In e n geb uik
GEOTHERM-FORA Deli e able D5.3
Repo on ecommenda ions om
social sciences and humani ies o
inc easing socie al eadiness o
geo he mal ene gy echnologies
Ka in Kieling, GFZ Helmhol z-Cen e o Geosciences
Adele Manzella, CNR Consiglio Nazionale delle Rice che
Anna Pellizzone, Scien i ic Ad iso o he I alian Na ional Resea ch Council and Basse i
Founda ion ETS
Melanie Rohse, Anglia Ruskin Uni e si y
2 | D 5.3 – Recommenda ions om SSH
P ojec Full Ti le:
Suppo s akeholde ’s o a on geo he mal sys ems
P ojec Ac onym:
GEOTHERM-FORA
Ti le:
Repo on ecommenda ions om social sciences and humani ies
o inc easing socie al eadiness o geo he mal ene gy
echnologies
Lead bene icia y:
GFZ
Con ibu ing bene icia ies:
CNR
Rela ed wo k package:
WP 5, Task 5.3
Submission da e:
31/07/2025
Secu i y class:
Public
Dissemina ion le el:
all Pa ne s, EC and Gene al Public
DOI:
10.5281/zenodo.17491062
License in o ma ion:
CC_BY_4.0
Recommended Ci a ion:
Kieling, K., Manzella, A., Pellizzone, A., Rohse, M., The Ho izon
Eu ope GEOTHERM-FORA p ojec : Deli e able D5.3 - Repo on
ecommenda ions om social sciences and humani ies o
inc easing socie al eadiness o geo he mal ene gy echnologies.
Zenodo, 2025, DOI: h ps://doi.o g/10.5281/zenodo.17491062
ORCID:
Ka in Kieling 0000-0003-0182-5090
Adele Manzella 0000-0002-2367-0969
Anna Pellizzone 0000-0001-8737-917X
Melanie Rohse 0000-0002-8613-2092
Re ision
his o y
Au ho
Deli e y da e
Summa y o changes and commen s
Ve sion 0.1
K. Kieling
Table o con en s, i s inpu s
Ve sion 0.2
A. Manzella
17 Oc 2025
Re ision
Ve sion 0.3
A. Pellizzone
20 Oc 2025
Re ision
Ve sion 0.4
Melanie Rohse
22 Oc 2025
Re ision
Final e sion
Ka in Kieling
31 Oc 2024
Implemen changes sugges ed by e iewe s
and p o ide e sion 1.0
Name
Func ion
Da e
Deli e able esponsible
GFZ, Ka in Kieling
Task leade
31 Oc 2025
WP leade
CNR, Adele Manzella
WP Lead
17 Oc 2025
P ojec Coo dina o
EGEC, Philippe Dumas
Coo dina o
Funded by he Eu opean Union om he Ho izon Eu ope p og amme unde he g an ag eemen n°
101075400.
Views and opinions exp essed a e howe e hose o he au ho (s) only and do no necessa ily e lec
hose o he Eu opean Union o CINEA. Nei he he Eu opean Union no he g an ing au ho i y can be
held esponsible o hem.
3 | D 5.3 – Recommenda ions om SSH
Table o con en s
Table o con en s ..................................................................................................................................... 3
1 Execu i e Summa y ........................................................................................................................ 4
2 In oduc ion .................................................................................................................................... 5
3 App oaches and Sou ces o In o ma ion ........................................................................................ 6
3.1 Se -up o a ETIP Geo he mal Wo king G oup on Social Sciences and Humani ies ................ 6
3.1.1 Fi s SSH WG mee ing, No embe 2024 ............................................................................ 6
3.1.2 Second SSH WG mee ing, May 2025 ................................................................................. 8
3.2 Collabo a ion in he SET-Plan Tasks Fo ces on C oss Cu ing Issues ..................................... 8
3.3 Analysis o Implemen a ion plans by he SSH CENTRE conso ium ....................................... 9
4 Recommenda ions o EC policy make s ...................................................................................... 11
4.1 Recommenda ions om he ETIP wo king g oup discussions ............................................. 11
4.1.1 Follow a holis ic socie al pe spec i e .............................................................................. 11
4.1.2 Communica e he compe i i e ad an age o geo he mal echnologies ......................... 12
4.2 C oss-cu ing Task Fo ce P io i ies o R&I o Socie al Needs ............................................ 13
4.3 Recommenda ions o he in eg a ion o SSH in he SET-plan’s implemen a ion plans ..... 14
4.3.1 Implica ions o he Geo he mal Implemen a ion Plan .................................................. 16
5 Conclusions ................................................................................................................................... 17
7 Acknowledgemen s ...................................................................................................................... 18
4 | D 5.3 – Recommenda ions om SSH
1 Execu i e Summa y
The p ojec GEOTHERM-FORA aims a acili a ing Resea ch and Inno a ion ac i i ies in geo he mal
sys ems by suppo ing he wo k o wo geo he mal o a, al eady es ablished: The Eu opean
Technology and Inno a ion Pla o m on Geo he mal (ETIP-G) and he Geo he mal Implemen a ion
Wo king G oup (IWG).
