A Regulatory Roadmap to the Past, Present and Future of Geothermal Energy in Greece

Abstract

Greece is gifted with geologic features that promote geothermal heat flow. Geothermal energy exploration began in the late 60s, culminating in the first geothermal energy law in 1984 and the introduction of geothermal energy as a mineral resource under the amendment of the Greek Mining Code. Since then, low- and high-temperature geothermal activities followed their separate ways, with a modest utilization of the energy product in the primary sector (agriculture, aquaculture) and attempts for electricity production stalled since the mid-1990s. The adoption of green policies by both the EU and Greece, the acceptance of global warming as an existing threat, the adhesion to CO2 reduction goals, energy efficiency and the application on renewable energy solutions as means to combat the increase in global temperature have led to an increasing interest in the utilization of the geothermal energy applications. This paper presents the new legal framework for geothermal energy established by Law 4602/2019, as introduced by the Greek Ministry of Environment and Energy, Directorate-General for Mineral Raw Materials and discusses its scope and goals set by the implementation of its provisions. The paper offers a roadmap to successfully test those new policies and regulatory provisions and, finally, it maps the interfaces of stakeholders and geothermal industry in an attempt to highlight the steps of the necessary administrative procedures towards the facilitation of viable geothermal projects.