| Title | Advancing Geothermal Energy Through Strategic Financing and Policy Frameworks: Insights from the GEOTHERMICA Initiative |
|---|---|
| Authors | Stoklosa A. Author, Ramsak P., Schreiber S., Geirsson K., Halldorsdottir E |
| Year | 2026 |
| Conference | World Geothermal Congress |
| Keywords | |
| Abstract | Geothermal energy plays a critical role in Europe’s clean energy transition. The GEOTHERMICA Initiative (GI) supports this transformation by fostering international cooperation, aligning national efforts, and coordinating strategic research and innovation. By bringing together funding organisations and public authorities, GEOTHERMICA accelerates geothermal deployment and strengthens the global research community. Since its inception, GEOTHERMICA has launched joint calls and funded over 30 collaborative projects across 16+ countries, mobilising around €90 million. The initiative is recognised as a funding mechanism and a public authority neutral platform for coordination through joint activities such as workshops, knowledge exchange, and strategic agenda-setting. This paper highlights GEOTHERMICA’s impact in key areas: financing, regulatory frameworks, communication, policy development, and market alignment. It showcases funded projects and how public-private partnerships and international cooperation have supported innovation, reduced deployment barriers, and enabled effective policy alignment to the broader advancement of geothermal energy, fostering cross-border collaboration and aligning national efforts. GEOTHERMICA Initiative’s strategic agenda focuses on strengthening policy support, engaging stakeholders, and ensuring sector sustainability. Its portfolio of funded projects reflects how coordinated public investment drives innovation and real-world progress in geothermal energy. This paper explores how the GEOTHERMICA Initiative can help scale up geothermal energy to support Europe’s and transatlantic climate goals, contributing to a sustainable energy future through practical insights from joint actions and collaborative frameworks. |