This general session of the Energy, Resources and the Environment (ERE) division provides an overview of its multi- and interdisciplinarity, which is essential to tackle challenges of the future. Beside others, this is to provide adequate and reliable supplies of affordable energy and other (geo-)resources, obtained in environmentally sustainable ways, which is the basis for economic prosperity, environmental quality and political stability. This session also features contributions of general interest within the ERE community, which are not covered by other ERE sessions. Aim of this session is to provide an overview of topics within the ERE domain, in particular for colleagues affiliated mainly with other divisions, who are interested in topics within ERE.

Geoscience underpins many aspects of the energy mix that fuels our planet and offers a range of solutions for reducing global greenhouse gas emissions as the world progresses towards net zero. The aim of this session is to explore and develop the contribution of geology, geophysics and petrophysics to the development of sustainable energy resources in the transition to low-carbon energy. The meeting will be a key forum for sharing geoscientific aspects of energy supply as earth scientists grapple with the subsurface challenges of remaking the world’s energy system, balancing competing demands in achieving a low carbon future.
Papers should show the use of any technology that was initially developed for use in conventional oil and gas industries, and show it being applied to either sustainable energy developments or to CCS, subsurface waste disposal or water resources.
Relevant topics include but are not limited to:
1. Exploration & appraisal of the subsurface aspects of geothermal, hydro and wind resources.
2. Appraisal & exploration of developments needed to provide raw materials for solar energy, electric car batteries and other rare earth elements needed for the modern digital society.
3. The use of reservoir modelling, 3D quantification and dynamic simulation for the prediction of subsurface energy storage.
4. The use of reservoir integrity cap-rock studies, reservoir modelling, 3D quantification and dynamic simulation for the development of CCS locations.
5. Quantitative evaluation of porosity, permeability, reactive transport & fracture transport at subsurface radioactive waste disposal sites.
6. The use of petrophysics, geophysics and geology in wind-farm design.
7. The petrophysics and geomechanical aspects of geothermal reservoir characterisation and exploitation including hydraulic fracturing.
Suitable contributions can address, but are not limited to:
A. Field testing and field experimental/explorational approaches aimed at characterizing an energy resource or analogue resources, key characteristics, and behaviours.
B. Laboratory experiments investigating the petrophysics, geophysics, geology as well as fluid-rock-interactions.
C. Risk evaluations and storage capacity estimates.
D. Numerical modelling and dynamic simulation of storage capacity, injectivity, fluid migration, trapping efficiency and pressure responses as well as simulations of geochemical reactions.
E. Hydraulic fracturing studies.
F. Geo-mechanical/well-bore integrity studies.

The preservation, protection, and fruition of cultural heritage are closely related to the scientific knowledge of the component materials, their history and surrounding environment, and how these affect the characteristics and transformation of historical objects, structures, and sites. Geosciences represent a valuable partner for studies in conservation science and archaeometry, providing a solid background for addressing a number of questions revolving around natural and artificial geomaterials (stones, ceramics, mortars, pigments, glasses, metals, etc.), their features and settings. This session welcomes contributions showcasing the application of geosciences to the following topics:
- properties, provenance, production, use, and durability of historical materials;
- weathering processes, simulations, modeling, vulnerability assessment, and risk scenarios;
- field and laboratory methods of analysis and testing, especially by non-destructive and non-invasive techniques;
- novel and sustainable methods and products for conservation and restoration;
- impact of environmental variables (related to microclimate, climate, climate change, and composition of air, waters, and soils) outdoors, indoors, underground, or underwater;
- identification of possible adaptation measures;
- hardware/software design for collecting and processing compositional and environmental databases.

This session examines the environmental impacts and opportunities arising from the global shift to renewable energy systems (RES), including solar, wind, and smart, decentralized energy solutions. As these systems expand, they bring significant shifts in land use and ecosystem dynamics, which pose challenges and opportunities for biodiversity conservation, ecosystem services, and long-term sustainability.
We invite research that examines:
• The environmental effects, trade-offs, and co-benefits of RES, particularly their impacts on hosting ecosystems (e.g., grasslands, arid environments, aquatic ecosystems) and human-made landscapes (e.g., arable land).
• Strategies for conserving biodiversity and enhancing ecological outcomes during the transition to renewable energy systems, including sustainable land use and land management approaches.
• Opportunities provided by RES to improve environmental co-benefits, such as promoting ecosystem services and maximizing techno-ecological synergies that enhance the sustainability of these systems.
• Methodological approaches, including remote sensing, modeling, and empirical field studies, to better understand and manage the impacts of energy transitions on ecosystems.
• The role of RES in promoting long-term sustainability through strategies that integrate technological innovation and ecological preservation.
We encourage abstracts based on empirical evidence, modeling, or framework-based approaches that propose solutions for the sustainable integration of renewable energy systems within local and regional environments.

Nature-based Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR) technologies are a vital component in the fight against climate change. As emphasized by the IPCC, large-scale CDR will be essential to achieving the goal of limiting global warming to 1.5°C, especially in offsetting emissions from sectors that are difficult to decarbonize. Nature-based solutions such as reforestation, soil carbon sequestration, and blue carbon ecosystems offer not only a means of removing CO2 but also deliver multiple co-benefits, including biodiversity enhancement, ecosystem restoration, and community resilience.

In addition to their carbon sequestration potential, nature-based CDR initiatives can be integrated into sustainable business models rooted in the principles of the circular economy. These models promote regeneration, restoration, and sustainable resource management, creating value while ensuring ecosystems remain resilient and productive. The co-benefits of these strategies extend beyond carbon capture, supporting ecosystems through improved soil health, water retention, biodiversity conservation, and sustainable land-use practices.

We invite contributions focusing on technical innovations for the sustainable implementation of nature-based climate solutions capable of removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere at a gigaton scale. We welcome case studies demonstrating how these implementations have progressed from Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification (MRV) to the voluntary Carbon Removal Market. Additionally, we encourage submissions exploring the integration of circular economy principles with CDR, as well as research assessing the co-benefits of CDR on ecosystem restoration, biodiversity protection, and broader environmental and social impacts. Join us in exploring how advancing nature-based CDR technologies can create a more sustainable, regenerative future while delivering significant climate benefits.

