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Our Climate Future 2025: Iceland-EU symposium on geothermal energy in Brussels

Our Climate Future 2025: Iceland-EU symposium on geothermal energy in Brussels Our Climate Future Geothermal Event, Brussels Oct. 14, 2025
Alexander Richter 24 Sep 2025

Green by Iceland and Business Iceland, in cooperation with the Mission of Iceland to the European Union, invite stakeholders to a high-level symposium in Brussels on the role of geothermal in Europe’s energy transition.

Bringing geothermal energy to the attention in Brussels, the heart of the European Union is important to push geothermal development and make it help in the overall energy transition, particularly on heating is utterly important. So it is great to see this Our Climate Future 2025 symposium on Tuesday, 14 October 2025, that will bring together geothermal experts, policymakers, industry leaders, and climate scientists at the EFTA House Auditorium, Avenue des Arts 19H, Brussels. The half-day event (13:00-17:00) will be followed by a networking reception.

Hosted by Green by Iceland and Business Iceland, the symposium will spotlight Iceland’s vast experience in utilising geothermal energy and how it can contribute to a resilient European energy policy that supports competitiveness, decarbonisation, and energy security. With the EU’s Geothermal Action Plan on the horizon, the event offers a timely platform to align Icelandic know-how with European ambition.

Program highlights

The symposium will open with a welcome address from Stefán Haukur Jóhannesson, Ambassador of Iceland to the EU, followed by keynote speeches from Dan Jørgensen, EU Commissioner for Energy and Housing, and Jóhann Páll Jóhannsson, Iceland’s Minister of the Environment, Energy, and Climate.

The afternoon will feature three thematic sessions:

  • Unlocking Geothermal Potential for Heating and Cooling Across Europe – Panelists include Philippe Dumas (EGEC), Bjarni Pálsson (Landsvirkjun & IGA), and Sólrún Kristjánsdóttir (Veitur), with moderation by Financial Times reporter Alice Hancock.
  • Beyond Heating and Cooling – Geothermal as a Catalyst for Decarbonisation and Competitiveness – Contributions from Dr. Edda Sif Aradóttir (Carbfix), Tómas Sigurðsson (HS Orka), and Árni Hrannar Haraldsson (ON), moderated by Reuters journalist Kate Abnett.
  • From Policy to Projects – Accelerating Geothermal Deployment in Europe – Featuring Kristín Linda Árnadóttir (Landsvirkjun), Sigurður Atli Jónsson (Arctic Green Energy & IRE), and Marianna Jakab (European Commission DG ENER), moderated by Dr. Marit Brommer (IGA).

Closing remarks will be delivered by Sigurður Hannesson, Director General of the Federation of Icelandic Industries and Chairman of Green by Iceland.

Why it matters

The event offers a rare opportunity to bridge Icelandic expertise and European policy priorities, strengthening geothermal’s role in Europe’s clean energy mix. From district heating to industrial applications, geothermal is increasingly recognized as a cornerstone of competitiveness and decarbonisation strategies.

Register here for Our Climate Future 2025

For more background on geothermal’s contribution to Europe’s energy transition, explore our recent feature on geothermal resources.

Source: Green by Iceland

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Alexander Richter