ALPHAXIOMS Geothermal News & Energy Research

Vigil Against Geothermal Power Plant in Varto Continues: A Struggle Between Energy Transition and Local Survival Introduction: When Clean Energy Meets Local Resistance In the highlands of eastern Turkey, in the district of Varto (also known as Gimgim), a quiet but powerful resistance is unfolding. Villagers have set up tents, organized rallies, and launched legal action against a planned geothermal power plant project that they fear could permanently alter their environment, livelihoods, and cultural landscape. While geothermal energy is widely promoted as a clean and renewable energy source, the case of Varto highlights a growing global tension: Can renewable energy projects still cause environmental and social harm at the local level? Since early 2026, the region has witnessed continuous protests, legal challenges, and a persistent sit-in vigil by residents opposing exploration and drilling activities scheduled for the area. The Project at the Center of the Conflict The contest...

Gallego’s Geothermal Gambit: The Bill That Could Unclog America’s Clean Energy Future As Permitting Delays Threaten the U.S. Geothermal Boom, Senator Ruben Gallego Pushes a High-Stakes Plan to Accelerate Federal Approvals and Unlock Next-Generation Energy America’s geothermal sector may finally be approaching its defining political moment. For years, geothermal energy has existed in the shadows of solar and wind—praised by scientists, admired by engineers, yet consistently overlooked by policymakers and investors chasing more visible renewable technologies. But beneath the deserts of Arizona, Nevada, Utah, California, and New Mexico lies an immense source of untapped thermal energy capable of delivering something the modern grid desperately needs: constant, 24/7 baseload clean power. Now, Washington appears to be paying attention. This week, Senator Ruben Gallego introduced the Geothermal Cost-Recovery Authority Act, legislation designed to strengthen America’s federal geothermal ...

HS Orka Launches Second Phase of Krýsuvík Geothermal Drilling Project in Iceland (2026 Energy Expansion Update) Second Phase of Exploration Drilling Begins in the Krýsuvík Area May 21, 2026 Construction work has begun on a new drilling pad in the Krýsuvík geothermal area after the municipality of Hafnarfjörður approved permits for two new exploratory wells north of Bleikhóll, near Kleifarvatn Lake. The first deep exploration well, drilled by HS Orka near Sveifluháls last summer, is already in place, and production testing on that well will begin next week. The purpose of the exploration program is to confirm the geothermal resource potential of the Krýsuvík area for: Hot water production for Hafnarfjörður and the Reykjavík capital region Electricity generation for Iceland’s national grid A future geothermal power plant in the area is considered strategically important for strengthening energy security in Iceland’s most populated regions. Two Wells From One Drilling Pad Earth...

MND Pushes Central Europe Toward a Geothermal Future with Landmark Košice Project Central Europe has just witnessed a major geothermal breakthrough. Czech energy and drilling giant MND has officially completed the drilling phase of one of the largest geothermal heating projects in Central Europe, marking a decisive moment not only for Slovakia’s energy future, but also for the wider European geothermal sector. Located in the city of Košice, Slovakia’s second-largest city, the ambitious geothermal development demonstrates how deep geothermal energy is rapidly transforming from a niche renewable resource into a strategic pillar of urban energy security, district heating, and industrial decarbonization. The announcement by MND revealed that three deep geothermal boreholes were successfully drilled to depths of up to 3.6 kilometers under difficult geological conditions. Once fully operational, the geothermal system could cover as much as 55% of Košice’s heat consumption — an extraordina...

XGS and Baker Hughes Push Geothermal Into the AI Era With Massive 150MW Meta-Linked Project in New Mexico The geothermal industry has officially entered a new phase — one where artificial intelligence, hyperscale data centers, and next-generation geothermal technologies are beginning to converge into a single industrial ecosystem. In one of the most significant geothermal-energy announcements of 2026, XGS Energy has partnered with Baker Hughes to accelerate development of a massive 150MW geothermal power project in New Mexico tied to the growing energy demands of Meta data center operations. The project is not merely another renewable energy development. It represents a major industrial test of whether advanced geothermal systems can reliably power the exploding AI infrastructure economy that is rapidly transforming electricity demand across the United States and the world. According to reports, the geothermal facility will provide electricity into the grid operated by Public S...