The Ugly Duckling of Renewable Energies? Examining the Framing of Geothermal Energy in German Media

Geothermal energy—despite its potential as a reliable source—has received limited media attention and is less familiar to the public than other renewable technologies. This study is part of a regional interdisciplinary research project and analyzes how geothermal energy has been framed in German news media over the past decade. A quantitative content analysis (n = 452) of the coverage of the five largest regional (focus on Saxony) and four largest national public and private media in Germany between March 2014 and March 2024 was conducted. The results show that coverage on geothermal energy has become more political and increasingly linked to the energy transition, while negative examples and risks associated with the technology receive less attention. Acceptance of geothermal energy in media discourse has grown, and forecasts on the technology are mostly positive. Political stakeholders dominate media coverage, whereas economic experts are mentioned less frequently, and scientists are underrepresented. Reporting on geothermal energy is mostly event-driven and focuses on regional projects. The technology remains rather poorly depicted, particularly regarding broader societal discussions on climate change or energy independence. The results demonstrate a prevailing lack of technological differentiation in media discourse which contributes to a blurred risk perception and limits the communicative potential of shallow geothermal energy as an ecologically sound alternative.