Energy is one of the largest costs — and carbon burdens — of museums. Galleries must remain at steady temperatures year-round, even as visitors and seasons fluctuate. For decades, this has meant relying on fossil-fuel heating and cooling systems. But a new generation of institutions is turning to a source as old as the Earth itself: geothermal energy.
In June 2025, Ciutat de les Arts i les Ciències in Valencia begun building the region’s largest geothermal plant to cool the Museu de les Ciències. The closed-loop system, with 32 wells reaching underground aquifers, will save an estimated 1 million kWh annually and cut 335 tons of carbon dioxide emissions.
Also in Spain, the Espai Cràter, has been integrating geothermal power since 2022. The museum, which sits at the foot of the Garrotxa Volcanic Zone Natural Park north of Barcelona, is dedicated to volcanology — and powered by it. Designed by BCQ Arquitectura Barcelona, the building integrates with the volcanic landscape, half-buried into the earth for thermal stability. Its geothermal installation includes 17 vertical wells, each 100 meters deep, paired with two heat pumps of 60 kWh each. This system meets all of the museum’s air conditioning needs, dramatically reducing reliance on conventional energy sources. The building itself becomes part of the exhibition: a living demonstration of volcanic energy harnessed for human use.
In Berlin, the Museum für Naturkunde — home to one of the world’s largest natural history collections — has piloted geothermal systems to stabilize climate conditions in sensitive exhibition halls. This not only lowers emissions but also protects millions of specimens, including its celebrated dinosaur fossils, from temperature fluctuations.
By tapping into the earth’s heat, museums are modeling how cultural spaces can align science, design, and sustainability. Geothermal systems show that the power beneath our feet can safeguard not just collections, but also our collective climate future.
NEXT IN Summit is the event promoted by ACCIONA Cultura that brings together international leaders in the cultural field to share experiences, discuss ideas and analyze the challenges that will shape the future of the cultural industry.