11.40
Chairs: Monica Morales, Cheryl de Boer, Guido Mul
Accelerating the clean energy transition requires the adoption of innovative technologies, with social acceptance playing a pivotal role in their successful and equitable implementation. While studies on social acceptance have been done in various contexts, citing psychological and political factors, perceptions of risks and benefits, and cultural values influencing acceptance, research on public acceptance of geothermal energy projects is underexplored. Geothermal energy has significant potential to supply global energy demands but remains underutilized compared to other renewables largely due to high costs, geographic limitations, environmental risks, and varying levels of social acceptance.
This presentation will highlight a project from EarthSafe: Unveiling Earth’s Critical Resources for Clean Energy and a Sustainable Future, a Horizon Europe-funded program. This program aims to address the challenges associated with harnessing deep geothermal energy, particularly in super-hot rock conditions (e.g. geothermal systems with temperatures > 400°C). Drawing from a systematic review of geothermal energy acceptance studies, this presentation will provide preliminary insights into the factors shaping perceptions, the interconnected roles of communication, media, and public engagement, and identified research gaps. The goal is to inform future studies and support effective geothermal energy planning and governance.