The Retrofit Revolution: How GreenFire Energy Is Unlocking Geothermal Power Without Drilling a Single New Well By: Robert Buluma While much of the geothermal energy sector has been focused on breakthrough drilling techniques—deeper wells, hotter reservoirs, and complex engineered systems—a quieter revolution has been unfolding in the background. Instead of chasing entirely new subsurface frontiers, one company has chosen a radically simpler question: What if the answer was already in the ground? GreenFire Energy is advancing a retrofit-first geothermal strategy that targets one of the most overlooked opportunities in the global energy transition: existing wells that are underperforming, depleted, or completely abandoned. Rather than drilling new holes into the Earth, the company is reusing the infrastructure that already exists—turning stranded assets into continuous sources of clean, baseload electricity. This approach is not just technically elegant. It may also be one of ...
Estonia is about to take a leap into the future of clean energy as Fermi Energia selects GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy's BWRX-300 small modular reactor (SMR) for deployment in the country by early 2030s. Out of the three SMR developers Fermi Energia received tenders from, GE Hitachi emerged as the winner with its cutting-edge BWRX-300 design.
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A rendering of a BWRX-300 plant (Image: GEH)
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This 300 MWe water-cooled, natural circulation SMR features passive safety systems and leverages the design and licensing basis of GEH's ESBWR boiling water reactor. The BWRX-300, which is currently undergoing a pre-licensing review in Canada and the US, is a game-changer in the energy sector with its exceptional safety, lower cost, and shorter build time. The reactor, much smaller than traditional boiling water reactors used in Europe, has already been selected for deployment by companies in Canada, Poland, and the UK.
"We are honored that our SMR technology has been selected by Fermi Energia to help Estonia fulfill its energy security and climate goals," says GEH President and CEO Jay Wileman. The BWRX-300, with its cost-competitive zero-emission generation, is the perfect solution for Estonia's energy needs.
Fermi Energia, founded by Estonian energy and nuclear energy professionals, has been working with GEH since 2019 and the two parties have entered into a teaming agreement to collaborate on licensing and supply chain development. With the support of GEH and a memorandum of understanding with several companies in Europe and beyond, the BWRX-300 is poised to revolutionize the energy sector in Estonia.
"We consider it realistic to produce reliable, clean, and affordable nuclear energy in Estonia by Christmas 2031," says Fermi Energia CEO Kalev Kallemets. However, the construction of a nuclear power plant in Estonia requires a decision from the parliament and the development of a national plan to find a suitable location for the plant, as well as the creation of nuclear energy legislation.
Despite the challenges ahead, the selection of BWRX-300 by Fermi Energia, along with Polish and Swedish companies, is a testament to the competence and supply chain of the technology. With the goal of producing clean energy for society and the country's climate goals, Fermi Energia is determined to bring this revolution in energy to life by 2031.
source: (world nuclear news)
#Femi Energia #Hitachi #Estonia
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