This session aims to present recent advances in the analysis of environmental and soil contaminations using Applied Geophysics, Remote Sensing and Artificial Intelligence.
Characterizing and understanding the surface and subsurface is a challenge for many scientific areas.
Applied Geophysics investigates underground using a variety of non-invasive, and non-destructive techniques such as ground-penetrating radar, magnetics, electrical resistivity tomography, electromagnetic induction, and seismics. Remote Sensing uses methods such as photogrammetry, LIDAR, GNSS, and satellite hyperspectral data to determine physical properties at a distance. Some remote sensing technologies can also provide information from the subsurface or interior of structures. Artificial Intelligence, namely Machine Learning, can be a useful tool to manage information using as input data provided by different methods, allowing the calculation of new contamination maps, that can help in the analysis of contamination areas.
Knowledge in these fields can be applied to a variety of research topics, in addition to laboratorial chemical analysis procedures, namely, to evaluate environmental pollutants (e.g. potentially toxic metals), and contributing to increasing knowledge about contaminated areas. When combined with other methods, they enable the development of integrated models of environmental management of contaminated areas, allowing the development of environmental risk maps, and contributing to the reduction of sampling and operational costs, as well as the reduction of assessment times in the management of contaminated areas.
The potential for replicability of this approaches is high, and can be applied in mines, landfills, industry and intensive agriculture.
This session will collect the contributions from Applied Geophysics, Remote Sensing, and Artificial Intelligence on the following topics:
- Environmental studies: characterization of the soil contamination by potentially toxic metals.
- Innovations in data acquisition, and processing of Geophysical, Remote Sensing and AI methods.

A wide range of geo-electromagnetic methods, including natural source magnetotelluric, time-domain, and frequency-domain controlled source EM, as well as DC resistivity and induced polarization are uniquely sensitive to the earth’s electrical properties and are capable of probing from shallow depths near the surface to even hundreds of kilometers into the Earth's crust. They are invaluable for revealing subsurface structures, fluid distributions, mineral resources, tectonic features, and even engineered infrastructure. Traditionally essential in resource exploration, geo-electromagnetic methods are now becoming increasingly relevant in addressing new global challenges related to energy systems, the impacts of climate change, environmental problems, and urban development and resilience.

This session serves as an annual platform for showcasing the latest advancements in geo-electromagnetic research. We encourage contributions from a broad range of topics, including methodological breakthroughs, novel field observations, theoretical advancements, and case studies. This year, we particularly welcome submissions that highlight innovative uses of geo-electromagnetic methods in emerging areas—whether through state-of-the-art instrumentation, unconventional applications, or studies with significant societal or environmental relevance.

Energy system modelling and integrated assessment approaches are critical tools for understanding and optimising the complex interactions within modern energy systems. This session will explore the significance of energy system modelling and integrated assessment in facilitating sustainable energy transitions.

The accurate representation of energy production, consumption, and distribution is indispensable. Energy system modelling and integrated assessment provide a holistic framework to analyse the intricate interplay between various energy sources, technologies, and policies. By simulating these interactions, stakeholders can make informed decisions that minimise environmental impact, enhance energy security, and promote economic viability.

In this session, we will discuss key components of energy system modelling and integrated assessments, including the impacts of systems retrofitting and integration of renewable sources like solar, hydrogen, wind and hydroelectric power, and geothermal energy. Additionally, the session will focus on the growing role of hydrogen as a promising key player in achieving net-zero emissions, exploring its potential in energy storage, transportation, and industrial applications. The session will also cover the combination of hydrogen with other renewable sources, small-scale energy generation technologies, and advanced grid management systems. Various modelling techniques can be discussed, including optimisation, simulation, scenario analysis, impact assessment, forecast energy demand, infrastructure requirements evaluation and the effects of policy interventions.

The urgent need for sustainable development strategies has amplified the importance of innovative tools that can evaluate the impact of industrial activities on ecosystems and human health. Integrated Assessment Models (IAMs) and Industrial Ecology (IE) tools such as Material Flow Analysis (MFA), Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), and Input-Output (IO) analysis are crucial for evaluating and mitigating environmental impacts. Despite their importance, the synergistic integration of these tools to provide a comprehensive perspective, in response to emerging research needs, is still relatively unexplored. This special session seeks to address this gap by examining the potential synergies between IAMs and IE tools, thus providing nuanced sustainability insights. Participants will engage in discussions about methodologies, case studies, and future trajectories for merging these analytical frameworks.
This session aims to share new tools and case studies to answer the following questions.
• What recent advancements have been made in the integration of IAMs and IE tools?
• What new insights can these integrated tools provide?
• What are the methodological inconsistencies that affect the accuracy of these tools?
Goal
• To explore the theoretical and practical aspects of integrating IAMs with IE tools
• To showcase successful case studies where integration has led to actionable sustainability insights
• To identify challenges and solutions in the integration process
• To foster a network of practitioners and researchers focused on this interdisciplinary approach
• To discuss policy implications and support mechanisms that enhance the integration of these tools for better decision-making
Scope
MFA, LCA, IO, IAM, prospective modeling

Net zero carbon emission goal has shifted focus from the conventional energy resources that were mainly hydrocarbon (oil and gas) and coal fields. Recently focus of Oil and Gas companies as changed to become a broad energy company. Scientific advances are being tried in the energy industry to commercially produce energy from wind, solar farms along with some of the historically known natural sources like hydro and thermal power. Energy landscape in future will primarily depend on the net zero policies and economically viable solutions for the energy resources.
Careful characterization of conventional oil and gas fields and mining areas with proper monitoring strategy is both required and mandatory for the economical extraction and development of the energy resources with adequate health, safety and environment (HSE) requirements. There are various Geophysical methods for the characterization and monitoring of these resources depending on the fluid fill and surrounding geological conditions.
We invite contributions from Geoscientist community with the case study or innovative research contributions highlighting safe and sustainable extraction of energy from Thermal, Hydro, Wind, and Solar farms. Also, we welcome contributions related to characterization, monitoring and safe abandonment of hydrocarbon fields or coal mines ranging from potential field methods, seismic, well logs, CSEM etc. to enrich and share their findings for the benefit of larger audiences in Geoscience communities. Please note that this session is on Energy, Resources and Environment, so we will be very happy to have diverse contributions related to different kind of energy resources and their effect on environment.

