REGEOCITIES

Regulations of Geothermal HP systems at local and regional level in Europe

REGEOCITIES is an European project funded by the IEE Program (IEE-11-041) focused on the achievement of the NREAP geothermal targets 2020 marked by countries with ambitious objectives regarding Shallow Geothermal Energy Systems by means of the removal and clarification of the non- technical administrative/ regulatory barriers at local and regional levels.

PARTNERS

13 partners from 11 countries were involved in REGEOCITIES:

PROJECT PARTNERS

  • CO1 – AIDICO – Association de Industrias de la Construccion – SPAIN

  • CB2 – EGEC – European Geothermal Energy Council – BELGIUM

  • CB3 – UPVLC – Universidad Politecnica de Valencia – SPAIN

  • CB4 – SRG – Societatea Romana Geoexchange – ROMANIA

  • CB5 – BRGM – Bureau de Recherches Geologiques et Minieres – FRANCE

  • CB6 – UBEG – UbeG Dr. Erich Mands & Marc Sauer GbR – GERMANY

  • CB7 – CRES – Centre for Renewable Energy Sources and Savings – GREECE

  • CB8 – SP – SP Sveriges Tekniska Forskningsinstitut – SWEDEN

  • CB9 – GEUS – De National Geologiske Undersogelser – DENMARK

  • CB10 – SLR – SLR Environmental Consulting – IRELAND

  • CB11 – IF – IF Technology B.V. – NETHERLANDS

  • CB12 – SSSPA – Scuola Superiore di Studi e di Perfezionamento Sant’Anna – ITALY

  • CB13 – SPW – Service Public de Wallonie Departament de l’Energie – BELGIUM

DURATION

The project ran for a total duration of 36 months, from 1 May 2012 to 30 April 2015.

STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES

  • The achievement of the common European methodology for the regulation and implementation of urban surface geothermal energy systems as a tool for achieving the tasks of the PNAER. The regulation and stimulation of the use of GSHP in the rehabilitation of existing buildings and their transformation into nZEB buildings according to EPBD Recast. For the selected cities from the partner countries, this objective will be initiated during the project.

  • Implementation of a complete and exhaustive training program for municipal energy managers to contribute to the expansion of the presence of surface geothermal energy in urban applications and to the appropriate completion of the cities’ energy action plans (SEAP).

  • Increasing the quality of GSHP technical solutions and equipment on the European market in order to satisfy the highest degree of end-users and to reduce primary energy consumption for heating – cooling in urban buildings by 40-60%.

  • Integration of surface geothermal energy in the SMART CITIES 2011 concept, in order to implement sustainable solutions in heating – cooling of public buildings and in centralized heating – cooling systems in the urban area.

SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES

  • Collection of up-to-date data on market conditions and barriers to surface geothermal energy applications in the partner countries. Translating them into regulatory recommendations for the sector.

  • Establishment of incentive measures, in particular through appropriate regulation of the GSHP market for the fulfilment of the NREAP measures in the partner countries. Design and implementation of a common statistical system and a manual for recording GSHP systems installed in Europe in order to analyse their real potential and monitor the implementation of the NREAP in the field of GSHP. Implementation of case studies in selected cities in the REGEOCITIES partner countries.

  • Transfer of knowledge and training tools for the development of training systems for energy managers and local authorities. Creation of HelpDesk offices within municipalities and public authorities.

  • Dissemination of information/solutions to European/national/regional/local decision makers, local authorities, energy agencies, geothermal companies, developers and operators, ESCOs etc. through market studies, social and economic impact studies of large-scale GSHP use in each REGEOCITIES partner country. Creation of a dissemination website, organization of workshops, launch of promotion and dissemination campaigns of the results, dissemination on posters, leaflets.

TARGET GROUPS & STAKEHOLDERS

  • Decision-makers at European, national, regional, and local levels

    • Direct: Authorities in partner countries

    • Indirect: Through an Advisory Committee representing other municipalities and regional bodies, e.g. Covenant of Mayors

  • GeoCompanies in the surface geothermal energy sector (including drillers, GSHP producers, designers, installers, etc.) who are directly facing non-technical barriers and are interested in the results of REGEOCITIES.

  • Real estate developers, construction companies and designers interested in using RES in buildings to meet the provisions of the European Directives and to increase the value of the respective properties will be involved in identifying regulatory barriers.

  • Energy service companies (ESCO) and consulting companies in the field of RES heating / cooling to include their experience in the GSHP applications market.

WORK PROGRAMME & WORK PACKAGES (WP)

    • WP1 – Project Management – AIDICO

    • WP2 – Analysis of Existing Legal Framework – BRGM

    • WP3 – Recommendations for a New Regulatory Framework – SLR

    • WP4 – Training – UPVLC & RGS

      • 4.1 – Design of Training Programme – UPVLC

      • 4.2 – Implementation of Training Activities – UPVLC & RGS

      • 4.3 – Development of HelpDesk Materials – UPVLC

    • WP5 – Communication, Promotion, and Dissemination – EGEC & RGS

      • 5.1 – Dissemination and Communication Plan – EGEC

      • 5.2 – Website Development – EGEC

      • 5.3 – Actions with Covenant of Mayors to support SEAP – RGS

      • 5.4 – General Dissemination – EGEC

      • 5.5 – GSHP Promotional Campaign – EGEC

    • WP6 – Dissemination at IEE Programme Level – AIDICO

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