This epo p oduced as pa o he GEOTHERM-FORA p ojec , o e s c i ical insigh s on enhancing he
in eg a ion o social sciences and humani ies in esea ch, inno a ion and de elopmen o geo he mal
ene gy solu ions. As clima e change and ene gy ansi ion con inue o be p essing global challenges,
his epo highligh s he need o inno a i e app oaches ha le e age social sciences and humani ies
o imp o e ma ke dynamics and s akeholde engagemen in geo he mal ini ia i es.
The ecommenda ions s em om comp ehensi e discussions wi hin he ETIP Geo he mal Wo king
G oup on Social Sciences and Humani ies, as well as collabo a i e e o s in he SET-Plan Task Fo ces
add essing he socie al implica ions o ene gy echnologies. Mul iple s akeholde mee ings and
analyses emphasised he impo ance o adop ing a holis ic socie al pe spec i e, which in ol es
anspa en communica ion abou he compe i i e ad an ages o geo he mal sys ems. Key
ecommenda ions include:
1. Adop a Holis ic Socie al Pe spec i e: Encou age esea che s, de elope s, ope a o s, and
policymake s o inco po a e social and cul u al ac o s in geo he mal echnology deploymen ,
ensu ing ha p oposed solu ions esona e wi h communi ies and s akeholde s.
2. Communica e Ad an ages: De elop a ge ed communica ion s a egies ha a icula e he
en i onmen al, social and economic bene i s o geo he mal echnologies, whils being
anspa en abou unce ain y, he eby os e ing g ea e public unde s anding and sound
opinion, as well as enhancing poli ical suppo .
3. In eg a e SSH Insigh s in o Implemen a ion Plans: Ensu e SSH conside a ions a e embedded
in o he SET-Plan’s Geo he mal Implemen a ion Plan, he eby aligning echnological
ad ancemen s wi h socie al needs and expec a ions.
4. Ta ge and measu emen de ini ions: Key Pe o mance Indica o s should be es ablished
conside ing social embedding. The Geo he mal Implemen a ion Plan should de ine a ge s and
ensu e hei moni o ing. Socie al Readiness Le el (SRL) indica o s could be a way o include
SSH a ge de ini ions in a s anda dised o m.
5 | D 5.3 – Recommenda ions om SSH
2 In oduc ion
The Eu opean Commission has se ambi ious a ge s o d i e he ene gy ansi ion o educe
g eenhouse gas emissions and ul ima ely achie e clima e neu ali y. The Eu opean G een Deal
1
and
he REPowe EU plan
2
ha e emphasised he need o a ansi ion o clean, eliable and a o dable
enewable ene gy echnologies. In his con ex , geo he mal hea and powe has been iden i ied as a
key con ibu o o eplacing ossil uels. A he same ime, he EC has p omised a "jus ansi ion" ha
lea es no one behind, ensu ing ha egions in ansi ion a e adequa ely suppo ed in his p ocess and
ha ci izens a e no o e ly bu dened by a possible inc ease in ene gy cos s.
Gi en he signi ican changes ha he ene gy ansi ion will impose on socie y, and he speed a which
hese changes will need o ake place in o de o achie e clima e neu ali y by 2045, i is impo an o
ocus no only on he echnological challenges, bu also on how hese echnological solu ions can be
widely deployed in socie y, adap ed and suppo ed by ci izens, and ul ima ely in eg a ed in o he
ma ke .