Geoethics is essential for tackling global human-caused changes. It integrates ethical considerations into geoscience, improving policy and decision-making. Geoscientists must provide accurate, transparent, and unbiased data to policymakers, ensuring decisions reflect environmental, social, and economic impacts. In times of rapid climate change, resource overexploitation, increasing risks, and environmental damages, geoethics promotes sustainable, just, and respectful geoscience practices. This framework encourages scientifically sound, socially responsible, and environmentally sustainable actions, building trust between scientists, policymakers, and the public through transparency, accountability, and community engagement. In practical terms, integrating geoethics into policymaking and decision-making involves:

a) Building Trust: Highlighting the importance of transparency, accountability, and community engagement in fostering trust between scientists, policymakers, decision-makers, and the public.
b) Transparent Communication: Clearly sharing scientific findings and uncertainties with all stakeholders to support informed and democratic decision-making.
c) Inclusive Practices: Involving local communities, indigenous peoples, and marginalized groups to ensure their voices are heard and their rights respected in geoscientific work.
d) Sustainable Solutions: Focusing on long-term sustainability over short-term gains to ensure resource extraction and land use do not compromise future generations' needs.
e) Interdisciplinary Collaboration: Working with other fields like sociology, economics, and political science to address complex environmental issues holistically.
f) Geoscience Education: Training young people to understand Earth system complexities and prepare the next generation of geoscientists to address global challenges.

By fostering a culture of ethical responsibility, geoscience can guide actions that mitigate adverse effects, promote resilience, and contribute positively to society. Ultimately, geoethics strengthens the capacity of geoscience to inform and influence policy, fostering a more sustainable and equitable future for all.
This session aims to collect and stimulate discussions about ideas, initiatives, project outcomes, tools (including new technologies), and case studies that highlight the positive contributions (as well as exemplify failures) of geoscientists in informing the decision-making and policy-making processes.

Addressing global environmental and societal challenges requires interdisciplinary, data-driven approaches. Today’s research produces unprecedented volumes of complex data and an increasing number of interactive data services, putting traditional information management systems to the test. Collaborative infrastructures are challenged by their dual role of advancing research and scientific assessments while facilitating transparent data and software sharing.

We invite abstracts from all data stakeholders that highlight innovative platforms, frameworks, systems, and initiatives designed to enhance access and usability of data for research on topics such as climate change, natural hazards, sustainable development, etc. We welcome presentations describing collaborations across national and disciplinary boundaries on infrastructure, standards, governance, best practices, and future directions for building trustworthy and interoperable data networks, guided by UNESCO’s Open Science recommendations, the FAIR and CARE data principles, that enable researchers worldwide to address pressing global problems through data.

This session aims to bridge the gap between academia and industry to address the complex challenge of emerging contaminants in the water cycle. By fostering interdisciplinary discussions and intersectorial collaborations, the session will explore sustainable remediation strategies and innovations in the water sector. The session welcomes contributions focusing on circular economy principles, including case studies of water reuse, emerging contaminants removal and recovery from water resources. It seeks to bring together experts from both academia and the industrial sector to share innovative approaches and practical solutions, fostering partnerships that drive progress in the sustainable management of water resources. We seek contributions that can highlight sustainable remediation, emphasizing the need to tackle emerging contaminants with innovative solutions that are scientifically sound, economically viable and sustainable from an environmental viewpoint. The goal is to stimulate a dialogue that not only advances scientific knowledge but also promotes actionable outcomes that benefit society and the environment. Contributions from the academic and industrial sector are welcome, ranging from innovative lab- and pilot-scale studies to computational approaches, innovative remediation case studies, sustainable remediation and water reuse. The session is promoted by the REMEDI project team (Grant ID: 956384), an EU-funded Horizon 2020 ITN focusing on innovative pharmaceutical wastewater treatment methods. REMEDI focuses on X-ray contrast medium agents and trains early stage researchers to address pharmaceutical water contamination, enhancing the topics mentioned above.

Climate study related experiments and observational stations are getting bigger and number of sensors and instruments involved is growing very fast. Large scale experiments like NEON have to deal with hundreds of sensors and instruments. The most effective way to manage such large installations is to incorporate all equipment in to a network. At this session we would like people to share their experience in establishing, maintaining, and managing a fixed environmental sensor networks on or near surface measurements (it does not cover remotely sensed data - satellite imagery, aerial photography, etc.). This session is open for all works about an existing system, planning a completely new network, upgrading an existing system, improving streaming data management, and archiving data.

The integration of geological and archaeological methodologies proves valuable for the study of human activity and landscape evolution, especially as the application of advanced analytical methods becomes more frequent. The formation of archaeological sites is closely coupled with geomorphological processes resulting in the deposition, preservation, reworking and exposure of sediments and remains of human activity. In addition to its anthropogenic record, an archaeological site can be investigated as an archive recording the interaction of fluvial, aeolian and tectonic events that operate on various temporal and spatial scales. However, despite the shared perspectives of archaeological and geomorphological studies, those two fields are not commonly integrated within a unified holistic framework, which limits their impact.

This session is open to a wide range of studies that integrate the study of geomorphological, sedimentological and environmental proxies at archaeological sites, alongside investigations that incorporate geological approaches to address archaeological and geomorphological questions. The goal is set to provide a platform for describing common challenges and achievements that may lead to synergistic outcomes and outline directions for future cooperation and for the establishment of a common language. The session is not restricted to any specific time period or geographical area, but rather wishes to highlight methodological novelties and common challenges shared by both disciplines.

Accurate and precise, long-term measurements of greenhouse gas (GHG) concentrations were an original cause for concern linking human activities to rapid, and so far, unceasing rise in global GHG concentrations. The resulting increases in global temperatures, sea-level, glacial retreat, and other negative impacts are clear. In response to this evidence, nations, states, and cities, industries and individuals have been accelerating GHG emission reduction and other mitigation efforts while working towards equitable development and environmental justice. Research advances have shown that GHG measurements and analyses are much more than merely harbingers of global warming. The urgency, complexity, and economic implications of the needed GHG emission reductions and other climate action demand strategic investment in science-based information for planning, implementing, and tracking emission reduction policies and actions. Several national and international efforts seek to enhance the capacity of nations, states, cities, and industries to target emissions reduction opportunities and track progress towards their goals. Success depends on the availability of measurements of atmospheric composition, GHG fluxes, and emission activity data in key GHG emission source regions and relies on a multi-tiered observing strategy involving satellite, aircraft, and surface-based measurements, as well as innovative data mining and analysis methods.

