Geothermal energy and public engagement: a comparative analysis

The public is increasingly gaining a voice within the debate over energy innovation and the role of citizens is shifting from the somewhat passive role of consumers to a new and a more active role as co-creators of innovation. Processes of innovation in the energy sector are decisive for a culturally sustainable implementation of the transition from fossil fuel to more sustainable resources, and the public plays an important role in this regard. The transformative impact of new energy resources is having a strong impact on the organization of contemporary societies and that requires new forms of energy governance, including extensive forms of participation. Although studies on geothermal energy and public participations are being conducted across the globe, the literature is as yet a rather fragmented set of loosely connected case studies. The authors of this presentation edited a volume on geothermal energy and society, that includes selected case studies on public engagement with geothermal energy in 11 different countries worldwide, and vary in terms of geothermal, geographical, political, social and cultural features. The aim of the book was to give an overview of activities related to geothermal energy and society in order to move beyond a simple collection of scattered experiences and to make substantial contributions to the development of an emerging framework for participatory geothermal governance. In order to bring together all the richness of the experiences presented in the chapters on the 11 country case studies, the authors have described the different public engagement mechanisms and processes that were put in place; the actors enabling a participatory approach to geothermal governance and the groups of stakeholders involved in the process; the results of these engagement activities and their impact on policymaking for energy innovation; the levels of knowledge about geothermal energy among the general public. The ultimate aim of the presentation is to provide a general overview of the state of the art of public engagement with geothermal energy, contributing to the design of new policies for research and innovation in the field.