The Government has opened up a public consultation on the “exciting potential” of geothermal energy for heating and cooling buildings and for generating electricity.
Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications Eamon Ryan on Tuesday published a draft policy statement on the use of such energy, which is heat from either the Earth’s core or the sun that is stored by rocks beneath the crust of the planet.
Mr Ryan said he wanted the statement to focus attention on the potential of geothermal energy and address “barriers” to its development in the Republic.
A study by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland found that up to 54 per cent of domestic, commercial and public sector demand for heating in Ireland could be met by district heating systems, with geothermal energy an important source of heat for this.
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