How geothermal energy projects ensure air quality

Geothermal energy projects must be prioritised, and development accelerated to reach the European Commission’s 55% emissions reduction target by 2030.  Ensuring air quality plays a strategic role in achieving a sustainable energy development. European legislation is particularly broad and efficient in this field, setting rules for pollution prevention and control measures to avoid effects on human health and on the environment. However, while certain kinds of emissions are well framed by regulations applied throughout Europe, others are not regulated. Furthermore, many mitigation techniques for prevention, monitoring and control are governed by national or regional practices and guidelines, or by Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA) and permitting processes. Experienced project developers and operators have developed some good practices over the years that must be highlighted and promoted.   Following the analysis of the GEOENVI project, in this event the expert panel discussed how the air quality is regulated at the European, national and regional level. They also outlined a set of recommendations for sharing the best practices among countries to prevent accidental emissions during drilling and contain emissions during well testing or plant operation.