Since EGU18, this session has been a showcase for how scientific data and analyses are transformed into actionable information services and successful climate solutions for a wide range of user-communities. These methodologies must have the required temporal and granular details to target and track explicit emission activity where climate action is achievable.

We seek presentations from researchers, inventory compilers, government decision and policy makers, non-government and private sector service providers showing the use and impact of science-based methods of detecting, quantifying, and tracking GHG emissions, and, where possible, the resulting climate mitigation. These methods can involve direct-detection, inverse-modeling, and AI/ML data fusion/mining of statistical and observational activity data, as well as hybrid combinations of all these approaches.

Renewable energy has become new sources of electrical power. By their very nature, wind, solar, hydro, tidal, wave and other renewable forms of generation are dependent on weather and climate. Modelling and measurement for resource assessment, site selection, long-term and short term variability analysis and operational forecasting for horizons ranging from minutes to decades are of paramount importance.

The success of wind power means that wind turbines are increasingly put in sites with complex terrain, forests, or coastal and offshore regions that are difficult to model and measure. Major challenges for solar power are notably accurate measurements and the short-term prediction of the spatiotemporal evolution of the effects of cloud field and aerosols. Planning and meteorology challenges in Smart Cities are common for both. For both solar and wind power, the integration of large amounts of renewable energy into the grid is another critical research problem due to the uncertainties linked to their forecast and to patterns of their spatio-temporal variabilities.
We invite contributions on all aspects of weather dependent renewable power generation, including, but not limited to:
• Wind conditions (both resources, siting conditions and loads) on short and long time scales for wind power development, in different environments (e.g. mountains, forests, coastal, offshore or urban).
• Offshore wind development: interaction between atmosphere, sea and wind turbine/wind farms, for both bottom-fixed and floating wind, and its impact on marine environment
• Long term analysis of inter-annual variability of solar and wind resource
• Typical Meteorological Year and probability of exceedance for wind and solar power development
• Wind and solar resource and atlases
• Wake effect models and measurements, especially for large wind farms and offshore
• Performance and uncertainties of forecasts of renewable power at different time horizons and in different external conditions.
• Forecast of extreme wind events and wind ramps
• Local, regional and global impacts of renewable energy power plants or of large-scale integration.
• Dedicated wind measurement techniques (SODARS, LIDARS, UAVs, Satellite etc.)
• Dedicated solar measurement techniques from ground-based and space-borne remote sensing
• Tools for urban area renewable energy supply strategic planning and control
• AI and Machine Learning approaches for weather forecasting and its applications

This session addresses spatial and temporal modelling of renewable energy systems, both in a prospective as well as in a retrospective manner. Therefore, contributions which model the characteristics of future renewable energy systems are equally welcome as contributions assessing the characteristics of the past performance of renewable energies. Session contributions may reach from assessments of climate data based simulations of renewable generation, over assessments of land use implications of renewables, to economic assessments linked to spatial and temporal variability of renewables and full energy system model studies applied to understand energy systems with high shares of renewables.

Studies may for instance:
Show the spatial and temporal variability of renewable energy sources, including resource droughts and complementarity between technologies and locations.
Assess the resilience of energy systems to weather and climate extreme events, with a focus on infrastructure and resource adequacy, and analyze economic incentives to ensure reliable energy systems under current regulatory, market and tariff conditions.
Derive scenarios for the spatial allocation of renewable energies based on climatic, technical, economic, or social criteria.
Assess past spatial deployment patterns of renewables.
Assess past impacts on land cover and land-use, including impacts on biodiversity and other environmental indicators
Explore and quantify impacts of wind and solar PV power deployment on the social and natural environment in a spatially explicit way,including economic valuations of such impacts
Derive integrated scenarios of energy systems with high shares of renewables (Including systems from the local scale e.g. in form of local Energy Communities to the national or continental scale).

The objective of the session is to provide an insight into recent advances in the field of renewable energy system modeling. The session welcomes research dedicated to climatic and technical issues, assessments of environmental impacts, economic analysis of markets, policies and regulations, and forecasting applications , concerning renewable energy systems.

A worldwide transition towards “Net zero” requires decarbonization of diverse sectors including the electricity generation sector over the coming decades. On the supply side, renewable energy resources vary on a wide range of time scales, from minute-wise, seasonal, to interannual. In a changing climate, the patterns of renewable resources as well as their variability can also change. On the demand side, extreme weather and climate change are expected to strongly affect demand for energy, while unabated energy demand pathways can also make climate change mitigation more costly, increase pressure on renewable energy resources, and make navigating policy tradeoffs more challenging.

Furthermore, considerable uncertainty underlies prediction of long-term changes in the spatio-temporal pattern of renewable resources. Given that demand must be balanced by generation from largely renewable sources of electricity, there is a critical need for expanded multidisciplinary dialogue between the climate science and modeling communities and energy modeling and transition research groups. This session invites wide-ranging contributions that range across the strategic aspects of accelerating renewable energy transitions in this context, investigations of just energy transitions under climate change, lessons from climate modeling for demand or supply side challenges, techniques for balancing renewable generation with demand management options on various timescales, and new concepts and methods to address these challenges in the context of wide-ranging uncertainties in projecting the variables and scales driving energy systems impacts.

Studies may include (but are not limited to):

Implications of climate variability and change on the energy system and corresponding uncertainties

Energy system impacts of current and future projected variability of renewable resources, and technical approaches to balance this variability

Climate-related factors affecting energy demand, and effects of managing and reducing demand on managing low carbon energy systems as well as bringing about low-carbon energy transitions

Extreme events and spatio-temporal complementarities on both the demand and the supply-side affecting the energy system

Integrated assessment of supply and demand side approaches to low-carbon energy transitions
Spatio-temporal data needs from climate science and modelling to advance understanding of impacts of renewable energy supply and demand under climate change.

