Geothermal use in agriculture
The agricultural sector is a heavy energy consumer and greenhouse gas emitter which needs to be more sustainable, competitive, and to ensure food security.
This gives it a specific and urgent energy challenge: it needs to find stable, low cost, and local renewable energy, and it needs to reduce its contribution to climate change.
Much of the energy used by the industry is for low and medium level heat (less than 200°C), which is required at many stages of both production and treatment. Traditionally fossil fuels have been used, but fluctuating energy prices also expose the agri-food industry to risk.
Geothermal is a solution for this fuel switch. Geothermal is increasingly being used in the agrifood industry as it meets many of the sectors’ requirements. Low or medium temperature geothermal heat is available everywhere in the world, and the systems enabling its use are simple and easy to maintain. Geothermal projects are installed locally and provide heating and cooling at competitive prices. They create direct and indirect jobs across the value chain.
