Global Geothermal Power: Policies, Funding, Wells, Strengths, Opportunities and Barriers Geothermal is moving into a broader investment cycle. In 2026, the story is no longer limited to volcanic power plants in a few classic markets; it now includes enhanced geothermal systems, closed-loop designs, district heating, superhot rock, lithium from brines and industrial heat. Across the United States, Canada, Germany, the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Iceland, France and Italy, the sector is being shaped by a simple question: who is de-risking the first wells, and who is ready to finance the next ones? United States: the next-generation testbed The United States has the broadest geothermal innovation ecosystem in this group, with a mature conventional base in the West and a fast-growing next-generation pipeline. The main policy signal in 2026 is the Department of Energy’s US$171.5 million funding opportunity for next-generation geothermal field-scale tests, exploration...
The geothermal project of Stadtwerke Neuruppin is expected to receive about 40% of its funding from the German Federal Government. This will help Neuruppin become largely independent of fossil fuels. The project will involve drilling to a depth of 1,700-1,800 meters, but this requires approval from the mining authority and the construction permit from the district.
At the New Year's reception of the Fontane city six weeks ago, Thoralf Uebach, managing director of Stadtwerke Neuruppin GmbH (SWN), reported on the ambitious geothermal project for which funding had already been requested. Now, the first step has been taken: in the presence of Mayor Nico Ruhle and Building Commissioner Jan Juraschek, the management of SWN received a grant of over €10 million from the Federal Office for Economic Affairs and Export Control. This amount represents about 40% of the total budget of €25.5 million for the geothermal project, and comes from the federal funding program "Efficient Heating Networks."
Thoralf Uebach said, "This means that we can largely become independent of fossil fuels." He also noted that SWN is one of the first companies to receive funding for such a project. According to Artur Dzasokhov, technical director of SWN, the idea of geothermal energy is not new, as the company has been working on this since 1987/88. However, previous projects of this kind were not economically viable due to the gas price. Since the events in Ukraine a year ago, many have started to think differently.
The company is confident that the project will be successful, as it knows what to expect underground. However, the company still needs to obtain approval from the mining authority and construction permit from the district. It will also need to demolish a building, affectionately called the "baracke", at the SWN site so that drilling can take place. During the drilling process, sound barriers and a drilling tower will be installed, and drilling is expected to take about six months.
Mayor Nico Ruhle believes that this project is an important step for the energy supply of the Fontane city and notes that despite the high cost, it will ultimately provide price stability for SWN customers. Wiebke Papenbrock, a member of the German parliament who supported the funding of the project, believes that it will be a flagship project that will have an impact beyond Neuruppin. Building Commissioner Jan Juraschek thinks that the project is an important step towards a more sustainable urban development. The heating supply is expected to begin in 2027.
Source:(Bundersverband Geothermie)
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