Advancing geothermal energy in CEE – Q&A with Horia Ban, President of the Romanian Geoexchange Society
Horia Ban will be a panellist at the Budapest Geothermal Energy Summit on 26 September 2025.
The Central and Eastern European region possesses significant geothermal potential, but the development and utilisation of this energy resource remain limited in many areas. We asked Horia Ban about some key aspects of the topic. Horia Ban is the President of the Romanian Geoexchange Society and the founder of Termoline, which he has been leading for over 25 years. He possesses an exceptionally broad perspective on the field, having coordinated a wide range of geothermal projects and actively participated in numerous international research and innovation initiatives.
Q: How effective is knowledge and experience sharing among bigger regional urban geothermal projects, and is it sufficient to support their development? What steps could be taken to improve this kind of collaboration?A: Knowledge and experience sharing among medium- and large-scale geothermal district heating projects in Central and Eastern Europe is improving but remains insufficient to fully support their development. Successful examples, such as those in Budapest, Szeged and Oradea, demonstrate the potential of geothermal heating; however, knowledge transfer is still fragmented. To improve collaboration, municipalities, utilities, and research institutes could create dedicated regional platforms to facilitate the exchange of best practices and expertise. Promoting training programs and organising study visits between operators would further enhance knowledge sharing.
Additionally, developing joint policy frameworks and technical standards would streamline project implementation. Building cross-border consortia to access EU funding opportunities would also strengthen collaboration. The Romanian Geoexchange Society (RGS) contributes significantly to these efforts through its role as a member of the European Geothermal Energy Council (EGEC) since 2006, as a founding member of the European Centres of Excellence (ECoE), and through participation in international projects such as COOLING DOWN, GEO4CIVHIC, and GEOTRAINET.
Q: Do you believe there is a sufficient supply of skilled labour in the Central and Eastern European region to support geothermal projects, or are more substantial measures required?A: Currently, the supply of skilled labour in the Central and Eastern European region is insufficient to meet the demands of geothermal projects. While there are strong competencies in geology and drilling, geothermal projects require additional expertise in shallow systems, heat pumps, and integration with district heating networks. To address this gap, reskilling programs should be implemented for professionals from the oil and gas, Heating, Ventilation and Air-Conditioning (HVAC), and construction sectors to transition into geothermal roles.
Developing dedicated university curricula and vocational training programs would help build a skilled workforce. Furthermore, establishing EU-level skills recognition would ensure consistency and mobility for geothermal professionals. Public-private partnerships could also play a key role in capacity building. The Romanian Geoexchange Society supports these efforts through its involvement in the European Centres of Excellence and the GEOTRAINET project, which have developed professional training courses and “train the trainers” programs in Oradea, Valencia, Padova and Erlangen, creating curricula and certification schemes for geothermal professionals.
Q: What are the primary areas of innovation in geothermal energy that you consider especially noteworthy, and for what reasons?A: Several key areas of innovation in geothermal energy are particularly noteworthy due to their potential to transform the sector. Large-scale geothermal district heating systems are critical for reducing dependency on gas, offering a sustainable alternative for urban heating. Energy geostructures-based systems, which combine structural and energy functions, provide innovative solutions for efficient energy use in buildings. Hybrid geothermal systems, integrating hybrid heat pumps (HyHP), photovoltaic-thermal (PVT) solar systems, and smart grids, enhance system efficiency and flexibility.
Digitalisation and smart control technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI) and building management systems (BMS), enable real-time optimisation of geothermal operations. Repurposing oil and gas wells for geothermal use is another significant innovation, leveraging existing infrastructure to reduce costs and environmental impact.
The Romanian Geoexchange Society actively contributes to these advancements through projects such as GEO4CIVHIC, COOLING DOWN, and Inno NORWAY, which have developed innovative drilling and retrofitting solutions for both shallow and deep geothermal systems in existing, historic, and new buildings.
Q: In your opinion, how can artificial intelligence or machine learning help various geothermal projects?A: AI and machine learning (ML) can significantly enhance geothermal projects in several ways. They can analyse geophysical data to identify potential geothermal zones, improving exploration efficiency. AI and ML can also optimise drilling and reservoir operations in real time, increasing project performance. By predicting the coefficient of performance (COP) and energy efficiency ratio (EER) of heat pumps, these technologies ensure optimal system design.
Additionally, AI can dynamically manage district heating systems, balancing supply and demand effectively. Predictive maintenance of equipment, enabled by AI, reduces downtime and operational costs. Furthermore, AI and ML can model financial and policy scenarios to support project planning and investment decisions. The Romanian Geoexchange Society contributes to the integration of these digital tools through its involvement in international projects, fostering the adoption of advanced technologies in geothermal energy.
Q: Regarding geothermal energy, what are the primary regulatory obstacles within the Central and Eastern European (CEE) region, in your view?A: Several regulatory obstacles hinder the development of geothermal energy in the region. Overlapping legislation creates complications, as geothermal energy is regulated simultaneously as a mineral resource, an energy resource, and groundwater, leading to contradictory and complex procedures. The administrative processes for obtaining licenses for exploration, drilling, and use are often lengthy and complex, discouraging private investment.
The lack of clear technical standards for the design and operation of district heating systems and shallow geothermal heat pumps further complicates project implementation. Uncertainty surrounding financial support, such as state aid schemes and European funds not specifically tailored to geothermal energy, makes it challenging to attract capital. Additionally, the fragmented transposition of European legislation, such as the Renewable Energy Directive and groundwater legislation, results in an uneven environment for investors across CEE countries.
To address these issues, harmonising laws, establishing one-stop-shop permitting processes, developing regional technical guidelines and recognising geothermal energy as a strategic priority would create a more supportive regulatory framework. The Romanian Geoexchange Society actively advocates within the European Geothermal Energy Council to ensure that the CEE region’s challenges are addressed at the EU level.
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