ALPHAXIOMS Geothermal News & Energy Research

University of Aberdeen and RGU join forces to accelerate geothermal energy research and heat-network deployment Image: Lucy Leiper, Director of Research, Innovation & Enterprise at the University of Aberdeen and Christina Laing, Business Development Manager at Robert Gordon University The University of Aberdeen and Robert Gordon University (RGU) have signed a Memorandum of Agreement to explore collaborative research, training and commercial activity in geothermal energy and low-carbon heating. This strategic partnership aims to combine subsurface expertise, drilling and modelling capabilities, supply-chain development, and skills training to accelerate geothermal deployment and support the just transition to net-zero heating across Scotland and beyond. Why this partnership matters for the geothermal sector Geothermal heat offers a predictable, baseload source of low-carbon thermal energy that can decarbonise district heating, industry process heat and building heating demand. Scotl...

Buech Energy Center: How a Large-Scale Geothermal Probe Field Will Transform Bern’s District Heating Introduction: A new chapter for urban heat supply in Bern In western Bern, the Buech energy center is pioneering a smart, circular approach to urban heating: capturing excess waste heat, storing it underground during warm months, and returning it to the district heating network when buildings need warmth. The recent completion of pilot geothermal probes, deep exploratory boreholes, and groundwater monitoring marks a major step toward a planned geothermal probe field of roughly 1,100 probes drilled to about 300 meters. This project demonstrates how geothermal probe fields and seasonal heat storage can unlock major efficiency gains when combined with waste heat utilization and a modern district heating system. Why Bern’s approach matters: combining waste heat utilization with seasonal storage Municipalities increasingly face two parallel challenges: reducing fossil fuel dependence and mak...

Novi Sad Moves Forward With Hybrid Geothermal-Solar District Heating Project in Mišeluk Novi Sad is advancing a new district heating project in Mišeluk that combines geothermal energy, natural gas, and solar technology into one hybrid system. The city-owned utility Novosadska toplana has launched a tender for the design and construction of the heating plant, with an estimated procurement value of RSD 892.5 million, or about EUR 7.6 million, excluding VAT. The project is designed to supply heat to residential, commercial, public, and sports facilities in the Mišeluk neighborhood on the right bank of the Danube. Although the area already has a district heating network, it currently lacks a local heat source, making the new plant an important step toward more stable and efficient heat supply. A Hybrid Approach to District Heating The Mišeluk heating plant will use a combination of geothermal energy, gas boilers, and solar technology. In its first phase, the facility will include a water-t...

How an Overlooked Geothermal Plant Got a Second Chance A struggling geothermal power plant in New Mexico has become a case study in what happens when modern subsurface modeling meets a neglected resource. Zanskar’s revival of Lightning Dock suggests that many conventional geothermal sites may still have untapped value if operators can find the right well placement and drilling strategy. Introduction For years, Lightning Dock looked like a classic underperforming geothermal asset: temperatures fell, output weakened, and the plant moved closer to uneconomic operation. But after Zanskar acquired the facility, drilled a deeper well, and applied advanced modeling, the site returned to full capacity and now produces far more electricity than it did before. That turnaround matters because geothermal energy is one of the few clean power sources that can run 24/7. If more existing fields can be repowered instead of abandoned, geothermal could grow faster without relying only on brand-new fronti...

ELC Electroconsult Wins Tanzania’s Ngozi Geothermal Drilling Contract Tanzania has taken another meaningful step toward commercial geothermal development after Italy’s ELC Electroconsult secured a contract to oversee exploratory drilling at the Ngozi geothermal field. The award marks an important milestone for the  Tanzania Geothermal Development Company Limited (TGDC) as the country works to unlock one of its most promising renewable energy resources. The contract is more than a routine consultancy assignment. It signals a deliberate push to turn geological potential into actionable project data, strengthen local technical capacity, and build the foundation for future geothermal power generation in Tanzania’s energy mix. Tanzania’s Geothermal Ambition Gains Momentum Geothermal energy has long been viewed as one of Tanzania’s most promising but underdeveloped domestic energy sources. The country sits within the East African Rift System, a geologically active zone that offers stro...

UPLIFT and MTD®: Unlocking More Heat from Existing Deep Geothermal Wells Deep geothermal must scale rapidly to supply reliable, low-carbon heat for cities and industry. The EU-funded UPLIFT project (Grant agreement ID: 101269511) and Fraunhofer’s Micro Turbine Drilling (MTD®) technology together target one of geothermal energy’s biggest practical barriers: insufficient flow and reservoir contact in drilled wells. By enabling rigless, precision side-drilling inside existing boreholes, MTD® and the UPLIFT consortium aim to increase produced water volumes, reduce exploration risk, and accelerate project timelines, creating a pragmatic pathway to cheaper, more dependable geothermal heat. Why improving existing wells matters for the heat transition Deep geothermal provides baseload, low-carbon heat but project economics hinge on fluid flow and reservoir contact. , Many projects underperform because single boreholes intersect limited permeable zones; drilling new wells is expensive and risky...