| Title | Co-Design of an Implementation Concept for a Deep Geothermal Energy Project at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) |
|---|---|
| Authors | Christine ROESCH, Melanie MBAH, Sophie KUPPLER |
| Year | 2020 |
| Conference | World Geothermal Congress |
| Keywords | society, partcipation, acceptability, transdisciplinary, energy transition |
| Abstract | We present an innovative concept to explore and design societally feasible transformation paths for the implementation of the ambitious targets of the German Energy Transition. The implementation concept for the use of deep geothermal energy on the campus of the KIT is conducted in a transdisciplinary co-design. This means that our research is closely linked to the local population to guarantee that various interests and bodies of knowledge are being integrated. The aim is to develop a concept, which is oriented on the public good and fulfills criteria for societal acceptability. For this reason, criteria and scenarios for the use of geo-thermal energy will be developed together with citizens living near the planned facility. This helps to uptake various expectations, concerns, challenges and wishes that might lead to new conceptual ideas or adjust-ment requirements regarding the implementation concept. Since the construction of a deep geothermal energy plant is a long-term infrastructure project, which will change e.g. the energy supply system, it is nec-essary to also include socioeconomic and landscape changes both in the planning and operational phase as well as beyond. We believe that our findings represent an important step towards participation and trans-parency in the planning and implementation process of new technologies that is needed for a successful German Energy Transition. The developed co-design concept can easily be adopted for similar infrastructure projects to facilitate the installation of renewable power plants for a more sustainable future of energy sys-tems in Europe. |