The draft policy statement had been previously released by the Government of Ireland in early 2022 with a call for public engagement and review.
The Policy Statement, which will be effective for five years (from 2023 – 2028), sets out:
The approach to regulating shallow and deep geothermal systems, including licencing the exploration for and the utilisation of deep sources of geothermal energy, and confirms the importance of ensuring environmental protection by integrating with existing environmental, health and safety and planning regulatory frameworks
The scope of a strategy to promote the sustainable development of Ireland’s geothermal resources to decarbonise the heating and cooling of buildings and for industrial uses and power generation.
As part of the policymaking process, a Natural Impact Statement and Strategic Environmental Assessment had also been published along with the Policy Statement. All relevant documents can be accessed via this link.
The Policy Statement acknowledges that the provision of a regulatory framework for geothermal energy projects will not be sufficient for the full development of the geothermal energy sector and maximising its contribution to the decarbonisation of meeting Ireland’s heating, cooling and electricity demands.
The Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications, will, in consultation with the Geothermal Energy Advisory Group, develop a strategy for the deployment of geothermal energy. The scope for the strategy set out in the Policy Statement includes examining:Metrics and targets for geothermal energy
Data gathering and research
Financial incentives
Knowledge, skills and capacity
Planning and engagement with Local Authorities
Information and engagement with the public
Deployment in publicly funded buildings
“This Statement is an important step in addressing the barriers to the development of geothermal energy in Ireland and focusing our attention on its exciting potential. Geothermal energy technologies capture the renewable heat beneath our feet to provide secure and low-carbon heat to our homes, businesses and industries. In the future, high-temperature geothermal energy at depth could even be used to power electricity-generating turbines here in Ireland,” stated Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications Eamon Ryan.
“It’s not dependent on weather, season, or time of day—it can be produced around the clock, all year long and it is another powerful way to help us move away from the use of fossil fuels and towards a cleaner energy future. I am grateful to the Geothermal Energy Advisory Group for helping to finalise this policy statement and the commitment of its members to helping develop a strategy for the development of the sector. Continued engagement with the public, community groups and other stakeholders across industry and academia, will be critically important to that strategy.”