Clean-Energy Transition is a central concept to energy and climate policies, and in this context the need for geothermal resources utilization is accelerating. Geothermal energy can be extracted from different, often complex, geological settings (e.g., fractured crystalline rock, magmatic systems, or sedimentary basins). Current advancements also target unconventional systems (e.g., enhanced geothermal systems, super-hot, pressurized and co-produced, super-critical systems) besides conventional hydrothermal systems. Optimizing investments leads also to the development of associated resources such as lithium, rare earth elements and hydrogen.

Such a variety of conditions requires a joint effort for understanding and modelling geological systems that are specific to each resource. The sustainable use of geothermal resources requires an advanced understanding of the properties of the entire system at every stage of geothermal field development. This includes, but it is not limited to geophysical properties, thermo-/petro-physical conditions, fluid composition, structural and hydrological features, and engineering considerations. The main challenges faced are, among others, exploration of blind systems, reservoir stimulation, environmental concerns, induced seismicity, multiphase fluid and scaling processes, monitoring.
The integration of analogue field studies with real-life production data, from industrial as well as research sites, and with numerical models, is a hot topic worldwide. We aim to gather field, laboratory and numerical experts who focus their research on geothermal sites, to stimulate discussion in this multidisciplinary applied research field. We encourage contributions from experts from a broad range of disciplines such as (hydro)geologists, geochemists, (geo)physicists, surface and subsurface engineers. The aim of this session is to gather inputs focusing on the interplay between different approaches. We welcome contributions from different research areas ranging from field data collection and analysis to laboratory experiments (e.g., geophysical surveys, structural characterization, geomechanical, geochemical experiments), and from data management and organization to numerical modeling.

The session welcomes contributions about shallow geothermal energy applications, including traditional closed- and open-loop borehole heat exchangers as well as so-called energy geostructures.
Different types of analysis and approaches are relevant to this session aiming to engage discussions on successful and less successful experiences at different scales:
Small scale (system): spanning from the evaluation of ground thermal properties to the mapping of shallow geothermal potential or local thermal interferences, from energy storage and innovative materials to sustainability issues and consequences of the geothermal energy use, from the design of new heat exchangers and installation techniques to the energy and thermo-(hydro-) mechanical performance of energy geostructures (e.g. thermo-active foundations, walls, tunnels).
Large scale (city or larger): the sustainability of subsurface water and energy resources may be jeopardized by human activities as well as by climate change. Relevant studies in densely urbanized areas unraveling the impact on/by groundwater characteristics may include: 1) monitoring evidence of physical-chemical-biological changes associated with subsurface warming, 2) elucidate interactions between shallow geothermal systems (and other heating sources), 3) assessment of the potential and sustainability of shallow geothermal energy at the city scale.
Contributions based on experimental, analytical, numerical modelling and artificial intelligence techniques are welcome as well as interventions about legislative and social-economic aspects.

This session has wide scope, focusing on mine water geothermal systems, including both open and closed-loops (i.e., borehole heat exchangers). Contributions are invited on (but not limited to) resource estimation, geological studies, thermos- and hydro-physical parameter analysis, numerical/analytical static and transient analysis of thermal-hydraulic-mechanical-chemical processes, case studies, experimental data, integration of surface demand and subsurface supply, thermal response testing and shallow geophysical approaches. We also welcome applications in direct heat use, heat pumps, heating and cooling, and underground thermal energy storage.

This session emphasizes on the investigation of deep geothermal reservoirs with targets encompassing petrothermal, enhanced geothermal, hydrothermal, and close loop systems. We particularly welcome contributions on multi-disciplinary and cross-scale analysis, ranging from experimental studies to numerical analysis of the relevant THMC processes. The session additionally features contributions related to reservoir exploration, monitoring and operation in fractured and faulted reservoirs, including the assessment of their sustainable usage as well as of potential hazards such as induced seismicity.

In the evolving landscape of sensor networks, the demand for energy-efficient and autonomous systems has never been more critical. The ability to power sensors through energy harvesting and off-grid energy production, for example, from hidden and untapped hydro resources, is pivotal for the continuous and autonomous operation of monitoring systems in remote and challenging environments. To push the boundaries of current research and development in this field, we invite the submission of abstracts for research papers that explore innovative solutions, technologies, and methodologies in energy harvesting and off-grid energy production to enhance self-powered sensors.
Topics of Interest:
We are seeking original research contributions that address, but are not limited to, the following topics:
1) Energy Harvesting Technologies:
* Hydro, solar, wind, thermal, and kinetic energy harvesters
* Novel materials and devices for efficient energy conversion
* Hybrid energy harvesting systems
* Development of electromagnetic and piezoelectric harvesters
2) Off-Grid Energy Production:
* Micro and nano-scale energy generators
* Autonomous energy systems for remote sensor networks
* Integration of renewable energy sources in sensor networks
3) Self-Sustaining Sensor Networks:
* Design and optimization of energy-autonomous sensors
* Power management strategies for off-grid sensor systems
* Case studies of self-supplying sensor deployments in challenging environments
4) Applications and Case Studies:
* Environmental monitoring in remote areas
* Industrial IoT and smart agriculture applications
* Healthcare monitoring in off-grid settings

This session is an initiative from the H-HOPE Horizon project: https://h-hope.eu/

Water is one of the most essential needs for life but more than one billion people live without an adequate resource of drinking water. This represents an important warning indicating why we should be very sensitive and conscious in using this important source of life. Water is a critical resource, not only for our direct consumption but also for nearly every product we use and consume. As an example, agriculture is the largest consumer of water, with extensive use in irrigation, livestock maintenance, and food processing. On the other hand, the energy sector also has a high water footprint because water resources represent important energy sources not only to produce but also to store thermal energy. To this regard, the geopolitical developments from February 2022 clearly indicated the need to accelerate and increase efforts to make the energy supply more independent and sustainable.
This session aims at developing an interdisciplinary research related to the appraisal and management of water resources. This includes the use of sustainable water not only for domestic and agricultural uses, but also as a source of energy for space heating and cooling as well as for thermal energy storage in aquifers.
Expected contributions may cover recent developments and projects aimed at a more conscious and sustainable management of the water resources, focusing on energetic purposes from agriculture to space heating and cooling which include the thermal energy production (e.g., open loop systems) and the underground storage (e.g., ATES, aquifer thermal energy storage).

