Geothermal Energy Won’t Succeed Without This Critical Step

Public participation is increasingly recognized as a decisive factor in the success of geothermal projects worldwide. A new scientific study highlights that geothermal development—especially Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS)—depends not only on technological readiness and financial feasibility, but also on the trust, involvement, and acceptance of local communities.

The study, titled “Preferably safe and small: Findings from a risk-cost-benefit analysis (RCBA) of enhanced geothermal systems (EGS)”, was published in Energy Research & Social Science (Elsevier) in November 2025. It underscores that geothermal projects can falter even when the engineering is sound, simply because developers fail to secure social legitimacy.

Swiss and Utah Case Studies Show Public Voice Matters

Drawing on two representative population surveys from Switzerland and Utah, USA, the research found that communities are more supportive of geothermal projects when they are designed on a smaller scale, carry transparent risk information, and include meaningful public engagement during early planning stages.

“Communities do not reject technology—they reject uncertainty,” said Dr. Sanni Kunnas, the study’s lead author. “When risks such as induced seismicity are not clearly communicated or when the benefits appear unevenly distributed, public resistance becomes unavoidable.”

Kunnas noted that starting with smaller, safer pilot-scale projects gives communities time to understand geothermal processes, witness safety outcomes, and build trust. “Our findings show that safe and small is not just a technical preference—it is a social strategy,” he said.

Co-author Sara Wallinger from University of Geneva added that many geothermal initiatives in Europe and the United States have been halted not due to underground failures but because of shortcomings above ground—poor communication, insufficient consultation, or community distrust.

“Projects often fail not in the subsurface, but in the meeting rooms,” Wallinger explained. “Technical risk assessments alone are not enough. Ethics, fairness, and public perception must be integrated into every stage of decision-making.”

A Global Lesson for All Countries Pursuing Geothermal Expansion

As countries around the world race to accelerate renewable energy development and meet climate targets, geothermal energy is emerging as an attractive option due to its stability and low carbon footprint. Yet the global experience described in the study sends a clear warning, without public participation, geothermal expansion can easily stall.

Nations in regions as diverse as East Africa, Southeast Asia, Latin America, and Europe face similar patterns of hesitation among local communities—often rooted in fears of environmental impact, seismic activity, land access disputes, or distrust of government and industry.

The authors argue that countries should integrate public dialogue into national geothermal strategies, not treat it as a bureaucratic afterthought. This includes transparent risk communication, participatory decision-making, joint environmental monitoring, and fair distribution of project benefits.

Social Legitimacy Is as Important as Engineering

With global demand for clean energy rising rapidly, the study emphasizes that geothermal power requires more than drilling expertise. It requires social legitimacy.

“EGS is a powerful low-carbon technology, but without community support, it simply will not move forward,” Kunnas said. He stressed that public sentiment must be treated as a core component of energy planning: “If people feel heard, respected, and included, conflict decreases and long-term project stability increases.”

As countries worldwide push toward net-zero targets, geothermal energy will play an increasingly important role in diversifying clean energy portfolios. But the message from the new research is unmistakable: no geothermal project—no matter how promising—can succeed without the trust and participation of local communities.

For governments, developers, and energy planners across the globe, the study offers a crucial reminder:
clean energy transitions must be built with the public, not imposed upon them. (Sulung Prasetyo)

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