40 Amendments of Niels FUGLSANG related to 2023/2111(INI)
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 74 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Welcomes the development and successful application of geothermal beyond power generation and heating and cooling; stresses that the process of extracting lithium from geothermal brines could help secure a sustainable and local lithium supply;
Amendment 80 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Draws attention to geothermal solutions, while photovoltaics, wind power and heat pumps dominate the discussion about the energy transition, geothermal energy plays still often a peripherical role in the discussion on renewable energy. Yet geothermal energy has enormous and so far hardly exploited potential for decarbonisation and to reduce Europe's dependence on fossil fuels and the associated energy imports for heat generation and electricity. Furthermore, it draws attention to geothermal solutions that are able to store excess wind and solar power for subsequent use in heating, cooling and power production, and their crucial role for the development of renewable-based energy systems; additionally it draws attention to geothermal solutions in the field of inactive mines where geothermal potential of mine water can be used;
Amendment 85 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Notes the potential of shallow geothermal energy, of medium-depth geothermal Energy and deep geothermal energy in particular which can make an enormous contribution to the transition of the heat sector, also the potential of cascaded use, where the same geothermal fluid is used for multiple purposes; stresses the need to foster cross-industry synergies between geothermal and other sectors, including through shared use of sites, infrastructure, data and workforce skills;
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 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 127 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 b (new)
Paragraph 7 b (new)
7b. Notes that the revised Energy Efficiency Directive introduces an obligation for the monitoring of the energy performance of data centres, and that geothermal can supply efficient active and passive cooling to data centres in large public, commercial and industrial building with a significant cooling demand; call on Member States to consider this potential when implementing the revised Energy Efficiency Directive;
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 161 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Emphasises the geothermal potential of repurposed inactive oil and gas wells and inactive mines; calls on the Member States, in cooperation with oil and gas companiperators of oil and gas wells and inactive mines, to produce publicly available maps of decommissioned wells with their specifications and the geothermal potential of inactive mines;
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 178 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Expresses concern that while geothermal heat pumps (GHPs) are currently the most efficient heat pumps, producing more heat for less electricity in cold climates compared to air source heat pumps, their much higher upfront drilling and installation costs tend to discourage their selection of Geothermal heat pumps (GHPs); calls on the Member States to explore possible financial incentives in order to bridge this gap;
Amendment 181 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Expresses concern that while geothermal heat pumps (GHPs)lants are currently the most efficient heat pumpstechnology, producing more heat for less electricity in cold climates compared to air source heat pumps, their much higher upfront drilling and installation costs tend to discourage their selection; calls on the Member States to explore possible financial incentives to bridge this gap; This concerns also geothermal heat pumps (GHPs);
Amendment 185 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Calls on the Commission to take appropriate steps to ensure that geothermal projects are better taken into account when using existing funds and instruments; asks the Commission to consider setting up a dedicated geothermal fund, which should also comprise geothermal storages (esp. seasonal storages) as means of waste heat utilization and installation and transformation of heat networks;
Amendment 189 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)
Paragraph 14 a (new)
14a. Stresses that geothermal construction and the preceding exploration phase involve high investment sums and major entrepreneurial risks in the initial phase with regard to successful drilling for hot thermal fields which prevents many companies from investments; for that reason, expresses the opinion to introduce hedging mechanisms and guarantees such as exploration insurance with (co-)assumption of risk by the member states, especially in the initial phase, in order to accelerate the ramp-up of geothermal energy, as well as provide public funding for the preliminary seismological investigations that further develop the basic geological database;
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 211 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)
Paragraph 15 a (new)
15a. Notes additionally the necessity to evaluate and revise existing EU water laws such as the Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive which currently complicate the process of exploring geothermal projects;
Amendment 213 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 b (new)
Paragraph 15 b (new)
15b. Urges the European Commission to exempt renewable heating and cooling, such as geothermal energy, from EU procurement law analogous to the exemption for renewable electricity generation; highlights that other measures as exempting single services such a supply and construction services from the obligation of EU-wide tendering or publishing tenders for execution services when no approval has yet been obtained would already contribute in an enormous acceleration which would only be logical in view of the urgency of the projects resulting from the ambitious political climate targets;
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 215 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 c (new)
Paragraph 15 c (new)
15c. Regrets that – in contrast to other renewable technologies – a life cycle analysis is necessary for geothermal energy to be taxonomy-aligned which contradicts technology-neutral approach of the Taxonomy Regulation, minimizes the great potential of geothermal energy as a contribution to decarbonization, especially in heat supply, and exposes it to unequal competitive conditions to other renewable energy sources; calls therefore for an equal regulatory framework aligned with other renewable energies such as wind and solar in every respect;
Amendment 239 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Expresses its concern over the reported backlogs and delays in the installation of GHPs, the drilling of wells and the granting of the requisite permissions due to a shortage of qualified staff; calls for comprehensive measurements for re- and upskilling of workers to establish the conditions to qualify the relevant workforce for the ramp up of geothermal energy;
Amendment 247 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Stresses that while the EU is the leader in geothermal research and development and manufacturing, support measures for next-generation geothermal technologies are needed at European and national level in order to support this position, particularly in geothermal storage and industrial applications; remarks the need to address the whole value chain to ensure the availability of the relevant material;
Amendment 251 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
Amendment 252 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 a (new)
Paragraph 19 a (new)
19a. Calls for more research and innovation in terms of improved and highly reliable pump technology, which is the core of every geothermal plant, as industry has to be stimulated to invest and develop new systems in order to modify current pump technology mainly used for oil and gas geothermal applications. Stresses that it is the strong objective to offer special geothermal pump technology for the utilisation in other geological environment compared to oil and gas (e.g. higher temperature suitability, higher horsepower necessity, alternative techniques);
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 285 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
Paragraph 24
24. Draws attention to the online mapping of existing geothermal installations in a given city or region as a good practice which can raise the visibility of geothermal solutions and help support investment decisions; highlights that new demonstration plants shall demonstrate the feasibility and accessibility within particular innovative geothermal techniques;
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 294 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25
Paragraph 25
25. Notes that public resistancUnderlines that there are mains a challenge for geothermal projects, particularly on the basis of environmental concerns such as the possible contamination of ground waters, gas emissny false concerns about geothermal energy that are unfounded and lead to mistrust; notes that public accepteance can be increased when there will be tranparent informations for water over-exploitationthe public from early project stages onwards; expresses the opinion that maintaining high environmental and transparency standards can serve as an efficient way of overcoming distrust;
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;