Geothermal technologies offer a powerful way to harness the Earth’s heat for both thermal energy and electricity, contributing to the growth of renewables in global energy systems. Compared to other renewable sources, geothermal energy is often less visible in public debate, yet it has a unique strength: it is proven, continuous, reliable, and largely resilient to the impacts of climate change. It can operate day and night, season after season, and it can help balance the variability of solar and wind power.

These characteristics make geothermal energy highly relevant to SDG 7 of the UN 2030 Agenda, which calls for access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all. But as our book Geothermal Energy and Society, now in its second edition, highlights—especially in its conclusions— energy is never just a technical system. It is a social contract. Decisions about energy infrastructure shape landscapes, local economies, and daily life. They raise questions about risk, responsibility, and fairness. When these social dimensions are overlooked, even the most advanced clean technologies are at risk of failure.

Today, geothermal solutions are more accessible than ever, thanks to technological progress. They are applicable at different scales and in diverse geological contexts. Still, the success of their implementation varies widely. Across the world, energy projects may fail or stall not because of technological limits, but because trust between institutions and communities is low. That is where the real challenge of SDG 7 begins.

One of the insights of the book is that people relate to the harnessing of geothermal energy for heating very differently compared to the production of electricity. Electricity is abstract: it flows from a grid, invisible and standardized. Heating, instead, is immediate and personal. Geothermal heating is often evaluated by communities not in terms of efficiency or megawatts, but in terms of fairness, reliability, and long-term affordability. People ask: Will my home stay warm? Will costs remain stable? Who governs the system? These questions reveal why geothermal energy is as much a social and political issue as a technical one.

Geothermal Energy and Society repeatedly underlines that social engagement goes beyond public relations and is not a communication exercise that is added on or undertaken after technical decisions have been made. It is a core element of governance. Early involvement of local actors, clear regulation of pricing and responsibilities, and mechanisms for sharing benefits —such as local heating networks, reduced energy bills, or reinvestment in public services— and costs are essential. Without them, even clean and low-carbon energy risks being perceived as imposed or unjust.

The book connects geothermal energy to energy justice, a concept increasingly central to European and international policy debates. Affordable energy means addressing energy poverty, reducing inequalities in access, and ensuring that the costs and benefits of the transition are fairly distributed. Technologies alone do not solve these problems—institutions and society do.

From the perspective of SDG 7, this is crucial. Affordability is not an automatic outcome of renewable energy—it is shaped by policy decisions and regulation. Heating represents a major share of energy consumption, and high prices strongly impact energy poverty. Cooling capacity is also becoming a central aspect in achieving a just transition. Geopolitical instability has heightened the prominence and urgency of political debates over heating and cooling in recent years. Geothermal heating and cooling technologies can stabilize costs and reduce dependence on volatile fossil fuel markets, but only if regulatory systems protect the public interest over time.

The book also highlights the value of place-based thinking. Unlike centralized electricity systems, geothermal heating often strengthens local governance, encouraging municipalities and communities to take an active role. When managed well, this creates a sense of collective ownership and turns energy into a shared service rather than a distant commodity. Such a collective ownership can also be fostered in geothermal power projects by involving citizens and stakeholders throughout the innovation process. Geothermal technologies that co-generate both electricity and heat from a single plant are particularly well-suited to support this approach.

In the end, the message of Geothermal Energy and Society is clear. Ensuring access to affordable, reliable, low-carbon, and locally available energy services is not just about technology. Those elements matter—but alone they are not enough. The real challenge of SDG 7 begins where technology meets society: in regulation, policy choices, participation, and trust.

Geothermal energy reminds us that the energy transition will succeed only if it delivers tangible benefits to communities —and systems they can trust.

Geothermal technologies offer a powerful way to harness the Earth’s heat for both thermal energy and electricity, contributing to the growth of renewables in global energy systems. Compared to other renewable sources, geothermal energy is often less visible in public debate, yet it has a unique strength: it is proven, continuous, reliable, and largely resilient to the impacts of climate change. It can operate day and night, season after season, and it can help balance the variability of solar and wind power.

These characteristics make geothermal energy highly relevant to SDG 7 of the UN 2030 Agenda, which calls for access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all. But as the book Geothermal Energy and Society highlights—especially in its conclusions— energy is never just a technical system. It is a social contract. Decisions about energy infrastructure shape landscapes, local economies, and daily life. They raise questions about risk, responsibility, and fairness. When these social dimensions are overlooked, even the most advanced clean technologies are at risk of failure.

Today, geothermal solutions are more accessible than ever, thanks to technological progress. They are applicable at different scales and in diverse geological contexts. Still, the success of their implementation varies widely. Across the world, energy projects may fail or stall not because of technological limits, but because trust between institutions and communities is low. That is where the real challenge of SDG 7 begins.

One of the insights of the book is that people relate to the harnessing of geothermal energy for heating very differently compared to the production of electricity. Electricity is abstract: it flows from a grid, invisible and standardized. Heating, instead, is immediate and personal. Geothermal heating is often evaluated by communities not in terms of efficiency or megawatts, but in terms of fairness, reliability, and long-term affordability. People ask: Will my home stay warm? Will costs remain stable? Who governs the system? These questions reveal why geothermal energy is as much a social and political issue as a technical one.

Geothermal Energy and Society repeatedly underlines that social engagement goes beyond public relations and is not a communication exercise that is added on or undertaken after technical decisions have been made. It is a core element of governance. Early involvement of local actors, clear regulation of pricing and responsibilities, and mechanisms for sharing benefits —such as local heating networks, reduced energy bills, or reinvestment in public services— and costs are essential. Without them, even clean and low-carbon energy risks being perceived as imposed or unjust.

The book connects geothermal energy to energy justice, a concept increasingly central to European and international policy debates. Affordable energy means addressing energy poverty, reducing inequalities in access, and ensuring that the costs and benefits of the transition are fairly distributed. Technologies alone do not solve these problems—institutions and society do.

From the perspective of SDG 7, this is crucial. Affordability is not an automatic outcome of renewable energy—it is shaped by policy decisions and regulation. Heating represents a major share of energy consumption, and high prices strongly impact energy poverty. Cooling capacity is also becoming a central aspect in achieving a just transition. Geopolitical instability has heightened the prominence and urgency of political debates over heating and cooling in recent years. Geothermal heating and cooling technologies can stabilize costs and reduce dependence on volatile fossil fuel markets, but only if regulatory systems protect the public interest over time.

The book also highlights the value of place-based thinking. Unlike centralized electricity systems, geothermal heating often strengthens local governance, encouraging municipalities and communities to take an active role. When managed well, this creates a sense of collective ownership and turns energy into a shared service rather than a distant commodity. Such a collective ownership can also be fostered in geothermal power projects by involving citizens and stakeholders throughout the innovation process. Geothermal technologies that co-generate both electricity and heat from a single plant are particularly well-suited to support this approach.

In the end, the message of Geothermal Energy and Society is clear. Ensuring access to affordable, reliable, low-carbon, and locally available energy services is not just about technology. Those elements matter—but alone they are not enough. The real challenge of SDG 7 begins where technology meets society: in regulation, policy choices, participation, and trust.

Geothermal energy reminds us that the energy transition will succeed only if it delivers tangible benefits to communities —and systems they can trust. 

Adele Manzela

Agnes Allansdottir

Anna Pellizzone