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Showing posts from January 22, 2023

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BLM Utah 2026 Geothermal Lease Sale Opens New Energy Opportunities

By Robert Buluma Alphaxioms
BLM Utah 2026 Geothermal Lease Sale: What It Means for U.S. Geothermal Development The Bureau of Land Management’s Utah 2026 Geothermal Lease Sale is a significant signal for the next phase of U.S. geothermal development. As federal agencies continue to prioritize renewable energy on public lands, this project highlights both the practical mechanics of geothermal leasing and the broader policy direction supporting domestic clean energy expansion. For developers, investors, land managers, and energy analysts, the sale offers an important case study in how geothermal projects move from planning into commercial opportunity. Geothermal energy has long been one of the most promising yet underutilized renewable resources in the United States. Unlike solar and wind, geothermal can provide steady baseload power regardless of weather or time of day. That makes it especially valuable in power systems that need reliability, grid stability, and long-duration decarbonization. A lease sale like the ...
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"GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy, OPG, SNC-Lavalin and Aecon Sign Historic Contract for Deployment of Groundbreaking Small Modular Reactor at Darlington Nuclear Project Site"

By Robert Buluma Alphaxioms
image source:(unsplash.com,Jakob Madsen) GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy (GEH), in partnership with Ontario Power Generation (OPG), SNC-Lavalinand Aecon, has signed a contract for the deployment of a BWRX-300 small modular reactor (SMR) at OPG’s Darlington New Nuclear Project site, marking the first commercial contract for a grid-scale SMR in North America. This groundbreaking agreement, through which GEH will provide the reactor design, encompasses a comprehensive range of project activities, including design, engineering licensing support, construction, testing, training and commissioning. Jay Wileman, President and CEO of GEH, stated, "This contract is an important milestone and solidifies our position as the leading SMR technology provider. We aim to deliver the first SMR in North America and, in doing so, lead the start of a new era of nuclear power that will provide zero-emission energy generation, energy security and energy reliability around the globe. We can’t express our appre...
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"Revolutionary Sustainable Investment: The Emergence of the Solidarity Financial Trust of Public Infrastructure NA-SA IV"

By Robert Buluma Alphaxioms
The Atucha plant site (Image: Nucleoelectrica Argentina) A financial trust has been opened in Argentina to support sustainable investment in two nuclear energy projects. Investments made in the new Solidarity Financial Trust of Public Infrastructure NA-SA IV will go to enable the licence extension for Atucha I as well as the construction of a dry storage facility for used fuel. The trust was opened on 24 January by Atucha's owner, Nucleoelectrica Argentina SA (NA-SA), with Nación Bursátil as well as Banco de la Provincia de Buenos Ares and Macro Securities. The financial firms will make placements for retail investors to invest Argentine pesos from a minimum of USD100 equivalent and receive a return of 2% per year. NA-SA told World Nuclear News that the trust was set up for a total amount of USD600 million across six tenders. This would cover both the projects, which are estimated at USD463 million for the licence extension of Atucha II and USD137 million for the dry storage facili...
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"Saudi Aramco and Terra Drone partner for a revolutionary approach to oil and gas inspection"

By Robert Buluma Alphaxioms
Oil giant Saudi Aramco is investing in Japanese drone company Terra Drone to create a subsidiary for  ... [+] TERRA DRONE Saudi Aramco, the world's leading oil producer, is making a multi-million dollar investment in Japanese drone and air mobility technology company Terra Drone as it seeks to fall in line with Saudi Arabia's long-term initiative to reduce the nation's dependence on hydrocarbons. The companies announced late Tuesday that through its $200 million venture capital arm, Wa'ed Ventures, Saudi Aramco is investing $14 million in Terra Drone which, in turn, will use the money to create the subsidiary Terra Drone Arabia. This move represents a significant step forward for both companies, as Terra Drone Arabia will provide oil-gas inspection services for Saudi Aramco while at the same time generating local jobs and accelerating development of the drone industry in the Middle East. The new subsidiary offers an opportunity for Terra Drone, one of the top two drone ...
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"Diablo Canyon Nuclear Plant: Will it Survive Beyond 2025?"