Geo he mal ene gy p o ision can make a signi ican con ibu ion o he ene gy ansi ion. The
Implemen a ion Plan
3
o he Geo he mal Implemen a ion Wo king G oup (Geo he mal IWG) en isages
o 2050 ha geo he mal hea supplies mo e han 25% o Eu ope’s demand o space hea ing and
cooling, and mo e han 25% in he ag icul u al sec o (g eenhouses) and 5% in indus ial sec o s in he
low o medium empe a u e ange as well as 10% o he powe p oduc ion in SET Plan coun ies om
geo he mal powe . Geo he mal echnologies o e a wide ange o di e en solu ions, he
pe o mance o which is o en dependen on geological condi ions. Howe e , speci ic local ci izens’
and communi ies’ needs a e also impo an in de e mining he echnology ha bes mee s he demand
in e ms o cos -e ec i eness o he dis ibu ion o demand o e di e en ime scales (day/nigh o
summe /win e ), and also in e ms o en i onmen al ac o s such as land use. In addi ion, social
accep ance is o en ci ed as a non- echnical ba ie o geo he mal de elopmen . This is why he
Eu opean Technology and Inno a ion Pla o m on Geo he mal Ene gy (ETIP Geo he mal, he ea e
ETIP) and he Geo he mal IWG a e ecognising he need o s eng hen he in eg a ion o Social
Sciences and Humani ies (SSH) in he esea ch and inno a ion e o s o geo he mal ene gy in Eu ope.
This epo will desc ibe wo ini ia i es ha s a ed wi hin he ime ame o he GEOTHERM-FORA
p ojec and ha should ensu e ha he in e connec ions o ci il socie y as a whole a e aken in o
accoun when inc easing he sha e o geo he mal ene gy u ilisa ion: he ETIP geo he mal Wo king
g oup on Social Sciences and Humani ies and he SET-plan Wo king G oup on C oss Cu ing Issues ha
ocusses on socie al needs. Addi ionally, his epo makes e e ence o a ecen s udy by he SSH
CENTRE p ojec , ha p o ides ecommenda ions o he in eg a ion o SSH in he implemen a ion
plans o he SET-Plan. The epo sho ly desc ibes he na u e o hese h ee app oaches and sou ces
o in o ma ion. As a second key poin , his epo shall p o ide i s ecommenda ions o EU policy
make s o imp o e ene gy supply om geo he mal ollowing a holis ic socie al pe spec i e and o
communica e he compe i i e ad an age o geo he mal echnologies.
1
Eu opean Commission. (2019). The Eu opean G een Deal. COM/2019/640 inal. Eu opean Commission.
2
Eu opean Commission. (2022). REPowe EU Plan. COM(2022) 230 inal. Eu opean Commission.
3
Geo he mal Implemen a ion Wo king G oup. (2023). Implemen a ion plan. SETIS.
h ps://se is.ec.eu opa.eu/documen /download/ 74cb5d6-30d8-492c-a528-
9652a0d4b6c1_en? ilename=Implemen a ion%20Plan%20Repo _IWG%20Geo he mal.pd ; las accessed 07
Ap 2025.
6 | D 5.3 – Recommenda ions om SSH
3 App oaches and Sou ces o In o ma ion
3.1 Se -up o a ETIP Geo he mal Wo king G oup on Social Sciences
and Humani ies
The impo ance o Social Sciences and Humani ies (SSH) was al eady highligh ed by he wo k o he
Wo king G oup (WG) on “Ma ke Up ake o ETIP-DG, which included, among o he s, he opics o social
wel a e and dissemina ion and communica ion. The p elimina y ac i i ies o his WG con ibu ed o
he i s edi ion o he ETIP S a egic Resea ch and Inno a ion Agenda
4
(SRIA). Also in he second
edi ion o he SRIA o he ETIP Geo he mal
5
, he signi icance o de eloping geo he mal ene gy
echnologies wi h and o socie y is highligh ed, and an inc ease in e o s o engage wi h he public
and aise awa eness o geo he mal ex e nali ies and bene i s is eques ed. Ne e heless, a s ong
coope a ion be ween he geoscien i ic and enginee ing p o essions (STEM: Science, Technology,
Enginee ing and Ma hema ics) and he social science and humani ies p o essions (SSH) is limi ed o
selec ed p ojec s and ini ia i es. The e o e, he ETIP Geo he mal decided o es ablish a special SSH
wo king g oup (SSH-WG) o add ess he challenges o holis ic socie al engagemen o he sus ainable
and esponsible de elopmen o geo he mal echnologies.
