Overview of the support of geothermal energy investments in the programming period 2014-2020 in Hungary

Geothermal energy has great potential to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions of the energy sector, thus contributing to the realization of EU targets and, of course, those ones set for Hungary. The country has excellent geological and geographical conditions, well known due to the existing databases as well as the know-how to guarantee a high-level utilization of this renewable energy source. Still, only a small part of the estimated potential is utilized and the previous programming period, 2014-2020 did not change this situation significantly. On one hand, the poor planning of the Sz?chenyi 2020 Programme, on the other hand, the lack of risk management measures, discourage investors and provide a competitive advantage for other renewable energy systems over geothermal, especially for biomass. The present paper pro- vides a comprehensive overview of the EU co-financed support of geothermal energy in the period 2014-2020, identifying relevant calls and successful projects. A questionnaire survey among successful applicants is the other pillar of the article. The critical analysis and recom- mendations of the development policy may contribute to a more efficient support of geother- mal energy in the following programming period(s).