By Robert Buluma Alphaxioms
Diablo Canyon (US Nuclear Regulatory Commission/PG&E) PG&E, a Californian utility company, had submitted an application to renew the operating licenses for its pressurized water reactors at the Diablo Canyon plant in 2009. However, in 2018, the company withdrew the application after the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) approved a joint proposal from the company together with labor and leading environmental organizations to close the plant at the end of its current licenses. The proposed closure date was set for 2024 for Unit 1 and 2025 for Unit 2, as it was believed that the plant's output would no longer be required as California focused on an energy policy centered on efficiency, renewables and storage. But, grid reliability issues have prompted a rethink on the plant's early closure. On October 31st, last year, PG&E formally asked the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to resume its review of the license renewal application for the Diablo Canyon pla...
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"Fortum seeks to extend operating license of Finland's oldest nuclear power plant until 2050"

By Robert Buluma Alphaxioms
Units 1 and 2 of the Loviisa plant (Image: Fortum) The Loviisa power plant, boasting two state-of-the-art VVER-440 type pressurized water reactors, was the inaugural nuclear power facility in Finland and continues to furnish over 10% of the nation's electricity. Unit 1 of Loviisa commenced commercial operations in 1977, with unit 2 following suit in 1981. These units' operating licenses were renewed in 1998 and 2007 respectively. Fortum, the company operating the facility, submitted an application to TEM in March 2022 to extend the operating licenses of both units until 2050. The Finnish government is currently assessing Fortum's application, soliciting statements from various authorities, organizations, and municipalities in the affected region and providing citizens with an opportunity to voice their opinions. The government will make its decision on the operating license based on these statements. STUK, the regulatory body overseeing the facility, stated that Fortum has ...
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"French Senate Approves Accelerated Construction of Nuclear Facilities: A New Era of Nuclear Power on the Horizon?"

By Robert Buluma Alphaxioms
The French Senate (Image: senat.fr) The French Senate has given its stamp of approval to a draft bill that seeks to expedite the construction of new nuclear facilities near existing sites and the operation of existing ones. The bill, which passed with a resounding 239 votes in favor and only 16 against, was adopted during its first reading in the Senate. The deliberation of the bill began on January 17th and concluded with a vote on January 24th. The bill includes several key provisions, including the removal of the goal to reduce nuclear's share of France's electricity production to 50% by 2035. Instead, nuclear's share will now be maintained at "more than 50%" of electricity production by 2050. Additionally, the bill includes the inclusion of small modular reactors (SMRs) as potential reactor types to be constructed. The bill also establishes "a specific procedure for compatibility of urban planning documents" with a view to the construction of new rea...
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"Uganda Launches Controversial $10 Billion Oil Drilling Program in Kingfisher Field"

By Robert Buluma Alphaxioms
Image source: (Unsplash.com-Zbynek burival) The Kingfisher field, a verdant and bountiful oil reserve located beneath the tranquil waters of Lake Albert in western Uganda, has officially been commissioned for drilling as the country embarks on a $10 billion scheme to develop its oil reserves and construct a colossal pipeline to transport the crude to international markets via an Indian Ocean port in Tanzania. This ambitious endeavor, which has incited the ire of environmental groups, is expected to yield 40,000 barrels of oil per day at its peak and Uganda's first oil is anticipated to flow in 2025, almost two decades after the reserves were first discovered. The Kingfisher field, operated by the state-owned China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC), is part of a larger scheme that aims to tap into the estimated 6.5 billion barrels of crude under the lake, of which about 1.4 billion are recoverable. The reserves are expected to last up to 30 years, with production peaking at ...
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"Containment Building Completed: A Revolutionary Achievement at the Zhangzhou Nuclear Power Plant Unveiled

By Robert Buluma Alphaxioms
The completed outer dome at Zhangzhou unit 1 (Image: CNNC) The outer dome of the containment building of unit 1 of the Zhangzhou nuclear power plant in China's Fujian province has been completed, marking a significant milestone in the construction of this revolutionary power source. The Zhangzhou 1 unit is the first of two Hualong One units being built at the site, and its completion has sparked curiosity and anticipation among industry experts and energy enthusiasts alike. But what exactly is the Hualong One, and what makes it so special? This advanced nuclear reactor design, developed by China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC), is the product of decades of research and development, and is considered to be the most advanced and safest nuclear technology in the world. It boasts a host of cutting-edge features that set it apart from traditional nuclear reactors, including enhanced safety systems, improved fuel efficiency, and a compact design that allows for easy construction and ...
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"Revolutionizing the Future of Sustainable Transport: PUNCH Group Secures €40m in Funding to Optimize Hydrogen Engine Technology"