Hydropower is a mature and cost-competitive renewable energy source, which helps stabilize fluctuations between energy demand and supply. The structural and operational differences between hydropower systems and renewable energy farms may require changes in the way hydropower facilities operate to provide balancing, reserves or energy storage. Yet, non-power constraints on hydropower systems, such as water supply, flood control, conservation, recreation, navigation may affect the ability of hydropower to adjust and support the integration of renewables. Holistic approaches that may span a range of spatial and temporal scales are needed to evaluate hydropower opportunities and support a successful integration maintaining a resilient and reliable power grid. In particular, there is a need to better understand and predict spatio-temporal dynamics between climate, hydrology, and power systems.

This session solicits academics and practitioners contributions that explore the use of hydropower and storage technologies to support the transition to low-carbon electricity systems. We specifically encourage interdisciplinary teams of hydrologists, meteorologists, power system engineers, and economists to present on case studies and discuss collaboration with environmental and energy policymakers.

Questions of interest include:

- Prediction of water availability and storage capabilities for hydropower production

- Prediction and quantification of the space-time dependences and the positive/negative feedbacks between wind/solar energies, water cycle and hydropower

- Energy, land use and water supply interactions during transitions

- Policy requirements or climate strategies needed to manage and mitigate risks in the transition

- Energy production impacts on ecosystems such as hydropeaking effects on natural flow regimes.

This session has the support of the a) Cost Action : Pan-European Network for Sustainable Hydropower (PEN@Hydropower), and b) European Energy Research Alliance (EERA), that established the joint program “Hydropower” to facilitate research, promote hydropower and enable sustainable electricity production. Further information can be found here:
https://www.pen-hydropower.eu/
https://www.eera-set.eu/eera-joint-programmes-jps/list-of-jps/hydropower/

Geophysical fields such as wind, solar power or river discharge are known to exhibit extreme variability across a wide range of space-time scales. Such behaviour significantly affects energy harvesting from all these renewable energy sources. The extreme variability and intermittency are actually intrinsic features of renewable energy that require a better understanding in a context of rapid growth and increasing share in the energy mix at global scale. Scaling laws in general are a powerful tool to better understand, analyse, and simulate the underlying extremely variable processes and their non-linear interactions.

This session will bring together scientists and practitioners who aim to better measure, understand and model the extreme variability of geophysical fields and its impact on renewable energy production. Contributions addressing one or several of the following topics are especially targeted:
- Novel high spatial and/or temporal resolution techniques for measuring geophysical fields that are used as resources for renewable energy production
- Novel modelling or characterization tools of the variability of geophysical fields ranging from mm/ms scale to regional / annual scale using various approaches (e.g. scaling, (multi-)fractal, statistic, deterministic, numerical modelling…)
- Novel approaches to better understand and characterize how extreme variability is transferred to power production.

Geodynamic and tectonic processes play a crucial role in shaping the structural and thermal configuration of the lithosphere, influencing the distribution of magmatic, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks. Consequently, these processes are also responsible for the heterogeneous distribution of critical subsurface resources, such as metals, rare earth elements, geothermal energy, and natural hydrogen, all essential for the energy transition. Geophysical methods provide us with a present-day snapshot of the long-term geological and structural evolution, as well as insights into short-term deformation, ultimately helping in underpinning large-scale exploration programs to avoid adverse effects on the environment; however, these methods are limited in resolution and can be costly.
Researchers studying the subsurface have identified the natural processes responsible for the formation of these resources, but significant gaps remain in our understanding of when and where the necessary conditions for their formation occurred within the Earth. Furthermore, extracting subsurface resources requires detailed knowledge and understanding of the tectonic evolution and the resulting stress field, whether the rock naturally possesses porosity, permeability, and fractures, or if and how engineering techniques could be used to improve the productivity of these systems.
This session aims to close research gaps between geodynamic processes and the formation of georesources. We invite contributions on observational data analysis, numerical modeling, laboratory experiments, and geological engineering, with a particular emphasis on studies that integrate multiple approaches/datasets.

Storage of energy (e.g., hydrogen, heat) and carbon dioxide in subsurface geological formations is of key importance in the transition to a carbon-neutral economy relying on renewables-based power and heat generation. The suitability of subsurface storage sites depends on hydromechanical properties of the reservoir and its confining units, and integrity of seals due to induced thermal, mechanical, hydraulic and chemical changes. Secure subsurface storage, as well as public acceptance of key enabling technologies, requires abundant geological knowledge, routine monitoring and sound evaluation of potential risks. This session offers a platform for interdisciplinary scientific exchanges between different branches of storage expertise, and aims to address challenges concerning the storage of fluids in geological reservoirs from core- to field-scale. This session invites submissions encompassing theoretical analyses, laboratory experiments, numerical modeling and field testing in advancing understanding of multiple physics involved in subsurface storage. Case studies and operational projects integrating different elements of the storage chain, as well as field projects focusing on geological energy/carbon storage, are particularly welcome.

Relevant topics include:
• Regional and local characterization of storage formations, caprocks, and fault structures, and their short- and long-term physical and chemical behaviour during injection and storage operations
• Evaluation of existing infrastructure and fluid injection strategies for effective subsurface storage
• Geophysical, geomechanical and geochemical monitoring and measurements for safe and cost-efficient storage
• Coupling of different energy storage types in a carbon-neutral power system
• Heat exchange systems, including aquifer thermal energy storage systems
• Techno-economics and public perception of energy storage systems


Suitable contributions can address, but are not limited to:
• Field monitoring techniques and fit-for-purpose testing technologies aimed at characterizing storage sites and behaviour of injected fluids
• Laboratory experiments investigating fluid-rock interactions
• Evaluation of caprock and fault stability and wellbore integrity, and associated leakage potential and induced seismicity
• Numerical modelling of migration, containment and geochemical reactions of injected fluids, and injectivity and pressure response of reservoirs

