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Showing posts from February 26, 2023

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Sage Geosystems’ Project Vector: EGS at Ormat Blue Mountain Plant

By Robert Buluma Alphaxioms
Sage Geosystems Selects Ormat’s Blue Mountain Plant for Project Vector: a Major Step Toward Commercial EGS Sage Geosystems will deploy its proprietary EGS technology at Ormat’s Blue Mountain power plant in Nevada for Project Vector, targeting first electricity in 2027 and full-scale production in 2028. The two-well project aims to deliver firm, 24/7 geothermal power with lower water losses and higher net output,advancing commercial EGS, validating GeoTwin predictive modeling, and strengthening strategic ties with Ormat amid growing corporate demand for reliable baseload clean energy. Why this matters Sage Geosystems’ selection of Ormat Technologies’ Blue Mountain geothermal plant for Project Vector represents a pivotal demonstration of commercial-scale enhanced geothermal systems (EGS) integrated into existing power infrastructure. The decision leverages an established plant to reduce non-core capital, accelerate timeline risk reduction, and prioritize validation of subsurface engineer...
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Geothermal Unravelled

By Robert Buluma Alphaxioms
Geothermal power is a renewable energy source that has been gaining traction in recent years as a viable alternative to traditional fossil fuels. Geothermal power is generated by tapping into the Earth's natural heat, which is produced by the decay of radioactive isotopes and the residual heat from the planet's formation. This energy source has several advantages over other forms of renewable energy, which we will explore in this article. (source: unsplash.com,Sam Bark) First, geothermal power is a consistent and reliable source of energy. Unlike solar and wind power, which are dependent on weather conditions and time of day, geothermal power can be produced 24/7. This makes it an ideal source of baseload power, which is the minimum amount of power needed to meet the constant demand for electricity. Second, geothermal power is environmentally friendly. Unlike traditional fossil fuels, geothermal power does not emit greenhouse gases or other harmful pollutants. This makes it a c...
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Elon Musk: "HOW I'M STILL THE RICHEST MAN"

By Robert Buluma Alphaxioms
Elon Musk is a name that has become synonymous with innovation, entrepreneurship, and technological advancement. Born in South Africa in 1971, Musk is now a citizen of three countries - South Africa, Canada, and the United States - and is widely regarded as one of the most influential and successful entrepreneurs of our time. Through his numerous companies, Musk has disrupted entire industries, including aerospace, automotive, energy, and transportation. He is also a vocal advocate for sustainable energy and a human colony on Mars . (image source: alexander shaltov,unsplash.com) Early Life and Education Elon Musk was born in Pretoria, South Africa, to a Canadian mother and a South African father. From a young age, he showed a strong interest in science and technology. As a child, Musk was an avid reader and consumed books at an astonishing rate. He was also bullied in school and had a difficult childhood. After finishing high school in Pretoria, Musk moved to the United States to study...
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Düsseldorf and Duisburg explore potential for deep geothermal energy

By Robert Buluma Alphaxioms
The intermunicipal feasibility study "Heat from Deep Geothermal Energy for District Heating in Düsseldorf and Duisburg" is a major step forward for the two cities towards the energy transition. The study examines the geological conditions at depth, identifies possible locations for test drilling, and evaluates the technical and economic feasibility of expanding the district heating network. (Source: City Works Duisburg) Since Thursday, citizens can find information about the project on the website www.geothermie-rhein.de. The development of climate-friendly, weather-independent, and regional energy sources is one of the biggest challenges for cities and municipalities. The state government of North Rhine-Westphalia has therefore already decided on March 20, 2019 to promote geothermal energy to advance the energy transition. The cities of Duisburg and Düsseldorf, in particular, benefit from this state parliament resolution in the Rhine-Ruhr region. In a joint feasibility study...
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"Pertamina Geothermal Energy: Revolutionizing Indonesia's Green Energy Landscape as the Maverick Leader"