By Robert Buluma Alphaxioms
  image source:(unsplash.com-Precious Madubuike) The PUNCH Group, a Belgian-based leader in the design of propulsion and control systems for hybrid and electric vehicles, has been bestowed a generous €40m grant from the European Investment Bank (EIB) to further advance its cutting-edge hydrogen engine technology and hasten the transition to zero-emission transport. This substantial investment will empower the company to enhance the capabilities of its hydrogen engine, enabling it to conduct research, development, and innovation activities at its headquarters in Turin, Italy and Strasbourg, France. Guido Dumarey, the founder, owner, and CEO of the PUNCH Group, remarked on the significance of this funding, stating, "The EIB's support will be a crucial element in realizing our vision of sustainable mobility for all. We aim to expand our technological expertise in the field of electric and hydrogen propulsion, and we believe in the immense potential of hydrogen engines, particular...
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"Oil and Renewable Energy Collide: UAE Appoints Controversial Leader as President for Upcoming Climate Summit"

By Robert Buluma Alphaxioms
image source: (unsplash: zbynek Burival) The United Arab Emirates has appointed Sultan al Jaber, the head of the national oil company ADNOC, as the president for the upcoming COP28 climate summit set to take place in Dubai later this year.  Al Jaber is also the UAE's special envoy on climate change and plays a crucial role in the country's goal of reaching net-zero emissions by 2050, which makes him a highly controversial choice for the role. As the CEO of Abu Dhabi National Oil Co., Al Jaber oversees the pumping of nearly all the crude oil in the UAE, which produces about 3.2 million barrels of oil per day.  However, it should be noted that Al Jaber is also the chairman of the UAE's largest renewable energy company, Masdar, which has the capacity to produce 20 gigawatts of clean power and plans to invest billions of dollars to increase its capacity to 100 gigawatts globally this decade, which is about double the renewable energy that the U.K. can produce today.  The COP2...
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"Revolutionary Breakthrough: NRC Certifies First-Ever Small Modular Reactor Design in US, Unleashing a New Era of Clean Energy!"

By Robert Buluma Alphaxioms
(source: VOYGR™ SMR power plant) NuScale Power "A new era of clean energy has officially arrived as the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has issued a groundbreaking rule making that allows utilities to reference NuScale's Small Modular Reactor (SMR) design when applying for a combined license to build and operate a reactor. This is not just any reactor, but an advanced light-water SMR with each power module capable of generating 50 megawatts of emissions-free electricity. But that's not all, NuScale's VOYGR™ SMR power plant can house up to 12 factory-built power modules that are about a third of the size of a large-scale reactor. Imagine a power plant that leverages natural processes, such as convection and gravity, to passively cool the reactor without additional water, power, or even operator action. A true game changer in the energy industry. The NRC accepted NuScale's SMR design certification application back in March 2018 and issued its final technical revi...
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"Unlocking the Hidden Power: The Intertwined Relationship of Water and Wind Energy"

By Robert Buluma Alphaxioms
Photo Credit: Unsplash.com The movement of water in water bodies, particularly in oceans and rivers, plays a crucial role in the generation of wind energy. The wind is caused by the unequal heating of the Earth's surface, which leads to the creation of pressure gradients that drive air masses to move from high pressure areas to low pressure areas. Water bodies, particularly the oceans, have a significant impact on the Earth's climate and weather patterns, and this in turn affects the wind patterns. The ocean plays a crucial role in generating wind energy because it has a much higher heat capacity than land. As the sun's energy heats the ocean, the water temperature increases, which in turn causes the air above the ocean to also heat up. As the air above the ocean rises, it creates a low pressure area, which leads to the development of wind. The wind then blows towards the land, where it is used to generate electricity through wind turbines. Rivers also play a significant ro...
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Plum IV and CTR’s Geothermal Critical Minerals Deal Takes Shape

By Robert Buluma Alphaxioms
Plum Acquisition Corp. IV and  Controlled Thermal Resources Outline a Large-Scale Geothermal and Critical Minerals Platform Plum Acquisition Corp. IV (“Plum IV”) and Controlled Thermal Resources Holdings Inc. (“CTR”) are moving toward a proposed business combination that would create a public company focused on one of the most ambitious geothermal and critical minerals developments in the United States. The combined entity is expected to trade on Nasdaq under the pro forma ticker CTRH, reflecting a platform built around clean baseload power, lithium recovery, and broader critical minerals production. The investor presentation dated August 2026 frames the transaction around CTR’s Hell’s Kitchen project in Imperial County, California, which is presented as a strategically positioned resource opportunity with energy, minerals, infrastructure, and permitting advantages.   At the center of the presentation is a clear message: this is not just a power project, and it is not j...
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SECI Invites Geothermal Agencies for Resource Assessment and Power Development in Andaman & Nicobar Islands