In 2024, ETIP Geo he mal has in i ed i s membe s o join his new wo king g oup. The SSH-WG
comp ises membe s o he ETIP Geo he mal and ocus mo e s ongly on he in eg a ion o social
sciences and he socie al ac o s ha in luence he de elopmen and applica ion o geo he mal
echnologies. The wo king g oup me o he i s ime in No embe 2024 and launched a discussion
on he challenges geo he mal ene gy echnologies ace in socie y, on he key opics ha need o be
add essed by esea ch and de elopmen , and on he messages ha should be con eyed o socie y. In
a second mee ing in May 2025, he concep s o socie al eadiness le el and p ac ical app oaches o
engaging wi h schools and communi ies we e deba ed. This way, he wo king g oup p o ides a
pla o m o esea che s, ope a o s and consul an s wo king in social sciences, and also unc ions as a
o um o ad ice he Geo he mal ETIP communi y on SSH opics.
3.1.1 Fi s SSH WG mee ing, No embe 2024
The i s SSH WG mee ing was held in No embe 2024 online. A i s , he mo i a ion o es ablishing
he SSH wo king g oup, as desc ibed abo e, was p esen ed o he g oup by Ka in Kieling (Helmhol z-
Cen e o Geosciences, GFZ), and he con ex wi hin he ETIP Geo he mal wo king g oups was
p o ided. Following, h ee keyno e alks we e p esen ed o ini ia e he discussion abou challenges
and po en ial esea ch opics wi h ega d o social sciences and humani ies in he de elopmen o
geo he mal ene gy echnologies.
Melanie Rohse (Anglia Ruskin Uni e si y) p esen ed “P io i ise Inclusi e, Ea ly, and Con inuous
Socie al Engagemen o Maximise he Bene i s o Geo he mal Technologies”. The p esen a ion
ocused on he indings om an SSH / STEM collabo a ion ha was ecen ly published in Rohse e al,
4
Eu opean Technology and Inno a ion Pla o m on Deep Geo he mal (ETIP-DG) (2018). “S a egic esea ch and
inno a ion agenda”. B ussels, Ap il 2019, ISBN 9788879580373, h ps://e ip-geo he mal.eu/ on /wp-
con en /uploads/SRIA_ETIP-DG_web-1.pd , las accessed 09 May 2025.
5
Eu opean Technology and Inno a ion Pla o m on Geo he mal (ETIP-G) (2023). “S a egic esea ch and
inno a ion agenda”. B ussels, No embe 2023, ISBN - 978-2-9601946-3-0, h ps://e ip-geo he mal.eu/ on /wp-
con en /uploads/SRIA_2023_Final_Fo Web_comp essed.pd , las accessed 09 May 2025.
7 | D 5.3 – Recommenda ions om SSH
2023
6
. The au ho s ecommend ha policymake s ensu e decision-making in ene gy ans o ma ion
becomes mo e inclusi e, os e ing a wide discussion o he ene gy ansi ion wi h and o socie y, up
o he inclusi e engagemen o local communi ies in indi idual geo he mal p ojec s. They also s a e
ha local and egional ac o s should os e p ocesses o co-c ea ion and socie al engagemen , clea ly
mo ing beyond pu e in o ma ion and consul ing a planning s age. The chap e gi es examples o case
s udies, whe e such an ea ly co-c ea ion and socie al engagemen has aken place p o iding p ac ical
insigh . I also men ions which isks exis s when communi ies a e no engaged, p o iding examples
om expe ience. Following he au ho s, he collabo a ion be ween STEM and SSH scien is s can help
o b eak down ba ie s be ween disciplines and he eby acili a e he achie emen s o he abo e-
men ioned ecommenda ions.
Adele Manzella (Consiglio Nazionale delle Rice che, CNR-IGG) and Anna Pellizzone (Fondazione
Giannino Basse i) p esen ed an exce p om he second edi ion o he book “Geo he mal Ene gy and
Socie y” (a he ime s ill in p og ess and published in 2025
7
), which hey we e bo h co-edi ing wi h
Agnes Allansdo i . The book explo es he in e sec ion o geo he mal ene gy echnologies and hei
socie al implica ions. I p o ides a comp ehensi e amewo k o unde s anding how geo he mal
esou ces a e ha nessed o elec ici y gene a ion, hea ing, and cooling, while examining he social,
en i onmen al, and policy con ex s ha shape hei de elopmen . The book in eg a es pe spec i es
om geology, enginee ing, sociology, and economics, and ea u es upda ed global case s udies ha
highligh communi y engagemen , egula o y challenges, and public pe cep ion, ou lining how ci izen
engagemen p ac ices a e cu en ly ins i u ionalised in di e en geo he mal coun ies. Compa ed o
he i s edi ion o he book, case s udies om Chile, Mexico, and he UK ha e been added, wi h he
UK and Chile being coun ies whe e only one powe plan has been buil so a , and socie y has e y
limi ed expe ience wi h ega d o geo he mal ene gy u ilisa ion.
