The goal of climate-friendly heat and electricity generation presents the energy sector with technological and societal challenges. Geothermal energy is a key technology capable of providing baseload power, and its rapid advancement requires a continuous assessment of potential opportunities and risks.
The DGMK is participating in the SAURIER project as an associate partner.
The SAURIER project („Seismological Evaluation and Social Relevance of Deep Energy Projects“) aims to improve acceptance of and understanding for deep geothermal projects by combining seismological research with social science-based communication and participation strategies. The focus is on the analysis and communication of induced seismicity, one of the most contentious aspects of geothermal energy. Using modern deep learning methods, the project aims to better detect, locate, and characterize seismic events. At the same time, workshops and surveys are being conducted with stakeholders and the public to assess their perceptions, concerns, and information needs. The goal is to present and visualize scientific findings in a way that is understandable and useful to various target groups. The project is developing a guide for public communication and participation that can also be applied to other underground technologies, such as CO₂ or hydrogen storage. The results will be published as open access and are intended for nationwide application. The project is interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary in nature and is supported by several renowned research institutions. It will run for three years (2026–2029), and the total funding amounts to approximately 2.8 million.
Role of the DGMK
The DGMK plays a role in the SAURIER project as an associate partner and disseminator. It is not directly involved in the scientific work, but supports networking and the dissemination of the project’s results. The DGMK is specifically involved in workshops and interviews to ensure that the recommendations and guidelines are broad in scope and practical in nature. The DGMK’s member platform is intended to ensure nationwide coverage across a wide range of topics and the transfer of knowledge into practice. In this way, the DGMK helps ensure that the communication and participation strategies developed can be applied not only in geothermal energy but also in related fields such as hydrogen storage.