Conveners:
Marco Taussi (Università di Urbino)
Martina Zucchi (Università di Bari)
Paolo Basile (STEAM srl)
Geothermal energy represents a key component of the green transition, offering a versatile and low-carbon resource covering a wide range of temperatures and applications, spanning from high-medium temperature systems for electricity generation to medium-low temperature for direct uses, district heating, and geo-exchange for buildings climatization. Recent advances in geosciences, engineering and data-driven approaches are opening new opportunities to enhance the sustainable development of geothermal resources and to expand their use beyond conventional frameworks. This session aims to bring together contributions addressing new tools, methodologies, and concepts for geothermal development across all temperature ranges. Topics of interest span through innovative exploration and monitoring techniques, numerical modelling, assessment of environmental impacts and subsurface interferences, and strategies for the sustainable management of geothermal systems throughout their operational life. Special emphasis is placed on emerging and non-conventional applications, such as repurposing of existing oil and gas wells and infrastructures, geothermal heat and energy storage, desalination, mineral extraction from brines, integration with data centres and other energy-intensive facilities, and hybrid systems within multi-energy networks. By bridging fundamental research and applied solutions, this session seeks to highlight the role of geothermal energy as a flexible resource supporting a cleaner and sustainable energy mix.