By Robert Buluma Alphaxioms
SECI’s Geothermal EOI for Andaman & Nicobar Islands: What It Means for India’s Next Frontier in Clean Power The Solar Energy Corporation of India’s EOI for geothermal resource assessment and development in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands is a notable signal that India is widening its renewable-energy playbook beyond solar and wind. For developers, consultants, and investors, this tender is less about a single procurement and more about a strategic entry point into one of India’s most technically intriguing clean-energy frontiers. Why This EOI Matters SECI has published Tender ID SECI000268 under reference SECI/C&P/EOI/17/0003/26-27 for the “Identification and Capability Assessment of Agencies for Geothermal Resource Assessment, Exploration, Development, and Utilization of Geothermal Power Plant in UT of A&N Islands.” The document indicates that the initiative is meant to identify agencies with capability across geothermal resource assessment, exploration, development, and...
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Iceland Drilling, Pertamina Strengthen Geothermal Super Hot Rock Collaboration

By Robert Buluma Alphaxioms
Iceland Drilling and Pertamina Drilling Strengthen Geothermal Collaboration: A New Platform for Super Hot Rock Development The global geothermal industry is entering a period in which drilling capability, resource knowledge and international collaboration are becoming increasingly important. As countries look for reliable, low-carbon sources of electricity and heat, geothermal energy is moving beyond conventional developments toward more technically challenging resources, including deeper reservoirs and Super Hot Rock (SHR). A new collaboration between Iceland Drilling Company Ltd and Pertamina Drilling Services Indonesia (PDSI) highlights this transition. In August 2026, Iceland Drilling and Pertamina Drilling Services Indonesia officially signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at strengthening cooperation in geothermal drilling services. The agreement brings together two organisations from countries with exceptionally strong geothermal credentials: Iceland, with decade...
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EGS Market Size and Investment Outlook

By Robert Buluma Alphaxioms
Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS) Market Size and Investment Outlook to 2034 Enhanced Geothermal Systems are at an inflection point. For years, EGS sat in the “promising but pre‑commercial” category of clean technologies, constrained by drilling cost, subsurface risk, and limited policy attention. That picture is now changing as next‑generation geothermal developers raise larger rounds, sign serious offtake agreements, and move projects from concept to execution.   At the same time, global demand for firm, low‑carbon power is rising faster than conventional geothermal can supply. Thermal plants are retiring, grids need 24/7 clean electricity, and policymakers are discovering that weather‑dependent renewables cannot carry the entire load alone. EGS is emerging as one of the few technologies capable of delivering baseload clean power using a resource available almost everywhere: deep, hot rock. Current EGS Market Size – Small but Strategic In absolute terms, the EGS market is s...
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Deep Geothermal Drilling Preparation for Renewable District Heating

By Robert Buluma Alphaxioms
Deep Drilling Preparation for Geothermal Energy: The Erdwärme Breisgau Project The Erdwärme Breisgau geothermal project has received approval for its next phase, allowing Badenova and Herrenknecht to begin preparing a deep-drilling site near Hartheim in Baden-Württemberg, Germany. The partners plan to invest approximately €60 million to explore a geothermal reservoir located around 3,200 metres underground and develop a heating plant for regional district heating.  Why Deep Drilling Matters for Geothermal Heating Deep geothermal energy can provide a stable, renewable source of heat for district-heating networks. Unlike solar and wind power, which depend on weather conditions, geothermal heating can operate continuously when the underground reservoir and surface infrastructure are technically and economically viable. The Erdwärme Breisgau project is designed to investigate a hot-water reservoir beneath the Hartheim area. The plan involves drilling two directional wells: one producti...
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AFK Geothermie launches €65M dublette drilling to heat 1,200 homes

