User motivation, energy prosumers, and regional diversity: sociological notes on using shallow geothermal energy

Alena Bleicher,Matthias Gross

doi:10.1186/s40517-015-0032-6

Alena Bleicher, Matthias Gross

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1186/s40517-015-0032-6

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Abstract

In this paper, we shed light on some sociocultural aspects underlying the use of shallow geothermal energy and point to relevant research on the utilization and public understanding of geothermal energy. We show how societal components such as user preferences in heating and cooling, users’ involvement in co-designing technology and producing energy, or country-specific administrative procedures influence the development of the technologies. We rely on existing studies and statistics and also on our own fieldwork (expert interviews) that has been carried out in 2013 and 2014 in Germany. Although we will focus on the cases in Germany, where shallow geothermal technologies have spread in a short time and evoked diverse forms of engagement from social actors, we also include comparative information from other countries.

Highlights

We shed light on some sociocultural aspects underlying the use of shallow geothermal energy and point to relevant research on the utilization and public understanding of geothermal energy
We show how societal components such as user preferences in heating and cooling, users’ involvement in co-designing technology and producing energy, or country-specific administrative procedures influence the development of the technologies
We will focus on the cases in Germany, where shallow geothermal technologies have spread in a short time and evoked diverse forms of engagement from social actors, we include comparative information from other countries

Summary

Introduction

We shed light on some sociocultural aspects underlying the use of shallow geothermal energy and point to relevant research on the utilization and public understanding of geothermal energy. We will focus on the cases in Germany, where shallow geothermal technologies have spread in a short time and evoked diverse forms of engagement from social actors, we include comparative information from other countries. The older family of technologies makes use of shallow geothermal heat on the household level for heating, hot water provision, and cooling. Since the 1970s, another family of geothermal energy technology was developed in order to tap into geothermal energy at depths of several thousand meters in order to provide electricity. Bleicher and Gross Geothermal Energy (2015) 3:12 and heated bypassing hot rocks in several thousand meters depth. Both approaches aim on producing electricity, currently thermal use dominates. Recent evaluations conclude that the EGS technologies are still under development (Breede et al 2013)

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Conclusion