Understanding and evaluating operator engagement ethos and practices: Examples from the UK Deep Geothermal Sector

Background With a transition to Net Zero a priority for an increasing number of countries, the roll out of renewable energy technologies is set to accelerate. To be fair and inclusive, a renewable energy transition must combine technological roll out with enabling communities and citizens to be part of energy decision-making. Whilst participation in the energy system can take many forms, the siting and implementation of renewable energy infrastructure is one area with great potential for improving fairness and inclusivity. In the UK, one nascent renewable energy technology is geothermal energy. The purpose of our study is to understand how the geothermal industry is approaching engagement, in a nation where little geothermal development or research on the industry’s engagement practices has occurred. We examine UK geothermal operator approaches to community engagement across three different projects. Through qualitative methods we examine the connections between who is leading engagement practices, what their engagement ethos and values are, and what specific type of strategies and approaches to community engagement are deployed. Results We uncover sets of operator ethos that emphasize honesty, trust, and relationship-building as central to developing good practice engagement strategies. Further, we find across the cases that there is general support for geothermal energy and positive attitudes towards operators and how they are conducting community engagement. Our results provide early analysis of engagement practices in the UK geothermal industry and offer a model for good practice in community engagement around geothermal energy. Conclusions We conclude by recommending three approaches for enhancing community engagement as one aspect of societal concern in the context of geothermal energy and beyond: (1) enhancing engagement training for operators, (2) shifting engagement to a focus on community-based (and not just technical) concerns, and (3) developing a policy framework that mandates meaningful engagement processes.