| Abstract |
Further success of Shallow Geothermal energy systems relies on adequate ground coupling installations, designed and constructed with good knowledge and workmanship. Opportunities for the necessary education, training, and eventually certification of persons for both the design and the construction (drilling, installation) of the ground side for shallow geothermal systems in the past only existed in a few countries. These countries are those with an early and strong ground source heat pump (GSHP) market. The same skills and technologies for ground coupling are required for underground thermal energy storage (UTES). In the most recent years, several independent training activities have been started in a number of countries, reacting either to quality concerns of industry or authorities, or to EUDirective 2009/28/EU. Some coordination and harmonisation is needed, as well as providing training opportunities for countries without existing schemes. The work started out with a project named Geotrainet (full name: “Geo-Education for a sustainable geothermal heating and cooling market”), supported 2008-2011 by the EU in the frame of the Intelligent Energy for Europe (IEE) program. The aim of the project was to develop training of professionals involved in GSHP or UTES projects, while focussing on two target groups: • designers (who undertake feasibility studies and planning, including geology) • drillers (who make the boreholes and insert the tubes). In October 2011 a workshop was held to start the reallife existence of the Geotrainet program subsequent to the EU-funded project which provided the basis. The decision was made to first create the European Training Board, consisting of delegates from national associations, platforms, authorities, or other, either existing or to be established in countries where interest in shallow geothermal education exists. The board started with some interested countries and will be open for enlargement; it has been installed in February 2012, with groups from 15 EU-countries interested. Meanwhile, the creation of an independent organisation to host the European components of the structure was decided. This new organisation, to be sustained by EGEC and EFG, as well as national partners, will hopefully be operational early in 2013. The paper will shortly review the history of Geotrainet, the rational behind its inception, present the structure, and give up-to-date information of the status achieved by the time of the EGC 2013 in Pisa in June 2013. |