Geothermal energy is the solar energy stored in the ground and the energy stored deep inside the Earth’s crust. The low-temperature geothermal energy customarily used in Estonia is obtained from around one to two metres below the ground by means of a heat pump. The potential for medium- and high-temperature geothermal energy stored in the Earth’s crust at depths over 500 metres has not been further explored in Estonia.
Energy efficiency in buildings is a topical issue across all of Europe. Buildings account for nearly 40% of energy consumption in the European Union, which is why it is essential to increase the share of nearly zero-energy buildings and create funding opportunities for improving energy efficiency in buildings. Geothermal energy has been highlighted in the EU as an environmentally friendly form of renewable energy which is also more than twice as efficient as conventional air source heat pumps. According to various estimates, geothermal heat pumps could cut heating costs by 30 60% and cooling costs by 20–50% compared to conventional heating and cooling systems.
As a member of the European Union, Estonia wishes to implement renewable energy sources more widely and to use energy more efficiently. According to the initial estimates, the potential for geothermal energy in Northern Estonia is good.
In August 2021, the Estonian state started researching the potential for geothermal energy. The aim of the three-year project managed by the Geological Survey of Estonia is to investigate the potential for geothermal energy at various locations in Estonia and to construct two geothermal energy test stations. The research project will run until the end of 2024, the budget of the project is 3.8 million euros, and it is financed from the sale of greenhouse gas emission quotas.
