Not only landslides — the interests of the Geohazard Group’s members are diverse. Gianvito Scaringi represents the Czech Republic in the Management Committee of COST Action FOLIAGE, the European network for fostering the large-scale implementation of energy geostructures. Initiated in 2022, the network gathers together over 250 representatives from 35 European countries who collaborate on a common goal: unleashing the full potential of energy geostructures, making them a mainstream solution in buildings, boosting their energy efficiency and reducing carbon footprints.

Energy geostructures are a special type of ground heat exchanger installed within structures in contact with the ground, such as tunnels, retaining walls, and deep foundations. They have been studied extensively through pilot sites and computer simulations and have become a sufficiently mature technology. Yet, large-scale implementation is still hindered by both technical and non-technical challenges. These include the integration with other renewable energy sources, scaling from individual structures to geothermal district planning, and ensuring long-term sustainability in terms of environmental impact and energy performance. The lack of clear legislation, financial incentives, and standardization also limits the broader adoption of energy geostructures.

COST Actions are a interdisciplinary research networks that bring together researchers and innovators to investigate a topic of their choice. These networks typically include participants from academia, small and medium-sized enterprises, public institutions, and other relevant stakeholders. Open to all fields of science and technology — including emerging ones — they offer an inclusive, pan-European environment where individuals at all career stages can grow their professional networks and boost their careers. Learn more about COST — European Cooperation in Science and Technology — at cost.eu.

On June 26-27, 2025, the third Global Meeting of FOLIAGE was held in Perugia, Italy. It was a two-day event filled with engaging discussions, technical sessions, and collaborative planning. FOLIAGE consists of six working groups focused on key aspects of energy geostructure implementation — not only technical issues, but also case studies, dissemination, training, and education. The network places strong emphasis on supporting young researchers through training schools, international mobility opportunities, and financial support for presenting research at international conferences.

COST Action FOLIAGE will run until September 2026. Afterward, participants will continue their collaboration through research and training projects, as well as through the newly established International Society for Energy Geostructures (ISEG). A very recent and exciting outcome of FOLIAGE is the MSCA Doctoral Network GENIUS, which will soon begin training PhD students across Europe in Energy Geostructures Integration: Buildings, Infrastructure, and Underground Storage.