A report from energy think tank Ember suggests that geothermal energy could theoretically replace 42 percent of the European Union's electricity generation from coal and natural gas, at comparable costs. Advances in drilling and subsurface engineering are expanding access to this constant, carbon-free energy source beyond traditional hot spots. The findings highlight opportunities for Europe to leverage new technologies while addressing challenges like deeper drilling costs.
Geothermal energy harnesses heat from Earth's interior, providing a reliable power source unlike intermittent solar and wind. The Ember report, authored by policy advisor Tatiana Mindeková, identifies sufficient geothermal potential in the EU to offset 42 percent of fossil fuel-based electricity, matching current generation costs.
Historically, geothermal development has been confined to geologically active areas with hot, permeable rock near the surface. Deeper drilling was cost-prohibitive, but enhanced geothermal systems now fracture rock to create permeability and access heat from the planet's core. "With these new technologies, we actually can extend the scope of where geothermal makes sense economically," Mindeková stated.
These innovations draw on oil and gas industry tools, an irony noted by Mindeková: "It is a bit ironic." However, challenges persist. Drilling several miles deep increases expenses and complexity, as Wayne Bezner Kerr of Cornell University's Earth Source Heat program explained: "Anytime you get deeper, it gets more difficult... it gets more expensive, it gets more challenging."
Factors like the geothermal gradient—how rapidly temperature rises with depth—and water management affect feasibility. In areas with hotter shallow rock, costs drop, but water loss or mineral infusion can complicate operations.
Beyond electricity, geothermal supports heating, where EU households consume over 75 percent of energy. Networked systems at 600-700 feet deep use heat pumps for efficient home heating and cooling. Geothermal also acts as storage for renewables, pumping heated water underground during surplus and retrieving it later.
Wider deployment could reduce costs globally, according to David Victor of the University of California, San Diego. Mindeková emphasized transitioning oil and gas expertise: "We are trying to highlight that it's also an opportunity for people working in these sectors to just transfer the knowledge, the skills, and find future employment in this new sector."
The report aims to spur interest among EU policymakers and investors, even outside volcanic regions.
