Geothermal Energy and Society: Theory, Methods and Applications

This book addresses the societal aspects of harnessing geothermal resources for various uses, including power production, heating, and cooling. It introduces a theoretical framework for a social scientific approach to the field and presents a preliminary collection of empirical case studies on geothermal energy and society from around the world. By providing a conceptual and methodological framework for the study of geothermal energy and societies, this book—now in its second edition—brings together information and analyses that have previously been sparse and fragmented. The contributors explore the diverse aspects of the relationship between harnessing geothermal resources and the societies and local communities in which these developments occur. After introducing geothermal technologies, renewable energy concepts, as well as their social and policy contexts, along with the regulatory and environmental aspects of geothermal energy, the book analyzes and discusses global case studies. It also compares the social engagement tools applied in this field with those used in other sectors. This second edition is fully updated and includes new, previously unpublished case studies. The book will be useful to researchers from a range of disciplines who wish to explore the issues surrounding energy and society. It is also a valuable resource for geothermal experts and postgraduate students seeking to study the field in greater detail. Chapter “Societal Engagement in Geothermal Energy in the United Kingdom: Early Lessons from a Nascent Sector” is available open access under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License via link.springer.com.