ABSTRACT
The principle objective of this paper is to promote the large scale deployment of shallow geothermal heat and cold in Europe. Based on Europe wide potential estimates and several shallow geothermal case studies in the building sector, it is shown that for a real large scale deployment the perception on and sustainable deployment of this resource have to change. Decision makers have to become aware of
1) its potential in terms of both supply and demand 2) the benefits for the end-user and society as a whole and 3) the possibilities for innovative financing schemes. This paper shows that the shallow geothermal potential in Europe is by far sufficient to supply heat and cold to all European citizens. In addition, it shows that there is a large
market for geothermal heat and cold in Europe. An important breakthrough can be established by making decision makers aware of their national and regional potential and by communicating that it is energetically much more efficient to use geothermal heat and cold
directly, instead of burning limited -and increasingly more
expensive- fossil fuels.
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Paper EGC Hoegaerden Hagedoorn (May 2007)