Finally, Amel Ba ich (Geo he mal Resea ch Clus e GEORG) ga e an o e iew o he guidance compiled
wi hin he CROWDTHERMAL p ojec on “Social License o Ope a e o geo he mal ene gy p ojec s”.
While he concep o Social License o Ope a e (SLO) has been de eloped in he mining indus y, i can
equally be applied o geo he mal p ojec s, which seek socie al suppo and aim o main ain i . This is
essen ial o ensu ing he success ul deploymen o geo he mal echnology and achie ing i s legi imacy
as a iable clean al e na i e ene gy solu ion. In Ba ich e al., 2022
8
, a concep ual model o SLO in he
geo he mal ene gy sec o is de eloped, based on h ee case s udies, wo king g oup discussions, and
su eys. Amel Ba ich highligh ed ha SLO is a mul iscale and mul ile el concep , since he en i e
geo he mal indus y can ea n a social license om he b oade public, bu single p ojec s s ill need o
ob ain a social license a a local communi y le el. Wi h inc easing SLO, he expec a ions ha he
communi y o he public has owa ds a company a e inc easingly ul illed and he a i ude o
s akeholde s is mo ing om me e accep ance o app o al o psychological iden i ica ion, and he
company/de elope /ope a o is a he conside ed a pa o he communi y. Findings om he
CROWDTHERMAL p ojec also con i m ha inno a i e pa icipa o y inancial schemes, such as
c owd unding o geo he mal p ojec s, can acili a e pa icipa o y and anspa en p ocess du ing
p ojec de elopmen , he eby imp o ing he SLO.
6
Rohse, M. e al. (2024). P io i ise Inclusi e, Ea ly, and Con inuous Socie al Engagemen o Maximise he Bene i s
o Geo he mal Technologies. In: C ow he , A., Foulds, C., Robison, R., Gladkykh, G. (eds) S eng hening Eu opean
Ene gy Policy. Palg a e Macmillan, Cham. h ps://doi.o g/10.1007/978-3-031-66481-6_3
7
Manzella, A. e al. (eds) (2025). Geo he mal Ene gy and Socie y: Technology, Me hods, and Applica ions.
Lec u e No es in Ene gy, 67, 470 pp. Sp inge In e na ional Swi ze land AG, h ps://doi.o g/10.1007/978-3-031-
81920-9
8
Ba ich, A., S okłosa, A. W., Hildeb and, J., Elíasson, O., Medgyes, T., Quinonez, G., Casillas, A. C., & Fe nandez,
I. (2022). Social License o Ope a e in Geo he mal Ene gy. Ene gies, 15(1), 139.
h ps://doi.o g/10.3390/en15010139
8 | D 5.3 – Recommenda ions om SSH
3.1.2 Second SSH WG mee ing, May 2025
The second SSH WG mee ing was o ganised as a webina and he eco ding is a ailable on YouTube.
De ails and he eco ding link is a ailable a h ps://e ip-geo he mal.eu/p ess- elease/webina -
eco ding-p esen a ions-now-a ailable-how- o-engage-wi h-socie y-and-build-public-suppo - o -
geo he mal-ene gy/ .
A e a sho in oduc ion o he SSH WG and he agenda by Ka in Kieling, wo opics we e p esen ed
by membe s o he WG:
Alessand o Sciullo, Uni e si y o Tu in (Depa men o Cul u e, Poli ics and Socie y) p esen ed “Socio-
en i onmen al condi ions o he implemen a ion o geoDHC ne wo ks in Eu ope”. The p esen ed
s udies we e ca ied ou in he ame o he SAPHEA p ojec , dealing wi h ma ke up ake o geo he mal
ene gy in dis ic hea ing and cooling (DHC) in Eu ope. In he p ojec , he socie al pe spec i es on
in eg a ion o geo he mal in DHC ne wo ks ha e been add essed wi h wo di e en ools: (1)
s akeholde analysis and engagemen and (2) he concep o socie al eadiness. S akeholde analysis
and engagemen ocused on he h ee le els o engagemen , i.e., in o ma ion, consul a ion and
decision, es ablishing easy- o-use ools o dis ic hea ing ope a o s o acili a e he p ocesses.