By Robert Buluma Alphaxioms
 Discover Indonesia's Leading Green Energy Company: Pertamina Geothermal Energy The Lumut Balai geothermal power plant of Pertamina Geothermal Energy. Pertamina Geothermal Energy (PGE) is the driving force behind Indonesia's geothermal energy industry. With thirteen work areas across the country, PGE currently produces an impressive 1877 MW of geothermal power, making it a prominent player in the green energy sector. PGE operates six solely owned geothermal plants and has interests in four other plants under joint-operating contracts. As part of its ambitious expansion plans, PGE aims to increase its own power generation capacity to 1540 MW by 2030, which would help reduce 9 million tons of CO2 emissions annually. To support its vision of becoming a world-class green energy producer, PGE is planning an initial public offering (IPO) in the first quarter of 2023, with the potential to raise 500 million USD of new equity capital. PGE has several exciting projects in the pipeline, ...
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Exciting Update: New In-Service Dates for Vogtle Units Revealed

By Robert Buluma Alphaxioms
Get ready for a glimpse into the latest developments of one of the most significant energy projects in the US! Southern Company's CEO, Tom Fanning, announced that the schedules for Vogtle units 3 and 4 have been adjusted to allow for any unexpected issues. Construction work at the Vogtle site, pictured in January (Image: Georgia Power) Unit 3 is now expected to enter service in May or June, while unit 4 will be operational by the end of this year or early 2024. But it hasn't been a smooth ride, as vibrations in the cooling system caused delays in the criticality process of unit 3. However, Fanning assures investors that the issues have been remediated, and the testing has resumed. But that's not all! Southern Company is determined to deliver optimal performance and reduce risks associated with any potential issues that may arise. So, extra time has been added to the schedule to address these matters. Metal plates have been inserted into struts connected to the pipe to fix t...
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Vulcan Energy Starts Lionheart 30MW Geothermal & 24,000tpa Lithium Plant , Landau

By Robert Buluma Alphaxioms
Vulcan Energy Kicks Off Civil Works at Lionheart: Europe’s Flagship Geothermal + Lithium Plant Starts Rising in Landau Image: The vulcan Lionheart project in Landau, Upper Rhine Graben  Vulcan Energy Resources has started civil construction on its 30 MW Lionheart Geothermal Power Plant in Landau, Germany a milestone that turns engineering blueprints into concrete reality for one of Europe’s most ambitious integrated geothermal and direct lithium extraction (DLE) projects. The first concrete layers are down, foundations are being formed, and supporting infrastructure works are under way. For stakeholders across the clean‑energy and critical minerals value chains, Lionheart represents far more than a single power station: it’s a demonstration of industrial symbiosis, price resilience, and a pathway to decarbonized battery supply chains in Europe. Why Landau matters: location, geology, and industrial context Landau sits in the Upper Rhine Graben, a tectonic trough with a favorable geo...
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The "Heat-as-a-Service" (HaaS) Business Model: Geothermal Without the CAPEX Nightmare

By Robert Buluma Alphaxioms
Heat-as-a-Service takes geothermal from a capital-intensive power project to a financeable, contract-based heat utility: instead of selling electrons, you sell stable, decarbonized heat under long-term contracts that match what industrial customers and investors actually want. Image: A thematic picture of a geothermal power plant By shifting risk and ownership away from end users and toward specialised developers and infrastructure capital, it can unlock geothermal in markets where electricity tariffs are low but demand for reliable, low-carbon process heat is strong. From kWh to “heat-as-a-service” Traditional geothermal projects earn revenue by selling electricity into a grid, often at wholesale prices that barely cover high up-front drilling and plant costs unless there is a feed-in tariff or premium.Many industrial users, however, do not need electricity; they need heat for processes like brewing, greenhouse climate control or pulp and paper production, and they currently buy that ...
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Sage Geosystems’ Project Vector: EGS at Ormat Blue Mountain Plant

By Robert Buluma Alphaxioms
Sage Geosystems Selects Ormat’s Blue Mountain Plant for Project Vector: a Major Step Toward Commercial EGS Sage Geosystems will deploy its proprietary EGS technology at Ormat’s Blue Mountain power plant in Nevada for Project Vector, targeting first electricity in 2027 and full-scale production in 2028. The two-well project aims to deliver firm, 24/7 geothermal power with lower water losses and higher net output,advancing commercial EGS, validating GeoTwin predictive modeling, and strengthening strategic ties with Ormat amid growing corporate demand for reliable baseload clean energy. Why this matters Sage Geosystems’ selection of Ormat Technologies’ Blue Mountain geothermal plant for Project Vector represents a pivotal demonstration of commercial-scale enhanced geothermal systems (EGS) integrated into existing power infrastructure. The decision leverages an established plant to reduce non-core capital, accelerate timeline risk reduction, and prioritize validation of subsurface engineer...
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Fervo and Google Sign Record 396 MW Geothermal Deal for Utah Data Center Power.