By Robert Buluma Alphaxioms
AFK Geothermie launches second dublette drilling in Aschheim , pathway to 1,200 geothermal heat connections Summary AFK Geothermie has begun preparing the drill site for a second deep geothermal dublette near Aschheim. Drilling is scheduled to start in November at depths up to 2,600 meters. The project aims to supply up to 1,200 residential connections in Aschheim, Feldkirchen and Kirchheim with district heating from January 2028, expanding an established field first tapped in 2008. Total investment is around €65 million, combining public grants, municipal contributions, company equity and long-term loans. Why this matters now The AFK project is a practical example of how municipal-scale geothermal systems move from demonstration to scale-up. As European policymakers push for decarbonized heating, replicable, well-financed geothermal projects that integrate with existing district heating networks are becoming critical. The Aschheim dublette highlights common technical, financial and ...
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If You Had $1 Billion for Geothermal, Where Should You Invest?

By Robert Buluma Alphaxioms
If You Had $1 Billion for Geothermal in 2026, Where Wouldn’t You Invest? Image: A thematic image of a drilling rig on a geothermal, well pad Geothermal is becoming one of the most interesting corners of clean energy, but that does not mean every market deserves your capital. In 2026, the smartest geothermal investors are not asking where the hottest rocks are, they are asking where geology, contracts, policy, and execution line up well enough to justify real money. The real investment test If you had $1 billion to deploy in geothermal, you would not start with hype. You would start with bankability, because geothermal is a business of drilled wells, long timelines, heavy upfront costs, and a very unforgiving path from theory to cash flow. A project can look excellent on a resource map and still underperform badly if permitting drags, community consent is weak, tariffs are mispriced, or the grid cannot absorb the power. That is why this article focuses on where you would not put capita...
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Geothermal heat pumps for universities: campus decarbonization, industrial heat pumps, and state grant funding

By Robert Buluma Alphaxioms
Massachusetts’ $23M Push: How Geothermal, Industrial Heat Pumps and Efficiency Grants Can Transform Campus Decarbonization Image: MIT, Cambridge  Massachusetts’ recent award of approximately $23 million in decarbonization implementation grants to public universities and state facilities is more than a set of individual projects — it’s a practical blueprint for how public-sector institutions can accelerate fossil-fuel retirement, reduce operating costs, and scale up low-carbon heating technologies. The grant round, made through the Department of Energy Resources’ Leading by Example (LBE) Decarbonization Implementation Grant (DIG) program, funds a range of measures from campus-scale geothermal systems to industrial heat pumps, air-source heat pumps, building envelope upgrades, and rooftop solar. Together the projects demonstrate how targeted public investments can unlock larger capital programs, yield sizeable greenhouse gas (GHG) reductions, and create replicable models for universi...
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Geothermal Drilling Cost Per Well: U.S. and Global Benchmarks by Country

By Robert Buluma Alphaxioms
Geothermal Drilling Cost Per Well: U.S. and Global Benchmarks by Country Geothermal drilling cost per well varies widely because no two projects face the same depth, geology, reservoir temperature, or drilling risk. In the United States and other major geothermal markets, costs can range from modest amounts for shallow residential boreholes to several million dollars for deep power-generation wells. A single “average” price is therefore misleading. The most useful way to understand geothermal drilling cost is to look at project type, depth, and country together, then compare those figures against the conditions that drive them. What A Geothermal Well Includes A geothermal well is more than a hole in the ground. It is a highly engineered underground asset that must be drilled, cased, cemented, tested, and often completed under demanding temperature and pressure conditions. For residential systems, the well or borehole is part of a ground-source heat pump loop field. For power projects, ...
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Texas Geothermal Energy Growth: RRC Permits, Geopressured Storage, and Shallow Well Expansion in 2026

By Robert Buluma Alphaxioms
Geothermal Energy Gains Ground in Texas Under RRC Leadership Texas is better known for oil and gas, but over the last three years the state has rapidly expanded its geothermal footprint under the regulatory oversight of the  Railroad Commission of Texas (RRC) . From permitting deep geopressured wells for long-duration energy storage to a surge in shallow closed-loop ground-source systems used for heating and cooling, geothermal technologies are moving from pilot projects into commercial-scale development. The RRC’s transfer of geothermal jurisdiction from the  Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) in September 2023, combined with carefully calibrated rules and a permissive permitting pathway, have helped accelerate deployment while preserving environmental and safety safeguards. This article examines the technical and regulatory developments that underpin the growth of geothermal energy in Texas, assesses commercial opportunities and constraints, and outlines the o...
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