Geoscientific knowledge is essential to investigate safety requirements for the construction of a geological or surface disposal facility for radioactive waste at a specific selected site. Safety requirements include i) isolation of the nuclear waste from humans and the accessible biosphere, ii) containment by retention and retardation of radionuclides, iii) limited water inflow to the geo-engineered facility and iv) long-term geological stability of the site. For this reason, relevant topics included in this session, but not limited, are:
• Water-rock interactions, flow and transport studies in hydro(geo)logical site characterization
• Constraints on kinetics of water-rock interactions for ambient/elevated temperature, through data-model comparison
• Investigations on flow and transport in host rocks, soils and surrounding aquifers through groundwater dating and tracing of natural study cases
• Thermo-hydro-mechanical-chemical (THMC) processes with implications on radionuclide migration and multi-barrier system performance, radionuclide-rock interaction
• Characterization of natural and repository-induced bio-geo-chemical effects
• Linking hydrosphere, geosphere and biosphere in long-term evolution studies, including determining the rate of internal and external geodynamic processes and their effect on various sub-compartments of the disposal system (e.g., permafrost phenomenology, erosion, landscape evolution, effects of climate change)
• Development of new methodologies for site characterization and monitoring
• Data digitization/management and parameter collection
Contributions on the above topics can include all aspects covering lab-scale experimentation, large-scale experiments in underground research laboratories, information from site characterization campaigns, observation of natural analogues, physics- and data-driven modeling and code development. In this context, site characterization campaigns and natural analogues are particularly relevant in the up-scaling of data in space and time that were obtained on laboratory and/or in underground research laboratories (URL’s), and as such test future scenarios of long-term evolution.

The successful implementation of safe deep geological disposal of nuclear waste and other long-lived waste is one of the most pressing environmental challenges in several countries worldwide. Site investigation and selection are primarily geoscientific tasks that require collaboration of different disciplines, like geophysics, hydrogeology, geochemistry, mineralogy, geomechanics, material science, and geological as well as THMC modelling. The development of DGRs also involves the integration of technical designs, evolving regulatory frameworks, and social acceptance considerations.

Barrier integrity is a crucial aspect for the assessment of nuclear waste disposal. Numerical simulations, in conjunction with experimental studies are an integral part of safety and environmental-impact assessment. Reliable comparative analyses of potential technological options require coupled THMC models capturing the particularities of each rock type and associated repository concept. Structural as well as process complexity are met by data scarcity and variability, necessitating the treatment of uncertainties and variability. The session provides a platform for the exchange on the following topics:
- THMC characterization of materials in natural or engineered barriers in lab- or field-scale experiments
- Hydro-mechanical behaviour of materials with extreme hydraulic properties (e.g. low permeability, high suction) and ranging from ductile viscopolastic salt rocks to quasibrittle fractured rock masses
- Hydraulic and chemical behaviour of geologic and geotechnical barriers
- Computational methods, models and uncertainty quantification for barrier integrity assessment in multi-barrier systems
- Geotechnical aspects of repository construction, operation, and post-closure, e.g. monitoring methods, excavation and support, retrieval/recovery, etc.
- Minimally invasive characterization of geology and underground installations using geophysical and geohydrological methods

Contributions can include lab-scale experimentation, underground research laboratories, observation of natural analogues, physics- and data-driven modelling and code development.
Furthermore, the session invites contributions addressing regulatory challenges, public outreach programs, lessons learned from national and international DGR projects, the need for transparent communication to ensure public confidence, and the relevance of geoscientific fundamentals in ensuring the safety of nuclear waste disposal.

Thermal Energy Storage (TES) is crucial for an efficient energy supply and achieving a low-carbon energy balance. TES provides flexible storage capacities and cycles, serving as a cross-sector technology that integrates heating, cooling, and electricity.

This session is dedicated to Underground Thermal Energy Storage (UTES) technologies, their performance and engineering, and new insights into related heat transport processes in the subsurface. In particular, the focus is on Aquifer Thermal Energy Storage (ATES), Borehole Thermal Energy Storage (BTES), Mine Thermal Energy Storage (MTES) and related ground-based variants such as pit storage, cavern storage and artificial water-gravel storage basins. This session aims to overcome technical obstacles concerning the design and sustainable operation of TES. We want to improve our understanding of any UTES-related thermal, hydraulic and other environmental effects.

In a broader context, we invite contributions that explore ways to enhance the social acceptance of UTES and integrate various renewable energy sources, such as geothermal, solar, and waste heat, into UTES technologies. This session aims to provide an overview of current and future research in the field, encompassing any temporal or spatial scale. Accurate characterisation of subsurface flow and heat transport, based on observations of induced or natural variations in the thermal regime, is essential in both research and practice. We seek contributions that offer new insights into experimental design advances, reports from novel field observations, and demonstrations of sequential or coupled modelling concepts. Key focus areas include the seasonal and long-term development of thermal and mechanical conditions in aquifers, heat transfer across aquifer boundaries, and the role of groundwater and geothermal energy in UTES. These aspects are crucial for predicting the long-term performance of heat and cold storage and production, as well as for integration into urban planning and policy making. We also invite hydrogeological studies that use heat as a natural or anthropogenic tracer to enhance thermal response testing or improve our understanding of relevant transport processes in aquifers.

Many countries aim to achieve Net Zero emissions by the middle of this century requiring a dramatic increase in renewable energy uptake. However, unlike fossil fuels, renewable energy has challenges with seasonal intermittency, resulting in a lack of supply (when resource is scarce or demand is high) or a waste of excess heat or power (when resource is plentiful, but demand is low). As renewable energy implementation accelerates, there is an urgent need for developing reliable energy storage methodologies that better integrate low-carbon resources, and balance the distribution of energy networks.
Compared with traditional battery storage, underground energy storage has attracted relatively less attention. Underground spaces, including caverns, pores within reservoir rocks and aquifers, legacy mine shafts/workings, and tunnels can be effectively used to store different forms of energy (e.g. thermal, mechanical, and gas). Underground energy storage systems have great potential to provide a stable, green, and low-cost solution to balance energy supply and demand, and enhance renewable energy efficiency and utilisation: strategically contributing towards the green transition of energy sectors. They also provide comparatively large-scale storage capacity for minimal surface land take, so are more secure and face reduced competition from alternative and comparatively valuable land uses.
Underground energy storage (UES) systems include aquifer thermal energy storage, underground hydrogen storage, compressed air energy storage, underground pumped hydro storage, underground gravity energy storage, and other innovative approaches. Considerable progress has been made in these technologies in recent years; however, there are still engineering challenges and scientific questions to be solved in developing reliable and safe UES, such as the evolution of geological, geophysical, and geochemical properties during long-term energy storage and engineering disturbances, integrity and durability of underground energy storage structures, interaction between the engineered system and geological environments, and prediction and prevention of underground dynamic disasters like earthquakes during UES construction and operation.

