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Due to its high efficiency and zero direct greenhouse gas emissions, the direct utilization of geothermal energy could play a crucial role in addressing climate change. Low-enthalpy geothermal projects, such as geothermal heat pumps (GHPs), have the potential to contribute to greenhouse gases reduction and replace polluting systems like wood burning, which are extensively used in countries such as Chile. The implementation of this technology presents various challenges, encompassing not only economic and technical aspects but also cultural and social factors. This paper addresses the latter two, providing empirical findings from a social and qualitative perspective by examining three GHP projects in educational spaces in Chilean Patagonia. An inductive approach was employed to describe the social perception of GHP projects in three public buildings, specifically educational facilities, located in the Aysén region of Chile. The questions that guided the research were how users interact with technology in these environments and what factors influence their acceptance. Data were collected through various methods, including in-depth interviews and participant observation, with a focus on social perceptions and everyday practices. The paper argues that there is a general lack of information regarding GHP technology. This type of system is often perceived as an 'elegant' and almost 'untouchable' technology. Nevertheless, motivational factors such as preventing deforestation and reducing air pollution were identified as the primary drivers supporting this type of initiative. One of the cases studied, which demonstrated sustainability over time, revealed that the participants' main motivation was to see themselves as agents of change. This allowed them to build a coherent narrative around the project. Consequently, the cultural meaning attached to the new practice became central for change and sustained adoption of social practices. • There is a social distance between GHP technology and local communities. • There is a low level of information about geothermal energy. • Sustainable adoption of GHP requires cultural and social changes. • GHP projects require the development of new skills and monitoring activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Advances in new technologies and the desire to achieve a sustainable and safe energy supply, enable communities to transition from conventional to renewable resources, such as geothermal energy. Perception and acceptance amongst different audiences have a high impact on the feasibility of energy projects, which is an important aspect to analyze. For this reason, this study focuses on describing the level of awareness and acceptance of deep geothermal energy within an educated segment of the population in five European and American countries (Canada, Colombia, Chile, Belgium, and France) at different stages of geothermal development. This study was conducted through an online survey, which was targeted to post-secondary students and professionals. Some of the most significant conclusions are: (1) there is a high degree of awareness of geothermal energy among the respondents in Chile and Canada, a medium level in Belgium and France, and a low one in Colombia; (2) there is a favorable acceptance of a geothermal project in each country, even when hydraulic stimulation is considered; (3) environmental aspects and community safety are the most important issues that must be addressed to support a pilot geothermal project. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyzes local stakeholders' perceptions of the Tolhuaca geothermal exploration project in Chile from 2009 until its cancellation in 2016 for financial reasons. The research is based on a qualitative case study using focus groups and interviews to reconstruct local stakeholders' perception changes throughout the project. The results indicate that stakeholders' perceptions were not only influenced by the company's engagement activities, but also by the exploration project activities, and contextual elements. We conclude that understanding the interplay between these factors is crucial when planning the stakeholder engagement process of geothermal projects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We apply a measurement technique that utilizes thermal video of vapor-dominated volcanic plumes to estimate the HO gas flux at three degassing volcanoes. Results are compared with HO flux measurements obtained using other methods to verify the thermal camera-derived values. Our estimation of the HO emission rate is based on the mass and energy conservation equations. HO flux is quantified by extracting the temperature and width of the gas plume from the thermal images, calculating the transit velocity of the gas plume from the thermal video, and combining these results with atmospheric parameters measured on-site. These data are then input into the equations for conservation of mass and energy. Selected volcanoes for this study were Villarrica in Chile, Stromboli in Italy, and Santa Ana in El Salvador. HO fluxes estimated from the thermal imagery were 38-250 kg s at Villarrica, 4.5-14 kg s for Stromboli's Central Crater, and 168-219 kg s at Santa Ana. These compare with HO flux values estimated by other methods of 73-220, 3-70 and 266 kg s, at the three volcanoes, respectively. The good agreement between thermal image-derived results and those estimated by other methods seem to validate this method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights from the article: The implementation of such initiatives is a step in the right direction towards the objective of sustainable development and climate change mitigation and is a relevant example of Latin America's concrete actions regarding these topics. As an example, sustainable and circular use of biomass takes into account implementing novel biomass biorefinery processes first focusing on high-value-added products and marketable chemicals extraction, followed by biomaterials development and finally including the bioenergetic use of the residual biomass. In this sense, waste transport projects including smart and optimized routes in the cities and to the waste treatment plants, frequencies and real time movement monitoring are promoting a major effect on greenhouse gas emissions and global warming mitigation.