The Catalan Institute of Energy (ICAEN) and the Cartographic and Geological Institute of Catalonia (ICGC) have signed agreement to work together to create the “Strategic Plan to promote Geoenergy in Catalonia in the 2030 Horizon” (GEOENERGIA-CAT Plan 2030).
The Plan aims to explore the potential for the different types of geothermal energy utilization in the region of Catalonia in Spain, and the evaluate and forecast the technological developments essential to its exploitation. It will also identify the measures and actions necessary to take advantage of this renewable energy resource, ultimately contributing to efforts to decarbonize the different sectors of the economy of Catalonia.
Geoenergy, in this context, refers to the integration of geological and technological knowledge of energy sources from the subsurface. This includes both the extraction of geothermal energy, as well as the geological storage of energy vectors.
The agreement between the ICAEN and the ICGC aims to lay the foundations to promote the use of geoenergy in Catalonia. The Plan will also present an evaluation of both and shallow and deep geothermal resources, for which Catalonia has a very favorable geologic setting. It will also evaluate the capacities for geological storage, whether cold and heat or energy vectors such as hydrogen.
The ICGC had previously published an interactive map that highlights the location, origin, and characteristics of the geothermal resources in the region of Catalonia.
Based on this diagnosis, a set of strategic lines and concrete actions and measures will be proposed to take advantage of this potential and overcome those barriers that may be limiting its use. A calendar will also be drawn up for the execution of these measures in the 2030 horizon.
Towards the energy transition
The GEONERGIA-CAT 2030 Plan must align with the Energy Prospective of Catalonia 2050 (PROENCAT 2050). This is the document that guides the region’s energy transition and acts as a reference when designing and applying energy policies.
PROENCAT 2050 foresees that geothermal heat pumps will be widely implemented, so that in 2050 this technology will already be responsible for 100% of the cooling in buildings, and that it will have a presence of 82% in heating and 62% in the production of domestic hot water in the housing complex in Catalonia.