SAPHEA has applied hese ools o a dis ic hea ing p ojec in Poland.
Socie al eadiness is an inno a i e way o add ess o assess he ex en o which a speci ic socie y is
eady o accep , adop and implemen a speci ic echnology, posing wo main ques ions: (1) How eady
is he socie y o adop a low ca bon echnology? (2) Is a low-ca bon echnology eady o socie al
implemen a ion? Al hough being a powe ul concep , he app oach o socie al eadiness le els (SRL)
s ill needs o be u he de eloped and ope a ionalized. Me hods o measu e socie y’s eadiness s ill
need discussion and ag eemen wi hin he SSH communi y. This is also e lec ed in he Ho izon Eu ope
wo k p og amme o 2025, o eseeing eigh calls on Socie al Readiness Pilo s. In SAPHEA, he SRL scale
has been simpli ied o i e le els and adap ed o use in geo he mal dis ic hea ing and cooling
p ojec s.
Je ome Azzola and Judi h B eme om he Ka ls uhe Ins i u e o Technology (KIT), p esen ed
“Engaging Schools and Communi ies in Geo he mal Moni o ing - Case S udies om he DeepS o
Resea ch In as uc u e”. The deploymen o geo he mal echnologies in he Uppe Rhine Valley is
impac ed by public opposi ion, wi h public conce ns mainly e ol ing a ound isks o induced
seismici y. In he con ex o he de elopmen o a deep geo he mal s o age p ojec on he KIT campus,
DEEPSTOR, he KIT eam sugges ed a anspa en and ac i e exchange wi h ci izens h ough
collabo a ion and pa icipa o y moni o ing o seismici y. In he case s udy, he seismome e s used o
he moni o ing was gi ing insigh s in o how seismici y is moni o ed and wha le els o seismici y a e
obse ed. This no only inc eases anspa ency bu also p omo es dialogue and os e s in o med
opinion o ming o indi iduals.
3.2 Collabo a ion in he SET-Plan Tasks Fo ces on C oss Cu ing Issues
The S a egic Ene gy Technology (SET) Plan aims o achie e he EU’s ene gy and clima e goals and
make Eu ope a global leade in clean ene gy and ene gy e iciency echnologies. The SET Plan does
his by helping o coo dina e na ional esea ch and inno a ion (R&I) ac i i ies in de eloping low-
ca bon ene gy among SET Plan coun ies. Fu he , he SET-Plan aligns EU and na ional R&I p io i ies
wi h i s agenda. Mos ly, his is done ia 15 Implemen a ion Wo king G oups (IWGs), each ocusing on
one key echnology, such as he Geo he mal IWG.
In 2024, he Communica ion on he e ision o he S a egic Ene gy T ansi ion (SET) Plan called o he
es ablishmen o i e ime-bound Task Fo ces dedica ed o c oss-cu ing opics o he ene gy
echnologies o he SET-Plan:
1. Ci cula i y and ma e ials subs i u ion
9 | D 5.3 – Recommenda ions om SSH
2. Resea ch and inno a ion (R&I) o socie al needs
3. Digi alisa ion
4. Skills
5. Access o ma ke
The gene al objec i e o he ask o ces is o co-c ea e echnical ecommenda ions in o de o ad ance
he wo k o he SET-Plan acco ding o he i e c oss-cu ing opics. The ask- o ce opics and hei
membe s a e desc ibed on he SETIs websi e: h ps://se is.ec.eu opa.eu/abou -se -plan/ ask-
o ces_en
Each o he Task o ces need o deli e conc e e ou pu s o ackle he SET Plan. The en isaged
ecommenda ions include:
• A EU-le el
o New EU-legisla i e de elopmen s
o P io isa ion o EU unding
• Fo he co e SET-plan s akeholde s (IWGs and ETIPs)
o R&I ac i i ies on he c oss-cu ing issues
o A oid duplica ion o exis ing ac i i ies
I should be highligh ed ha he c oss-cu ing ask o ces do no ha e he pu pose o iden i ying
ecommenda ions o a single ene gy ansi ion echnology such as geo he mal ene gy, bu a he
iden i y challenges, p io i ies and possible solu ion pa hways o a ange o ac o s o he ene gy
ansi ion. A he ime o w i ing his epo , he wo k o he ask o ces is no ye comple ed, he e o e
he p io i ies lis ed he e may di e om he inal ecommenda ions ha he ask o ce is due o
p o ide in Decembe 2025.
