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Showing posts from February 19, 2023

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Next-Gen Geothermal Funding 2026: VCs, Banks, Government Capital

By Robert Buluma Alphaxioms
Who Is Really Funding Next-Gen Geothermal in 2026? Next-generation geothermal has moved beyond laboratory research into a capital-intensive commercialization phase. In 2026, the most important financing is no longer coming from one investor category: venture capital funds are financing drilling, subsurface modelling and hardware; strategic energy companies are providing equipment, project access and market credibility; banks are beginning to lend against contracted projects; and governments are absorbing exploration and first-of-a-kind technology risk. The strongest financing activity is concentrated in the United States and Canada, but Europe is becoming increasingly important through Germany-based deployment, European Union grants, UK innovation support, and strategic participation from European energy companies. The central investment question is changing from “Can this technology work?” to “Can the developer deliver repeatable, financeable projects at commercial cost?” The 2026 fun...
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The first prototype of Siemens Gamesa largest wind turbine is now fully installed

By Robert Buluma Alphaxioms
The future of wind energy is looking bigger and better than ever before! Rasmus Hvidbjerg Jensen, blades project manager, has revealed some exciting details about the development of the blades for the latest wind turbine project. And the best news? The first prototype of our largest wind turbine has been fully installed! source image: (siemens Gamesa) Jensen's team has been working tirelessly to develop and deliver five blades to the turbine project, and they have finally achieved their goal. This is a major milestone for the project, and the implications are huge. But what makes these new blades so special? According to Jensen, they are longer and bigger than their predecessors, but that's not all. There are more engineers working on technology development feeding into the next and new blade designs than there are engineers working on the design of the blades themselves. This means that the future of wind energy is in the hands of some of the brightest and most innovative mind...
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"Nuclear Energy: The Resurgence of a Reliable, Clean, and Cost-effective Power Source"

By Robert Buluma Alphaxioms
Nuclear energy, once viewed with apprehension by many, is making a comeback in the energy sector. There are several reasons for this resurgence, including its ability to provide reliable power, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and decrease dependence on fossil fuels. In this article, we will explore these reasons and examine why nuclear energy is becoming an increasingly attractive option for meeting our energy needs. (image source : chargiang core) Firstly, nuclear energy is a reliable source of power. Unlike renewable energy sources such as wind and solar, nuclear power plants can operate continuously, providing a steady stream of electricity. This makes nuclear energy an excellent choice for base-load power, which is the minimum amount of electricity needed to meet the demands of a region. Additionally, nuclear power plants can operate for decades without requiring significant maintenance or repairs, making them a dependable source of energy over the long term. Secondly, nuclear ene...
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DOE Accelerates U.S. Floating Offshore Wind Deployment

By Robert Buluma Alphaxioms
The US Department of Energy (DOE) is leading the charge towards a future of clean, affordable energy with a massive new investment in floating offshore wind technology. The DOE's groundbreaking plan to advance offshore wind transmission planning, research and technology, and partnerships has just been unveiled as part of the Biden-Harris Administration's Floating Offshore Wind Shot Summit. With the vast majority of America's offshore wind resources located in deep-water areas that require floating platforms, the potential to bring clean power to millions of American homes and businesses is staggering. (imagesource:energypressstaff) These new actions support the ambitious goals of the Administration's Floating Offshore Wind Shot to reduce the cost of floating offshore wind energy by more than 70% by 2035 and deploy 15 gigawatts of floating offshore wind by 2035. This coordinated effort will position the US to lead the world in floating offshore wind technology, create th...
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KenGen Kenya and European Investment Bank's partnership: Advancing Sustainable and Reliable Energy in East Africa

