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When Siemens Bets Big, Geothermal's Industrial Era Begins

Siemens and Vulcan Energy: The Automation Backbone of Europe's Geothermal Lithium Revolution By Alphaxioms Geothermal Insights | April 2026 On 20 April 2026, Vulcan Energy Resources (ASX: VUL, FSE: VUL) announced the signing of a circa €40 million framework agreement with Siemens AG, appointing the German industrial giant as Main Automation Contractor (MAC) for its flagship Lionheart Project in Germany's Upper Rhine Valley. This announcement, which Vulcan describes as the final major supply agreement for Lionheart, deserves far more analytical attention than a routine procurement notice. It is, in fact, a milestone that illuminates the trajectory of geothermal energy as an industrial foundation not merely a power source  and carries instructive lessons for geothermal developers across every active rift zone on the planet, including the East African Rift Valley. What Lionheart Actually Is To understand the significance of the Siemens agreement, one must first appreciate what the...
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SCAN Drilling Campaign Maps Netherlands Geothermal Energy Potential Successfully

SCAN Drilling Campaign Completed: Unlocking Geothermal Potential Across the Netherlands The completion of the SCAN drilling campaign marks a defining moment in the Netherlands’ journey toward a cleaner, more sustainable energy future. Spanning over two years—from October 2023 to December 2025—the ambitious program delivered eight strategically placed exploratory wells across the country. What began as a mission to better understand the Dutch subsurface has now evolved into a cornerstone for the next generation of geothermal energy development. This campaign was never just about drilling wells. It was about answering one fundamental question: where, and to what extent, can geothermal energy be harnessed effectively in the Netherlands? With the operational phase now complete, the results are not only promising but transformative, offering clarity where uncertainty once dominated. A Nationwide Effort to Decode the Subsurface The SCAN program covered approximately half of the Netherla...

Indonesia Turns Geothermal Waste Heat Into Scalable Power

From Waste Heat to Power: Indonesia’s Lahendong Breakthrough and the Future of Geothermal Efficiency In the global transition toward clean, resilient, and sustainable energy systems, geothermal power has consistently stood apart. Unlike solar or wind, it does not depend on weather conditions. Unlike fossil fuels, it does not emit significant greenhouse gases. It is stable, reliable, and—perhaps most importantly—immensely underutilized. Yet even within geothermal, a quiet inefficiency has persisted for decades: waste heat . Now, Indonesia is rewriting that narrative. A landmark agreement between Pertamina Geothermal Energy (PGE), PLN Indonesia Power, and Perusahaan Listrik Negara (PLN) signals a pivotal shift—not just for Indonesia, but for the global geothermal sector. The trio has finalized electricity tariff terms for the Lahendong Bottoming Unit , a 15 MW geothermal expansion project that transforms previously wasted heat into usable electricity. This is not just another power p...

From Energy Poverty to Power Independence: Enfield’s Geothermal Revolution

Tiny North Carolina Town Takes a Big Step Toward Geothermal Energy By: Robert Buluma In the quiet rural landscape of , a bold energy revolution is quietly taking shape. What appears to be just another small American town is, in reality, positioning itself at the forefront of a transformative clean-energy movement—one that could redefine how underserved communities access power, reduce costs, and build resilience. At the heart of this transformation is a nearly $300,000 seed grant secured by . This funding marks the first tangible step toward deploying a neighborhood-scale geothermal system—also known as a thermal energy network—that promises to deliver heating, cooling, and hot water without reliance on fossil fuels. A Vision Born from Necessity For decades, Enfield has struggled with high energy costs, aging infrastructure, and systemic underinvestment. Residents routinely face electricity bills that can soar to unsustainable levels, especially during extreme weather seasons. But u...

Geothermal Lithium Extraction: Costs, Companies, Profitability Explained 2026

Geothermal Lithium Extraction: Costs, Companies & Profitability (2026) By: Robert Buluma 🔥 Introduction As the global transition to clean energy accelerates, lithium has become one of the most strategically important resources of the 21st century. It powers electric vehicles, grid-scale storage systems, and a growing ecosystem of battery technologies. Yet, traditional lithium extraction methods—hard rock mining and evaporation ponds—are increasingly under scrutiny for their environmental footprint, long development timelines, and geographic concentration. Against this backdrop, geothermal lithium extraction is emerging as a compelling alternative. By leveraging existing geothermal energy systems, this approach enables the simultaneous production of renewable electricity and lithium from subsurface brines. It represents a rare convergence of energy and mineral extraction—one that could reshape supply chains while reducing environmental impact. But beneath the promise lies a crit...

US House passes bill enabling oil well repurposing clean energy.

House Bill to Repurpose Oil Wells for Alternative Energy: A Turning Point in the Energy Transition The United States House of Representatives has passed a significant piece of legislation aimed at transforming the future of aging oil and gas infrastructure. The bill allows depleted and underutilized oil wells to be repurposed for alternative energy applications, marking a strategic shift in how fossil fuel assets are viewed in the broader energy transition. Instead of being abandoned as environmental liabilities, these wells are now being repositioned as potential gateways to cleaner and more diversified energy systems. This move reflects a growing global trend: the transition from fossil-fuel dependency toward integrated energy systems that maximize existing infrastructure while reducing environmental impact. The legislation is not just about energy policy—it is about reimagining industrial legacy systems as platforms for innovation. Reframing Oil Wells as Energy Assets, Not Waste ...

"Olkaria: Africa's Geothermal Giant, Still Searching for Synergy"

Olkaria Geothermal Field: Africa’s Energy Giant With Untapped Billions Beneath Deep within Kenya’s Great Rift Valley lies a geothermal powerhouse that has quietly redefined Africa’s energy landscape—Olkaria Geothermal Field. For decades, Olkaria has stood as a symbol of resilience, innovation, and baseload stability in a continent long challenged by energy insecurity. But here’s the uncomfortable truth:   Olkaria is not yet operating at its full potential. Beneath its steam fields, pipelines, and turbines lies a far more complex, under-optimized system—one that, if properly engineered and integrated, could unlock billions of dollars in additional value beyond electricity generation. This is not just a story about megawatts.   This is a story about missed integration, untapped resources, and the next frontier of geothermal dominance. 1. The Scale of Olkaria — Impressive, Yet Fragmented Olkaria is one of the largest geothermal complexes in the world, with Kenya’s total...