changes alone. Alongside streamlining permitting and removing regulatory barriers, the report highlights the importance of building on Romania’s existing industrial strengths. Decades of expertise in drilling and subsurface engineering developed by the country’s oil and gas industry could be redirected towards geothermal development, creating new market opportunities while supporting the decarbonisation of the heating sector. With growing European support for clean heating technologies and a modern regulatory framework, Romania has an opportunity to transform an underutilised domestic resource into a practical component of its energy transition.
For or further details and media inquiries, please contact Alexandru Ciocan: alexandru.ciocan@epg-thinktank.org