COP21 meeting on geothermal direct use opportunities, Dec. 8, 2015

As part of the events of the Nordic Council of Ministers at the climate meetings/ COP21 in Paris, an event will be held on Geothermal Direct Use.

Title: Geothermal Direct Use

Location: Nordic Council of Minister’s Pavilion: New Nordic Climate Solutions, “Blue Zone”, Hall 2B, Room 65 – COP21, Le Bourget, Paris

Date/ Time: December 8, 2015 – 10:15 – 11:45

Live-streaming of the event: http://www.norden.org/en/theme/new-nordic-climate-solutions/cop21/streaming-of-events

Approximately 50% of energy consumption in the EU comes from space heating and cooling. Heating represents the largest part of this load and by transitioning away from fossil fuels towards renewable resources, such as geothermal, CO2 emissions could be cut significantly. The session will give insight into the potential impact of direct utilisation of geothermal energy on energy security, greenhouse gas emissions, improved quality of life, and lower heating costs.

Organised by the geothermal cluster of Iceland, it will showcase how Iceland has transformed its energy usage from fossil fuels to renewables and will be presented as a potential blue print for similar energy transitions throughout Europe. The session will also focus on the role of innovation in such transitions and an example of the Reykjanes Resource Park will highlight how job creation and new business development are integral to efficient use of geothermal resources.

The event will feature several speakers, among them Iceland’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, the head of Iceland’s National Energy Authority and industry representatives.

Speakers will talk about the opportunities for geothermal energy utilisation in Europe, how space heating has been an instrumental part of Iceland’s energy transition, the social and economic benefits of geothermal utilisation and the opportunities for innovation in the energy sector.

Source: Nordic Council of Ministers