Geothermal energy is the heat beneath the surface of solid earth. It can be stored heat from the sun, or heat from the Earth's core. In general, the temperature of the earth in Ireland (and the amount of available geothermal energy) increases with depth, at an estimated average rate of 21°C per kilometre. Geothermal energy is not only renewable, it is also secure, reliable, and local.
Geothermal energy has been used for a very long time in volcanic regions such as in Iceland, Italy and New Zealand. Advances in technology mean that geothermal energy can now be used in Ireland for heating and cooling buildings, and possibly even to produce electricity. Geothermal energy is now being used in non-volcanic countries such as the Netherlands, Belgium, the UK, and Germany.
The Government's policy to increase the deployment of geothermal energy is set out in the Policy Statement on Geothermal Energy for a Circular Economy.
The Policy Statement, which will be effective for five years (from 2023 - 2028), sets out:
- The approach to regulating shallow and deep geothermal systems, including licencing the exploration for and the utilisation of deep sources of geothermal energy, and confirms the importance of ensuring environmental protection by integrating with existing environmental, health and safety and planning regulatory frameworks
- The scope of a strategy to promote the sustainable development of Ireland's geothermal resources to decarbonise the heating and cooling of buildings and for industrial uses and power generation