By Robert Buluma Alphaxioms
 KenGen Kenya, a leading power producer in East Africa, has been making strides towards the provision of sustainable and reliable energy for the region. One of its most significant partnerships has been with the European Investment Bank (EIB), which began with the co-financing of the Olkaria II power plant project, generating 105MW of clean energy. image source:KenGen This joint effort between EIB, the World Bank, and KfW Development Bank, along with KenGen Kenya, was a resounding success, and paved the way for other significant projects to be initiated. The Olkaria IV and Olkaria I unit 4 & 5 projects were some of the most noteworthy, with the 280MW project being the world’s largest Geothermal Power Project of its kind. This ground-breaking project has been a game-changer in the power sector, and its success has been attributed to the close collaboration between the partners involved. The European Investment Bank's involvement in the KenGen projects has been significant, with ...
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Containment structure for Changjiang 3 nears completion

By Robert Buluma Alphaxioms
China has done it again! The China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) has announced the installation of the inner dome at unit 3 of the Changjiang nuclear power plant, located in the stunning Hainan province. This comes just a few days after the outer dome was successfully installed at Zhangzhou unit 1, another Hualong One unit. CNNC plans to have both units 3 and 4 fully operational by early 2027, and it seems like they are on track to achieve that. The steel inner dome in place at Changjiang 3 (Image: China Huaneng) This impressive inner dome - with a diameter of 46.8 metres, a height of 23.4 metres and a total lifting weight of 518 tonnes - was lifted into place using a 3200-tonne crawler crane. The successful installation of this steel dome, marking an "important milestone node in the construction of nuclear power projects", will play a critical role in ensuring the integrity and leak tightness of the reactor building, and containment of radioactive substances. China Hua...
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Support for the restart of Japanese reactors reaches an all-time high, according to poll

By Robert Buluma Alphaxioms
It's official: the tide has turned in Japan's nuclear energy debate! For the first time in over a decade, a majority of respondents in the Asahi Shimbun's annual survey are clamouring for the country's nuclear power plants to be restarted. And the reason for this seismic shift in public opinion? Look no further than the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which has caused energy costs to skyrocket and forced the Japanese to rethink their energy policies. Tokyo Electric Power Company is awaiting regulatory approval to restart units 6 and 7 at its Kashiwazaki-Kariwa plant (Image: Tepco) In the Asahi Shimbun's latest survey, a whopping 51% of respondents voiced their support for resuming operations at the country's nuclear reactors. This marks a significant departure from the past, when only about 30% of respondents expressed their backing for nuclear energy. The remaining 42% of respondents, meanwhile, felt that it was best for the reactors to remain offline. It's wo...
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Siting permit secured for new Slovak plant

By Robert Buluma Alphaxioms
  Jadrová Energetická Spoločnosť Slovenska (JESS) has submitted a request to the Slovak Nuclear Regulatory Authority (ÚJD) for a siting permit for a new nuclear power plant near the existing Bohunice plant in Jaslovské Bohunice, a small village in the west of the Slovak Republic. The existing Bohunice plant (Image: Slovenské Elektrárne) JESS said it submitted the siting permit application - comprising almost 2500 pages - on 15 February along with the Requirements for the Quality of a Nuclear Facility and the Proposal for the Nuclear Facility Boundaries for the New Nuclear Resource Project (NJZ). In addition to the requirements for the quality of the nuclear source and the design of the boundaries, the application also addresses the issues of the commissioning safety report, the project intent for the physical-technical solution, the method of handling radioactive waste and used nuclear fuel, the size of the emergency planning zone and the assessment of the impact on the environment...
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Japan Adopts Plan to Utilize Nuclear Power to the Fullest

By Robert Buluma Alphaxioms
Japan has taken a bold step forward in the fight against climate change by adopting a plan to maximize the use of nuclear power while ensuring a stable electricity supply. This decision comes amid an energy crisis triggered by Russia's invasion of Ukraine, signaling a significant shift from Japan's previous policy of reducing reliance on nuclear energy after the Fukushima disaster.  The Yomiuri Shimbun / file photo The Mihama nuclear power plant is seen in Fukui Prefecture on Oct. 26, 2022. The plan involves building next-generation nuclear reactors to replace decommissioned ones and lifting the freeze on projects to expand, add, or replace reactors. The government will also allow power companies to operate reactors beyond the previously imposed 60-year limit.  The green transformation plan has a target of attracting over ¥150 trillion in public and private investments for decarbonization over the next decade.  This ambitious plan includes the issuance of green transforma...
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Reservoir Engineer Zorlu Energy Group Denizli, Turkey On-site

