Activities of Beatrice COVASSI related to 2023/2111(INI)
Plenary speeches (1)
Geothermal energy (debate)
Amendments (24)
Amendment 2 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 1 a (new)
Citation 1 a (new)
– having regard to the Regulation (EU) 2021/1119 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 June 2021 establishing the framework for achieving climate neutrality and amending Regulations (EC) No 401/2009 and (EU) 2018/1999 (‘European Climate Law’),
Amendment 30 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B a (new)
Recital B a (new)
Ba. Whereas Europe needs to increase energy security in line with the REPowerEU Plan of May 18, 2022, geothermal energy offers a renewable, always-on and local source of energy that can contribute in decreasing energy imports from third countries and have the potential to provide low-cost electricity and high-quality heat to citizens and industries;
Amendment 52 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Notes that the development of technologies has broadened the area suitable for cost-efficient geothermal projects and their scope; stresses that the potential of low-temperature, shallow geothermal resources that are available in all Member States; stresses the potential of deep geothermal energy that can contribute directly to heat and power generation;
Amendment 87 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Notes the potential for geothermal energy as a renewable and stable contribution to the decarbonisation of district heating and cooling as required under the Energy Efficiency Directive (EU) 2023/1791 and the Renewable Energy Directive (EU) 2023; underlines the need to modernise existing and build low-temperature district heating networks to enable the deployment of geothermal heat;
Amendment 92 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Notes the potential of geothermal energy for industrial de-carbonisation. Highlights the successful experiences already implemented in the agri-food sector in different European regions.
Amendment 96 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. HCalls on the Commission to present an EU geothermal strategy with the aim to create a European wide approach to enact geothermal energy; including an assessment of the geothermal district heating potential; highlights that 151 business and industries called on the Commission in 2022 to prepare a European strategy to unlock the potential of geothermal energy;
Amendment 100 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Calls on the European Commission to standardise definitions, applications, permitting rules and lifecycle emissions tools for geothermal in order to facilitate the growth of geothermal electricity, heating, cooling, storage uses in power grids, buildings, industry and agri-food sectors;
Amendment 110 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Calls on the Commission to come up with specific calls, also in the framework of the Strategic Energy Technologies Platform, to encourage pilot and commercial projects applying geothermal energy in industrial and agri- food sectors;
Amendment 116 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7a. Calls on the Commission to present guidelines to the Member States for the preparation of comprehensive heating and cooling assessments and of local heating and cooling plans as required under the Energy Efficiency Directive (EU) 2023/1791 including how a possible geothermal potential is assessed and processed;
Amendment 142 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Urges the Comission and Member States to explore methods of collecting different types of geological data from public and private entities with a view to organising, systematising and making it available to the public; notes that this should be achieved in compliance with necessary confidentiality requirements and data protection rules, and, where necessary, include incentives and compensation for data sharing by private entities;
Amendment 149 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8a. Notes that easy access to data through public available and digitalised formats can de-risk investments in geothermal energy projects; calls on the European Commission and Member States to harmonise the legislation that gives access to subsurface data for both private and public actors;
Amendment 155 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Stresses that for areas with insufficient subsurface data, there is a role for the European Commission to harmonise data collection rules; stresses the role for governments can play a role in funding geothermal resource mapping and exploratory drilling; welcomes the fact that some Member States have already taken steps in this direction; calls for EU funding to support this data collection with a view to creating an EU-wide atlas of geothermal potential;
Amendment 164 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Expresses its concern about the fragmented nature of statistics on geothermal energy; calls on the Member States, in cooperation with the industry and the Commission, to overhaul existing data collecting and access procedures for geothermal and to replicate best practices in the sector;
Amendment 167 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)
Paragraph 11 a (new)
11a. Takes notes that a more detailed register of geothermal energy potential would prevail local heat sources and support the adoption and implementation of the local heating and cooling plans as required under the Energy Efficiency Directive (EU) 2023/1791;
Amendment 168 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 b (new)
Paragraph 11 b (new)
11b. Stresses that the availability of existing district heating and cooling data to investors can help support local actors to evaluate the potential of geothermal energy in the local area; calls on the Commission to facilitate and coordinate that availability of existing district heating and cooling data;
Amendment 175 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)
Paragraph 12 a (new)
12a. Notes the great potential geothermal energy has as a local and low- cost source of energy if upfront costs and risks are mitigated; calls for the Commission and Member States to provide guidance to funding models as well as private and public funding opportunities;
Amendment 192 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)
Paragraph 14 a (new)
14a. In line with the Renewable Energy Directive and in order to raise awareness among cosumer groups, stresses the importance to provide European Union guidance on Heat and Cold Purchase Agreements, as key tools for public- private partnerships financing geothermal projects at local level, in rural areas, in buildings and for industrial processes;
Amendment 207 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Notes that the requirements of mining laws designed for large-scale mining projects are difficult to uphold in muchnot necesarily suitable for smaller-scale geothermal projects; calls on the Member States to review and simplify existing mining laws, where necessary, or to develop dedicated permitting rules for geothermal; asks the Commission to provide guidelines to ensure the requisite level of coherence;
Amendment 210 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)
Paragraph 15 a (new)
15a. Expresses concerns that geothermal projects experience lengthy permitting processes; urges Member States to create streamlined, simplified and digital permitting processes by creating a single-point of contact for the whole permitting process across authorities;
Amendment 214 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 b (new)
Paragraph 15 b (new)
15b. Calls on Member States to lessen permitting times by giving permits by default ensuring nothing stands against it as practised in some Member States;
Amendment 227 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)
Paragraph 16 a (new)
16a. Recalls that "renewable go-to areas" outlined in the Renewable Energy Directive covers surface areas. Therefore, in order to support the developpment of geothermal energy, calls on the Commission’s guidance on their development to include the subsurface and facilitate the link with digalitsed one- stop permitting processes to standardise the geothermal market;
Amendment 282 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23 a (new)
Paragraph 23 a (new)
23a. Notes that geothermal energy together with district heating can apply as a renewable and stable source of energy and therefore contribute to the just transition across Europe; calls for funds to be dedicated to the modernisation of existing district heating and cooling networks to secure the utilisation of the potential;
Amendment 287 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 a (new)
Paragraph 24 a (new)
24a. Draws attention to the fact that geothermal systems use limited land use and above-ground structure requirements; calls for Member States to consider access to urban plots for geothermal plants to secure faster adoption in permitting;
Amendment 295 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25
Paragraph 25
25. Notes that public resisacceptance remains a challenge for geothermal projects, particularly on the basis of environmental concerns such asis an important object also due to worries about environmental and visibility impacts: the possible contamination of ground waters, gas emissions or, water over-exploitation; expresses the opinion that maintaining high environmental standards and transparency standards can, address concerns and early stakeholder engagement could serve as anthe efficient way of overcoming distrust;