Based on he p io i ies communica ed by he a ious SET-plan s akeholde s du ing he i s wo kshop
in Decembe 2024 (see sec ion 4.2), a i s d a o ecommenda ions has been o mula ed and
discussed du ing an online ask o ce mee ing in Ma ch 2025. Du ing his mee ing, d a
ecommenda ions we e discussed, eo ganised, and addi ions ha e been sugges ed. A e ised
documen wi h ecommenda ions has been c ea ed based on his discussion. This backg ound
documen is cu en ly (Oc obe 2025) unde e ision, and a consolida ed se o ecommenda ions will
be inalised by No embe 2025, in ime o he SET-Plan con e ence. A e ha , he inal e sion o
ecommenda ions should be e iewed once mo e by he ask o ce membe s, be o e he SET-Plan
S ee ing commi ee endo ses he ecommenda ions o be conside ed in he implemen a ion plans o
he IWGs.
3.3 Analysis o Implemen a ion plans by he SSH CENTRE conso ium
SSH CENTRE (Social Sciences and Humani ies o Clima e, Ene gy aNd T anspo Resea ch Excellence) is
a Ho izon Eu ope unded p ojec ha engages di ec ly wi h s akeholde s ac oss esea ch, policy, and
business (including ci izens) o s eng hen social inno a ion, SSH-STEM collabo a ion, ansdisciplina y
policy ad ice, inclusi e engagemen , and SSH communi ies ac oss Eu ope, accele a ing he EU’s
ansi ion o ca bon neu ali y. One o he ac i i ies o he p ojec is he e ec i e design o s a egies
o ci izen engagemen in EU R&I ac i i ies. The p ojec is commi ed o s eng hening he componen
o Social Science and Humani ies in s a egic EU p og ammes, such as he SET-Plan. In his con ex , he
p ojec conso ium has e iewed 12 Implemen a ion Wo king Plans wi h espec o he ex en o
which Social Sciences and Humani ies (SSH) conside a ions had been accoun ed o hus a , and
16 | D 5.3 – Recommenda ions om SSH
ene gy echnologies and clea ly go beyond inancial suppo and conside a ange o p ocesses,
such as egula ion, go e nance mechanisms and decision-making p ocesses.
Mul i-Scala implemen a ion: Implemen a ion Plans should adop a mul i-scala app oach ha
ex ends om he EU and na ional le el o he sub-na ional, egional and local le el in which
echnologies a e o be implemen ed. The complexi y o he loca ions in which he echnologies
a e implemen ed should be conside ed in o de o e lec he con ex in which de elopmen
p ojec s a e loca ed.
4.3.2 Implica ions o he Geo he mal Implemen a ion Plan
The e ised Geo he mal Implemen a ion Plan o 2023 (Implemen a ion Wo king G oup, 2023)
e y b ie ly desc ibes he p io i ies o esea ch and Inno a ion in geo he mal ene gy. Key
ac i i ies ha e been de ined o each o he ou echnological p io i ies and a e desc ibed
quali a i ely. Re e ence o opics in ol ing Social Sciences and Humani ies is es ic ed o he
chap e “Non- echnical ba ie s/enable & c oss cu ing opics”. While he e is li le de ail
p o ided conce ning he inclusion o SSH, se e al key ac i i ies a e men ioned and i is clea ly
poin ed ou ha hese a e ele an o all he echnological inno a ions. The le el o de ail in
desc ibing non- echnical c oss-cu ing issues is simila o ha o he echnological issues.
Fo he nex e ision o he Implemen a ion Plan, i seems ad isable o p o ide a mo e de ailed
desc ip ion. Policy alignmen can be wo ked ou by pu ing no only he Eu opean G een Deal in o
con ex , bu also he Ne -ze o Indus y Ac , he C i ical Raw Ma e ials Ac , Nex Gene a ionEU,
REPowe EU, and he Fi - o -55 package. Fo key ac i i ies, i could be highligh ed how di e en
policies and policy-make s can con ibu e o a quicke oll-ou o he inno a ions. Addi ionally, a
mul i-scala app oach o conside sub-na ional le els o implemen a ion could be conside ed.
Speci ically o geo he mal ene gy, di e ences be ween hea ing, cooling and he mal s o age
applica ions, ha a e o en loca ed wi hin an u ban en i onmen , and powe gene a ion, ha is
mo e o en si ua ed in sub-u ban o u al a eas, should be e lec ed upon.