As the global demand for carbon neutrality intensifies, CO2 geological sequestration has emerged as a key method for mitigating carbon emissions. This process involves the long-term storage of CO2 in deep geological formations such as depleted oil and gas reservoirs, saline aquifers, and unmineable coal seams. While the core of CO2 sequestration lies in the safe and permanent storage of carbon, recent advancements suggest that its potential extends far beyond carbon management alone. The coupling of CO2 geological sequestration with other subsurface technologies—such as energy storage, brine extraction, geothermal development, and underground waste disposal—offers a multidimensional approach to resource utilization and environmental sustainability. The session on CO2 Geological Sequestration and Beyond aims to delve into the synergies between CO2 sequestration and these emerging technologies. By exploring the possibilities and feasibility of coupling these technologies, the sub-forum seeks to foster discussions on how integrated subsurface solutions can contribute to achieving zero carbon goals while simultaneously addressing global energy and resource challenges.

Reducing the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere with a leakage-free geostorage solution for CO2 sequestration is of great importance. Mafic and ultramafic materials (basalts and peridotites) are promising storage rock reservoirs with highly reactive surfaces that provide divalent cations involved in rapid carbonate mineralization reactions occurring within months of injection. Although it is potentially safer than storage in conventional deep sandstone acquirers, the technology of carbon sequestration in mafic and ultramafic rocks is still in its infancy with a few pilot and industrial-scale sites (e.g., Iceland and Washington, USA), and involves many processes at multiple scales, such as reactive fluid flow, weathering, and reaction kinetics.

We invite contributions related to mineral trapping and fracturing in mafic and ultramafic rocks. This session seeks contributions covering multi-scale and various methodologies to broaden our comprehension on CO2 storage, ranging from field observations, microstructural experiments, geochemical analyses to numerical modelling.

To achieve climate goals, the subsurface offers great opportunities for the large-scale storage of fuel-based energy carriers (UHS), heat (UTES), mechanical energy (CAES), green-house gases (CCS) and wastewaters. All these activities have a direct impact on the shallow/deep subsurface environment, as they can cause physical, chemical and microbiological changes in the underground reservoirs. Failure to understand, predict, monitor and mitigate its consequences can have significant negative implications for the use of the subsurface for energy transition purposes. Processes such as consumption and contamination of the stored hydrogen by biogeochemical reactions (e.g. dissolution, reprecipitation (clogging), souring) are examples of how the integrity and properties of the reservoir, as well as that of the facilities, can be affected. These processes, in turn, can reduce the storage performance and seriously affect its safety, health, environment and economics. These risks can greatly impact the societal acceptance of these – still developing – technologies, which are otherwise so important for achieving climate goals. One of the greatest difficulties in understanding and studying these processes is the limited availability of knowledge and data.
This session invites studies on the physical, chemical and microbiological processes that might influence subsurface energy transition activities. We encourage not only studies that increase the knowledge about these processes, but also monitoring and mitigation measures or best practices. Modelling, laboratory and (screening) field studies are welcome.

Transitioning towards renewable energy requires innovative energy storage solutions that are crucial in optimizing energy use. Mine Thermal Energy Storage (MTES) is a technology that utilizes abandoned or repurposed mines for storing excess energy (heat and cold). This session aims to bring together researchers, industry experts, and policymakers to discuss recent advances, challenges, and opportunities in the field of MTES.

We invite contributions that explore various aspects of MTES, including, but not limited to:
- Case studies and pilot projects demonstrating the challenges, feasibility, and economic viability.
- Hydrogeological, geochemical, microbiological, geotechnical, and thermal dynamics of mines for energy storage applications.
- Integration with renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, geothermal energy, surplus industry heat, heat networks, etc.
- Innovative designs and technological developments in MTES systems.
- Impact on groundwater systems and thermal dynamics, including potential for thermal pollution or water contamination.
- Mine water usage and mine water geothermal energy (MWGE)
- Environmental and socio-economic impacts of MTES implementation in mining regions.
- Policy frameworks, regulatory considerations, and pathways to market.

The session will provide a platform for interdisciplinary discussions that bridge geoscience, engineering, environmental studies, and energy policy. By looking at both theoretical and practical perspectives, we aim to push the boundaries of MTES research and contribute to the global agenda for sustainable energy solutions.

The growing demand for raw material, coupled with the need to reduce the environmental footprint of the resource sector, highlights the importance of accurately characterizing both primary (ore) and secondary (recycled) material streams.

Improved efficiency requires detailed resource data to (1) effectively concentrate and extract valuable materials, (2) minimize and manage waste, and (3) reduce the total energy consumption and CO2 footprint. Advances in digitalisation and automatisation offer solutions to these challenges, through robotic data-collection platforms, data-driven resource, and process modelling tools.

These technologies facilitate real-time, precise decision-making, improving the efficiency of exploration, mining, and recycling processes while contributing to a more sustainable circular economy.

This session will explore cutting-edge mineral exploration and resource characterisation tools, including techniques that integrate multi-scale, multi-source, and multidisciplinary approaches. These include, but are not limited to, X-ray sensors (e.g., XRF, XRT), spectroscopy and hyperspectral techniques, LIBS, electromagnetic, seismic, and potential-field geophysics, combined with machine learning, AI models, and efficient mechatronic solutions.

Topics of interest include:
- Field based and analytical approaches to understand and map resources at multiple scales (e.g. geophysical and/or geochemical mapping, isotopic characterization, digital outcrops and hyperspectral imaging);
- Non-destructive techniques, featuring core scanners, in-line sensor systems, and the use of ground-based and airborne sensors for precise and efficient resource identification and characterisation;
- Automated, real-time data processing that optimize ore sorting, processing, and recycling;
- Data-driven quantification and predictive modelling of mineral systems and contained resources;
- Innovative methods for data integration and visualization from diverse sources to enhance accuracy and efficiency of resource characterization.

By bringing together experts from various disciplines, this session aims to foster collaboration and inspire innovative approaches that will shape the future of sustainable resource exploration and management.