By Robert Buluma Alphaxioms
About the job Zorlu Energy operates on various fields of the sector with its experience of 25 years. In our fields of operation, we are combining our well established experience with our corporate values and make a difference among other players of the sector in engineering, supply, construction, management, maintenance and repair. We are utilizing our high capacity production power, qualified human resources, well balanced portfolio, diversity of sources and capability of creating innovative solutions to be a perpetual and leading part of the global energy transformation. We are looking for a "Reservoir Engineer" for our growing team in''Sarayköy/Denizli''location. Qualifications Bachelor degree from petrol and natural gas departments, Having 3-4 years experiences, Fluent English, Good command of MS Office Programmes, Having analytical thinking, problem diagnosis, analysis and problem solving competencies, Be able to adapt busy schedule and flexible working ...
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STADTWERKE NEURUPPIN GMBH RECEIVES OVER €10 MILLION IN FUNDING FOR GEOTHERMAL PROJECT

By Robert Buluma Alphaxioms
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. Image: Artur Dzasokhov, Thoralf Uebach, Wiebke Papenbrock, Nico Ruhle, and Jan Juraschek (from left to right) during the handover. Source: Fontanestadt NeuruppinArtur Dzasokhov, Thoralf Uebach, Wiebke Papenbrock, Nico Ruhle, and Jan Juraschek (from left to right) during the handover. Source: Fontanestadt Neuruppin 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 Com...
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Culham to Host Construction of Tokamak Demo Fusion Reactor

By Robert Buluma Alphaxioms
Tokamak Energy is to build a prototype compact spherical tokamak, the ST80-HTS, at the UK Atomic Energy Authority's (UKAEA's) Culham Campus, near Oxford, England. The fusion device - with power plant-relevant magnet technology - will demonstrate multiple technologies required for the delivery of clean, sustainable fusion energy. A cutaway of the ST80-HTS (Image: Tokamak Energy) Constructing the new purpose-built facility at the Culham Campus - part of the thriving UK Fusion Cluster - provides the Tokamak with access to leading science and engineering capabilities, including knowledge and experience in designing, constructing and operating the record-breaking Joint European Torus (JET). Designs for the facility are under way in partnership with construction consultants McBains, with build completion planned for 2026. Oxfordshire-based Tokamak's ST80-HTS will target the significantly longer pulse durations needed for sustained high power output in commercially competitive fus...
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Arverne secures Limagne geothermal lithium permit to boost supply

By Robert Buluma Alphaxioms
Arverne expands geothermal asset portfolio with new lithium exploration permit in Auvergne Arverne secures 442.7 km² PER “Bassin de Limagne” near Clermont-Ferrand French geothermal developer Arverne (Euronext: ARVEN) has been granted an exclusive research permit (Permis Exclusif de Recherches, PER) for lithium and related substances covering the “Bassin de Limagne” in Puy‑de‑Dôme, Auvergne. The five‑year permit, announced 3 September 2026, spans 442.68 km² and adds to Arverne’s growing national portfolio of PERs: the company now holds nine permits in France, three of which are focused on lithium. The award underscores Arverne’s strategy to combine geothermal heat production with geothermal lithium extraction — an integrated model the company is already deploying elsewhere in France. For the Auvergne permit, Arverne emphasizes that the Bassin de Limagne area overlaps with its existing PER for the Riom‑Clermont‑Métropole, where 3D exploration studies have previously evaluated the subsurf...
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Billionaire Families Bet on Advanced Geothermal Energy Investments