While he socie al embedding o he echnological de elopmen s migh be less p onounced in he
2023 Geo he mal Implemen a ion Plan, i is indica ed ha all echnological ad ances need o be
combined wi h he in es iga ion o non- echnical issues, including awa eness o local
communi ies, public accep ance, and in ol emen o s akeholde s in sus ainable geo he mal
solu ions. Li e Cycle Impac Assessmen s (LCIA) aking in o conside a ion en i onmen al, social,
e hical, poli ical, economic, and legal aspec s a e men ioned, as well as egula o y aspec s.
Howe e , no SSH a ge s a e de ined wi h ega d o socie al embedding nei he a e Key
Pe o mance Indica o s o moni o ing p ocesses desc ibed. As discussed wi hin he ETIP
Geo he mal wo king g oup on SSH, Socie al Readiness Le els (SRL) could be an inno a i e way o
add ess o assess he ex en o which a speci ic socie y is eady o accep , adop and implemen a
speci ic echnology. Howe e , as a i s s ep, mo e speci ic de ini ions o he di e en SRLs o
geo he mal ene gy echnologies need o be de ined and objec i e indica o s and measu emen s
o SRL need o be ag eed upon.
17 | D 5.3 – Recommenda ions om SSH
5 Conclusions
F om he discussion wi hin he ETIP-Geo he mal wo king g oup on SSH, and he SET-plan’s c oss
cu ing ask o ce on R&I o Socie al Needs, a clea o e lap be ween he p io i ies iden i ied by he
esea ch communi y specialised on geo he mal ene gy and he mo e gene al SET-plan communi y is
isible in he ecommenda ions. Bo h g oups iden i ied he poin s
1. Adop a Holis ic Socie al Pe spec i e: Encou age esea che s, de elope s, ope a o s, and
policymake s o inco po a e social and cul u al dimensions in o plans o geo he mal
echnology deploymen , ensu ing ha p oposed solu ions esona e wi h communi ies and
s akeholde s. This includes concep s as Social License o Ope a e, inclusi e app oaches like
ci izen science and pa icipa o y inancing models.
2. Communica e Ad an ages: De elop a ge ed communica ion s a egies ha a icula e he
en i onmen al and economic bene i s o geo he mal echnologies, whils being anspa en
abou unce ain y, hus os e ing g ea e public unde s anding and accep ance, bu also
poli ical suppo .
Fu he , he e is a gene al ecommenda ion om he SSH CENTRE ha was gene alized o he SET-
Plan communi y bu holds ue also o he geo he mal ene gy R&I communi y:
3. In eg a e SSH Insigh s in o Implemen a ion Plans: Ensu e SSH conside a ions a e embedded
in o he SET-Plan’s Geo he mal Implemen a ion Plan, he eby aligning echnological
ad ancemen s wi h socie al needs and expec a ions.
4. Ta ge and measu emen de ini ions: Key Pe o mance Indica o s should be de ined wi h
ega d o social embedding. The Geo he mal Implemen a ion Plan should de ine a ge s and
ensu e hei moni o ing. Socie al Readiness Le el (SRL) indica o s could be a way o include
SSH a ge de ini ions in a s anda dised o m.
Gi en ha nei he he ETIP-G wo king g oup has e iewed he ecommenda ions in de ail, no he SET-
plan’s c oss-cu ing ask o ce on R&I o Socie al needs has inalised i s ecommenda ion, ye , u he
e inemen o hese ecommenda ions may be necessa y. Howe e , he opics o which he abo e
ecommenda ions ela e a e ecu en in he discussions. Resea che s, inno a o s and applica o s o
geo he mal ene gy om STEM and SSH ag ee ha hese a e impo an s eps in inc easing he use o
geo he mal ene gy echnologies.
Finally, while hese ecommenda ions a e o mula ed o geo he mal ene gy, hey may also be
aluable o o he enewable ene gy echnologies acing simila challenges and oppo uni ies.
18 | D 5.3 – Recommenda ions om SSH
7 Acknowledgemen s
Figu es in his epo ha e been gene a ed wi h he help o napkin.ai/.
The au ho s a e g a e ul o Melanie Rohse, Associa e P o esso o Sus ainable Communi ies a Anglia
Ruskin Uni e si y, o he comp ehensi e e iew o he epo and commen s.
