ELCEN and SAGE Geosystems Collaborate for Geothermal Energy in Bucharest

Electrocentrale Bucharest (ELCEN) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with SAGE Geosystems, a US company specializing in geothermal energy harnessing. This partnership aims to carry out a feasibility study for the use of geothermal resources in the capital's central heating system.

The signing of the agreement took place during the P-TECC Ministerial Business Forum, an event organized in Bucharest, attended by high-ranking officials such as Jennifer Granholm, US Secretary of Energy, and Sebastian Burduja, Minister of Energy of Romania.

ELCEN will facilitate access to data and infrastructure, and SAGE Geosystems will analyze the technical and geological feasibility of using geothermal energy. Claudiu Crețu, director of ELCEN, stressed that the use of this resource will reduce pollution and heating costs for Bucharest residents.

The project is part of an international collaboration started in February 2024 with the US Department of Energy and aims to transform the heating system in Bucharest into a modern and environmentally friendly one. Geothermal energy, already successfully used in western Romania, could also become a viable solution for the capital, contributing to decarbonisation and making energy more affordable and sustainable.