By Robert Buluma Alphaxioms
Billionaire Geothermal Families Bet on Geothermal Billionaire families and private investment offices are placing increasingly large bets on geothermal energy, especially on technologies designed to make the resource available in more locations. Their investments are helping finance enhanced geothermal systems, advanced drilling, closed-loop designs, and other approaches that could transform geothermal from a regionally concentrated power source into a globally scalable clean-energy industry. The investment surge reflects a broader change in the energy market. Electricity demand is rising because of artificial intelligence, data centers, industrial electrification, electric vehicles, and the expansion of digital infrastructure. At the same time, utilities and large corporations need power that is reliable around the clock. Solar and wind remain essential to the clean-energy transition, but their output varies with weather and time of day. Geothermal could complement these technologies ...
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"US Geothermal Tax Credits 2026: What the IRA/45Q Changes Mean for Developers"

By Robert Buluma Alphaxioms
US Geothermal Tax Credits in 2026: What Is Actually Still Alive After OBBBA For an industry that spent more than a decade building financial models around a stable federal incentive structure, 2026 has been a year of whiplash. The 30% federal geothermal tax credit that developers and homeowners built forecasts around is gone in one form and still alive in another, and even the IRS’s own public guidance has been confusing enough to trigger uncertainty across the market. That confusion is not a minor clerical issue. It is shaping investment decisions, contractor sales pitches, homeowner timelines, and project finance assumptions right now. If you work in geothermal, the key question is no longer whether federal incentives exist, but which incentive applies, to which project type, and under what ownership structure. The law that changed the timeline To understand where things stand in 2026, you have to start with the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, which created a long runway for clean e...
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GDC Opens Restricted Tender for Menengai Wellbore Scale Services

By Robert Buluma Alphaxioms
GDC Opens Restricted Tender for Menengai Wellbore Scale Services Kenya’s Geothermal Development Company Limited (GDC) has announced a new restricted tender targeting one of the most technically important challenges in geothermal field operations: scale formation and its removal from geothermal wells and formations . The procurement notice, posted by GDC on 29 September 2026 , seeks qualified firms to provide specialized downhole wellbore and formation-scale removal and scaling mitigation services for geothermal wells and reservoirs at the Menengai Geothermal Field . The planned service period is three years , creating an opportunity for specialized geothermal service companies with experience in downhole intervention, scale management, wellbore remediation and formation-scale mitigation. According to the notice, interested and qualified firms must submit their full company details and contacts together with their Electronic Government Procurement System (eGP) registration number t...
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Maren Maras plans 99-MW geothermal power development in Aydin, Türkiye

By Robert Buluma Alphaxioms
Maren Maras plans 99-MW geothermal power development in Aydin, Türkiye Maren Maras is planning a 99-MW geothermal development in Aydın’s Germencik district, consisting of three 33-MW plants with binary-cycle technology, based on regulatory filings and the Final EIA report. The project is expected to generate about 730 GWh annually and requires an estimated TRY 1.82 billion investment. Maren Maras Plans 99-MW Geothermal Power Development in Aydın, Türkiye Maren Maras Elektrik Üretim Sanayi ve Ticaret A.Ş., part of Kipaş Holding, has advanced plans for a major geothermal expansion in Türkiye’s Aydın province. According to regulatory documents and reporting on the company’s environmental filings, the project will add 99 MW of installed geothermal capacity in the Germencik district through three separate 33-MW power plants.  The project adds another large-scale development to one of Türkiye’s most active geothermal regions. Aydın has long been a core province for geothermal power in th...
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Unlocking Impermeable Geothermal Reservoirs: Hydraulic Stimulation, Menengai and Olkaria

By Robert Buluma Alphaxioms
Unlocking the Impermeable Reservoir: Lessons from a 30-Year Reservoir Engineer An Alphaxioms interview with Richard Joseph Holt, Principal Consultant in Reservoir Engineering at RESPEC . Context: Menengai East and Olkaria Central. Every geothermal developer knows the moment.  The rig is gone and the money is spent. The well is drilled to depth, the temperature is there, and then the well will not flow. The heat is real, but the connection between the well and the reservoir is not. Wells like this sit at the centre of one of the most important questions in geothermal development: what do you do with a tight reservoir? Walk away and drill again, or find a way to unlock what is already there? To explore the question, Alphaxioms spoke with Richard Joseph Holt, Principal Consultant in Reservoir Engineering at RESPEC . Richard brings 30 years of global experience in geothermal energy.  We framed our questions around two settings, Menengai East and Olkaria Central, and asked him how ...
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Closed-Loop Geothermal Systems: Companies, Technology, Investment, Power

