A drilling well at a geothermal power site in Larderello, Italy. Larderello is home to the world’s oldest geothermal power site, which started powering light bulbs in 1904 and now generates more than 5 per cent of Italy's clean electricity. Ireland can harness “deep heat” for heating and cooling by using the stable, cool temperature of the Earth as a heat sink with good storage options beyond a few hours. In the Paris basin thermal heat from a deep aquifer 2km below the surface is used to heat some 250,000 homes. Equally, shallow (small-scale) geothermal with a heat pump can heat a house, estate, apartment block or swimming pool emanating from just 200 metres below ground.

Source: The Irish Times February 05, 2026 18:01 UTC