Technological innovation alone cannot drive the energy transition. Public acceptance and active community engagement are essential for successful implementation of renewable energy solutions like geothermal. The GEOSYN project places these social aspects at the heart of its approach.
Building Trust Through Dialogue
Led by Geothermal Ukraine (GU) and starting in August 2025, GEOSYN will implement a comprehensive engagement strategy targeting citizens, industry stakeholders, and policy makers. This strategy moves beyond simple information sharing toward meaningful participation that shapes how geothermal technologies are developed and deployed.
The approach is based on research into how geothermal heating and cooling applications impact acceptance and perception. Early project activities include surveys and engagement workshops in Italy and Ukraine that map initial levels of social acceptance, identifying needs, expectations, and perspectives from local communities.
Multiple Paths to Engagement
GEOSYN’s engagement activities operate on several levels:
- Awareness campaigns targeted specifically at citizens and industries
- Mobilization and mutual learning workshops involving local communities and authorities
- Industry Engagement Cafés that provide literacy on geothermal energy and technological findings
- Online informative sessions with policy makers and authorities
- Surveys to assess changing levels of acceptance and trust
These activities create a continuous feedback loop, with community input directly influencing technical development and communication strategies.
Measuring Real Change
A unique aspect of GEOSYN’s approach is the rigorous assessment of its impact on social acceptance. By July 2027, the project will conduct a follow-up survey to measure how perceptions have evolved throughout the engagement process.
This approach focuses on creating the social foundation necessary for widespread adoption of geothermal solutions. The findings will be compiled in a social engagement report in August 2027, offering valuable insights for future renewable energy projects.
When technical innovation meets social acceptance, renewable energy technologies like GEOSYN can achieve their full potential.