By Robert Buluma Alphaxioms
Closed-Loop Geothermal Systems: The Companies Building the Next Generation of Underground Energy Image : The Eavor Technologies Geothermal Project  Closed-loop geothermal systems represent one of the most promising frontiers in renewable energy, offering continuous, baseload power without the environmental concerns associated with conventional geothermal development. Unlike traditional open-loop systems that require hydraulic fracturing and consume large volumes of water, closed-loop geothermal circulates a working fluid through sealed underground pipes, extracting heat from hot rock formations while maintaining a self-contained system that eliminates fluid loss, induced seismicity, and reservoir depletion risks.This technology has attracted significant investment and technical innovation from a diverse array of companies spanning startups, established energy firms, and drilling specialists, each pursuing distinct approaches to unlock the vast thermal energy stored beneath the Eart...
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Saudi Arabia AI Data Centers Adopt Strataphy PrimeLoop Cooling Technology

By Robert Buluma Alphaxioms
Strataphy Partners With HUMAIN to Deploy PrimeLoop Cooling Across Saudi Arabia’s AI Data Centers Saudi Arabia is moving rapidly to establish itself as a global artificial intelligence and data-center powerhouse, and one of the most important challenges facing that ambition is not simply how much computing capacity can be installed, but how efficiently that computing capacity can be cooled. At LEAP 2026, Strataphy announced a partnership with HUMAIN to deploy its PrimeLoop® cooling technology across HUMAIN’s data-center infrastructure in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. According to the announcement, the engagement represents the first deployment of its kind for PrimeLoop® in Saudi Arabia and is designed to address one of the fundamental constraints of large-scale AI infrastructure: thermal management. The partnership comes as HUMAIN works toward a target of approximately 6 GW of AI compute. At that scale, cooling becomes a strategic infrastructure issue rather than a conventional dat...
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Cornish Lithium Awards Halliburton Contract for Geothermal Lithium Project Development

By Robert Buluma Alphaxioms
Cornish Lithium awards contract for Cross Lanes Geothermal Lithium Project to Halliburton‌‍‍‍‌‍‌‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‌‍‍‌‌‌‌‍‌‍‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‍‍‍‍‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‌‍‍‌‌‌‌‌‌‍‍‍‍‌‍‌‍‌‍‌‍‍‌‍‍‌‌‌‍‍‍‌‌‍‌‍‍‌‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‍‌‌‌‌‌‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‌‍‍‌‌‌‌‍‌‍‍‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‍‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‌‌‌‍‌‍‌‌‍‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‍‍‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‍‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‍‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‍‍‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‍‍‌‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‌‌‍‌‍‌‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‍‌‍‍‍‌‍‌‌‍‍‍‌‌‌‌‌‌‍‍‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‌‍‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‌‍‍‍‌‍‌‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‍‍‌‌‌‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‍‌‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‍‌‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‍‍‌‌‍‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‍‌‌‌‌‌‌‍‍‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‍‌‍‌‌‍‍‌‌‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‍‌‌...
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Next-Gen Geothermal Funding 2026: VCs, Banks, Government Capital

By Robert Buluma Alphaxioms
Who Is Really Funding Next-Gen Geothermal in 2026? Next-generation geothermal has moved beyond laboratory research into a capital-intensive commercialization phase. In 2026, the most important financing is no longer coming from one investor category: venture capital funds are financing drilling, subsurface modelling and hardware; strategic energy companies are providing equipment, project access and market credibility; banks are beginning to lend against contracted projects; and governments are absorbing exploration and first-of-a-kind technology risk. The strongest financing activity is concentrated in the United States and Canada, but Europe is becoming increasingly important through Germany-based deployment, European Union grants, UK innovation support, and strategic participation from European energy companies. The central investment question is changing from “Can this technology work?” to “Can the developer deliver repeatable, financeable projects at commercial cost?” The 2026 fun...
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