Greet GEO – Canarian Networking Event and Study Visit
Greet GEO – Canarian Networking Event and Study Visit
Canary Islands geothermal energy and energy-water nexus: opportunities
Date & Location: 1-2 July, 2026, Vilaflor, Tenerife, SPAIN
Background:
Owing to the volcanic origin of the archipelago and the high geothermal gradients identified across several islands, the Canary Islands possess substantial geothermal potential. The use of these sources can play a significant role in strengthening energy autonomy, decarbonisation and economic diversification. Shallow geothermal systems are already technically feasible and potentially marketable, particularly for heating and cooling in hotels, public buildings, residential developments and agro-industrial facilities. These applications may offer immediate opportunities for local SMEs, engineering firms and public authorities to engage across the value chain—from resource assessment and drilling to installation and operation. Deep geothermal, while still at an earlier stage, holds strong long-term strategic potentials. Beyond electricity and heat generation, cascading uses such as geothermal-powered desalination, agricultural integration, agro-food processing and hybrid renewable systems could significantly enhance regional resilience. Within this context, the Greet GEO project seeks to strengthen regional innovation ecosystems through knowledge transfer, pilot development and capacity building. This event will foster collaboration, address regulatory and financing challenges, and help structure realistic, bankable geothermal value chains tailored to the Canarian context.
Purpose:
Solutions for unlocking geothermal potentials are to be identified and discussed via the analysis of geothermal energy use and energy-water nexus, via technical, financial, communication, policy, public relations opportunities and barriers, via potential interregional synergies, best practice exchanges and via highly feasibly shallow & deep geothermal energy-based value-chains. Exchanges of information on relevant business opportunities, policy and public relation aspects, discussion initiation among stakeholders of the quadruple helix.
Day 1 – Stakeholder engagement workshop (hybrid) & site visit
Date: 1st July 2026, 09:00 – 19:30 UTC+1
Location: Hotel Spa Villalba, Vilaflor 🔗 Google Maps
09:00–9:30 | Registration
09:30-9:35 | Institutional welcome
09:35–9:45 | Welcome & introduction & Greet GEO project – Emese Karacsonyi, La Palma Research Centre (LPRC) & Matija Vajdic, Energy Institute, Hrvoje Požar (EIHP)
9:45–11:15 | Canarian overview: Geothermal energy status, prospects & issues
| 9:45-10:00 | Canarian S3 strategy with relevance to renewables & geothermal energy – Representative (TBC), Government of the Canary Islands |
| 10:00-10:15 | Geothermal project development opportunities in La Palma Island – Daniela Taño – Renewable Energy Management Centre, Society for Economic and Social Promotion and Development of La Palma (SODEPAL) |
| 10:15-10:30 | The Role of Geothermal Energy in Gran Canaria’s New Energy Model – 4ENERAGENCIES project – Raul Garcia Brink, Councillor for Environment, Climate, Energy and Knowledge, Cabildo of Gran Canaria |
| 10:30-10:45 | Geothermal-water nexus innovation opportunities & shallow geothermal potentials for the Canarian region, GENESIS & SAGE4CAN projects – Alejandro Garcia Gil, Geological and Mining Institute of Spain (CSIC-IGME) |
| 10:45-11:00 | Centralized heat pumps, geothermal pumps low tempreature district heating network – CONNECT4HEAT project – Gabriel López, Canary Islands Institute of Technology (ITC) (online) |
| 11:00-11:15 | Advancing Deep Geothermal in the Canary Islands: The Vilaflor Project and Beyond – Baldur Hauksson, Reykjavík Geothermal |
11:15–11:45 | Coffee break
11:45–13:15 | European best practices of geothermal energy utilization
| 11:45-12:00 | Geothermal energy utilisation in the Pannonian Basin – Matija Vajdic, Energy Institute, Hrvoje Požar (EIHP) |
| 12:00-12:15 | Geothermal solutions applied in the Azorean region – Henrique Sá, Institute for Technological Innovation of the Azores (INOVA) |
| 12:15-12:30 | Italian case studies of geothermal energy utilization in the agri-food sector – Loredana Torsello, Consortium for the Development of Geothermal Areas (COSVIG) |
| 12:30-12:45 | HeatInvest – Boosting up the heatpump business value chain – István Nagy-Korodi, Ph.D., South Transdanubian Regional Innovation Agency (STRIA) (online) |
| 12:45-13:00 | Shallow geothermal solutions, GeoHeCo project – Stefan Zohar, Local Energy Agency for Pomurje, Slovenia (LEAP) |
| 13:00-13:15 | Waste heat utilisation & existing infrastructure (wastewater[1], solar pV) – Tamas Solymosi, First Hungarian Energy Service and Development Ltd. (EMEF) |
13:15–14:00 | From Barriers to Implementation: Priorities for Geothermal Development and Interregional Cooperation
14:00–15:00 | Lunch
15:00–18:00 | Site visit to the geothermal exploration pilot plant in Vilaflor and GeoTenerife’s headquarters and thermal alteration area
Focus: water-energy nexus, ecological, water, visual & energy utilisation constraints to (deep and shallow) geothermal energy projects
Short presentations by Rayco Marrero (IGME-CSIC) and Alexis Schwartz, refreshments and walk around the area.
19:30–21:00 | Dinner
Day 2 – Study tour – Teide National Park
Date: 2 July 2026, 09:30 – 17:30 UTC+1
Location: Meeting point Hotel Spa Villalba, Vilaflor 🔗 Google Maps
Focus: Environmental conditions of geothermal utilisation in Tenerife
The second day will provide participants with a guided study tour across key geothermal, volcanic and renewable energy sites in Tenerife. The programme will offer insights into the island’s geological structures, environmental conditions, renewable energy infrastructure and future geothermal development opportunities, while exploring the links between energy transition, natural heritage and regional innovation.
[1] an estimated >50 MW unused wastewater waste heat capacity available in Tenerife (near potential users) for cooling, heating and domestic hot water preparation
