The SES conference series is a relatively new initiative and aims to bring together geoscientists working in CO2 storage, geothermal applications, deep earth storage solutions and related topics. To meet the challenges of present and future energy demand, the geosciences play an increasingly important role in the sustainable use of the Earth and its resources and in the conservation of our environment. Numerous technologies (storage of gases, geothermal, waste disposal, oil & gas, mining, etc.) use the subsurface – sometimes in synergy, sometimes in competition. SES 2017 seeks to address these challenges and promotes the development of applied geoscience and technology with regard to sustainable use of the Earth and its limited resources.