On 4 December, the Universitat Politècnica de València (UPV) hosted the conference “Geothermal Energy and Sustainable Buildings: Local Actions for Global Goals”, organised within the framework of the European GeoBOOST project. The event brought together representatives from European institutions, local administrations, companies and researchers to discuss how to harness geothermal energy in the transition towards more efficient, climate-neutral cities.
The institutional opening was delivered by Javier Urchueguía (UPV), Rüdiger Grimm (geoENERGIE Konzept, representing GeoBOOST) and Adrián Casabó, Director General of the Valencian Federation of Municipalities and Provinces (FVMP).
In their speeches, they highlighted the European objective of achieving climate neutrality by 2050, the impact of the building stock on urban energy consumption, and the potential of geothermal energy as a stable, efficient and CO₂-emission-free renewable source.
Development of the conference: discussion panels
The first panel, “European Vision: From Climate Commitment to Sustainable Action”, moderated by Professor Borja Badenes (UPV), included contributions from Emil Martini (European Geothermal Energy Council, EGEC), Cornelia Steiner (GeoSphere Austria) and Javier Urchueguía.
The speakers analysed how frameworks such as the European Green Deal, Fit for 55 and REPowerEU are creating opportunities for geothermal energy in buildings and cities. They also underlined the need to strengthen heating and cooling planning, develop strategies for geothermal resource management and support technical training so that European policies translate into concrete, on-the-ground projects.
The second panel, “Cities in Transition: Local Energy for Global Change”, was ultimately moderated by Lorenzo Toldrà from Geminis Tools, replacing Joan Aguado (Diputació de València). He was joined by Mati Marín Palop — Mayor of Enguera and President of AMUFOR — Javiera Chocobar (Technical University Munich, TUM) and Jakub Koczorowski (PORT PC).
The discussion focused on the role of municipalities in the energy transition, available planning tools and the business models required for geothermal energy to move beyond “pilot” status and become a standard option in schools, sports centres and other public buildings.
From local, academic and business perspectives, the panel stressed the importance of instruments such as urban planning regulations, public procurement and Sustainable Energy and Climate Action Plans (SECAPs), as well as financing models based on energy service contracts or thermal service payment schemes. Stable regulation and clear signals regarding energy costs were identified as key to attracting private investment and reducing dependence on one-off subsidies.
The third panel, “Geothermal Energy in Action: Solutions That Already Work. Real Cases”, moderated by Miguel Mateo Pla (UPV), offered a very practical look at the entire lifecycle of installations. Henk Witte (Groenholland) reviewed the main technical challenges in designing and installing geothermal exchangers; Juan Medina Burgos (GESPA, Paterna City Council) shared his experience in the operation and maintenance of geothermal HVAC systems compared with more conventional aerothermal solutions; and Heliodoro Sancho (Global Omnium) presented the AIGUATERM project, which explores new thermal networks based on using water distribution infrastructure as an energy carrier.
Closing session and visit to the AIGUATERM pilot plant
Following the institutional closing remarks by José Vicente Oliver (UPV), the event concluded with a coffee-networking session and a guided visit to the AIGUATERM pilot plant on the UPV campus, where attendees were able to see first-hand how these efficient heating and cooling solutions work by harnessing the subsoil and other currently underused energy resources.
The activity forms part of the GeoBOOST project, which aims to remove barriers to the deployment of geothermal energy in Europe and support administrations, companies and professionals in the transition towards more sustainable and comfortable buildings. GeoBOOST is funded by the European Union under grant agreement nº 101077613. The opinions expressed during the event are solely those of the participants and do not necessarily reflect the official position of the European Union or the implementing agency CINEA.
