Regional Government collaborates in monitoring of European plan for geothermal energy
The Regional Government, through the Regional Fund for Science and Technology, has just been notified by the European Commission of the approval of the SU-DG-IWG project under Horizon 2020. It is designed to support and monitor the European working group for the implementation of the Strategic Energy Technology Plan (SET Plan) in the field of geothermal resources.
The Regional Director for Science and Technology stressed that the Azorean Government "is the only regional authority represented in this working group, which is a source of great pride."
Bruno Pacheco stressed that the Regional Fund for Science and Technology "is beginning to gain achieve widespread international recognition and visibility in project management. According to him, this contributes to an ever increasing number of calls inviting the Region to become part of highly prestigious networks with significant institutional relevance."
Led by the National Energy Authority of Iceland, the consortium is made up of the European Geothermal Energy Council, the main European governments (France, the Netherlands, Germany) and the Swiss federal government. For the next three years, this group will work to ensure the resources and necessary means for the implementation of solutions based on geothermal energy, both for heating and for power generation.
The SET Plan is the technological pillar of the European Union's energy and climate policies. It is the forefront of the goals towards the reduction of carbon emissions and the use of renewable energy sources, being in compliance with the Paris Agreement.
One of the main goals of this consortium concerns the mobilisation of 936.5 million Euros at European level: 456 million Euros from the industry, 342 million Euros from national programmes and 138.5 million Euros from European funds. According to the Regional Director, this is "an unprecedented effort to ensure the penetration of geothermal energy as one of the main renewable energy sources at European level," said the Regional Director.
This project also involves the Regional Directorate for Energy, as third party of the Regional Fund for Science and Technology, for the provision of specialised technical support.