By Robert Buluma Alphaxioms
Fervo and Google sign world’s largest deal for next-gen geothermal power Fervo Energy’s latest agreement with Google is a major milestone for next-generation geothermal and a clear sign that big tech is getting more serious about 24/7 clean power. The deal covers 396 MW from Fervo’s Cape Station project in Utah, with the option for Google to expand its commitment later, potentially pushing the relationship much closer to gigawatt scale.   For the geothermal sector, the significance goes beyond one contract. It is a public validation that enhanced geothermal systems can attract a blue-chip corporate buyer at a size usually associated with utility-scale solar, wind, gas, or nuclear procurement. For Google, it strengthens a strategy centered on securing always-available, carbon-free electricity for future data center growth.   Fervo’s announcement also lands at a moment when electricity demand is rising fast, especially from artificial intelligence infrastructure. Tha...
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Geothermal Well Cost 2026: Country Benchmarks, Drilling Costs per Meter, Depth & Reservoir Risk, and Investment Insights

By Robert Buluma Alphaxioms
Geothermal Well Cost by Country (2026): Drivers, Benchmarks, and Investment Implications image: a thematic image of a geothermal field Geothermal drilling remains one of the most capital‑intensive steps in developing clean, dispatchable energy. In 2026 the headline fact is familiar: drilling costs vary sharply between countries and projects. But the deeper story is about why those costs vary, which factors are controllable, and how investors, developers, and policymakers should interpret country‑level benchmarks. This article explains the technical and commercial drivers behind geothermal well expense, surveys the cost landscape across major geothermal markets in 2026, illustrates the dynamics with project examples and recent performance data, and offers practical recommendations for modeling, financing, and policy design. Why geothermal wells are expensive Drilling a geothermal well is not simply “digging a hole.” It is a technically complex, multi‑phase process that combines explorat...
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Geothermal Rare Earth Elements from Brines: Unlocking Critical Minerals, Lithium, and Strategic Metals from Clean Geothermal Energy

By Robert Buluma Alphaxioms
Geothermal brines can become a meaningful source of rare earth elements (REEs) and other critical minerals, but the industry is still in an early, pre‐commercial phase where technology, economics, and policy need to align.  Why Geothermal Brines Matter for Critical Minerals Geothermal systems circulate hot, mineral-rich fluids through crustal rocks, dissolving metals and concentrating them in brines that already flow through wells for power and heat. Unlike conventional mining, which moves huge volumes of rock, geothermal operations tap fluids that are already being pumped, monitored, and handled for energy production.  Several factors make geothermal brines attractive for critical minerals: - They contain lithium, REEs, and other valuable metals at trace to moderate concentrations. - Infrastructure (wells, pipelines, power plants) already exists at many sites. - Co-production of minerals with baseload renewable energy lowers the carbon footprint of supply chains.  For co...
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TEVERRA Joins Alaska DOE Geothermal Initiative to Reduce Risk

By Robert Buluma Alphaxioms
TEVERRA Joins $5 Million DOE Geothermal Initiative in Alaska Alaska is entering an important new phase in its geothermal energy development, with TEVERRA joining a $5 million U.S. Department of Energy-supported initiative focused on accelerating geothermal development across the state. The project brings together researchers, government geoscientists and private-sector subsurface specialists from the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF), University of Alaska Anchorage (UAA), Alaska Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys (DGGS), TEVERRA and Logic Geophysics. At the center of the initiative is a challenge that has constrained geothermal development in many parts of the world: the subsurface is difficult to understand before expensive drilling begins. For Alaska, where geothermal resources are distributed across a vast and geologically complex landscape, improving the quality of geological, geophysical and geomechanical information could become an important step toward identifyi...
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Mazama Energy Raises $135M for Superhot Geothermal Power

By Robert Buluma Alphaxioms
Mazama Energy Raises $135M to Drill Superhot Geothermal Wells for AI Power Mazama Energy’s new $135 million Series B is a major signal that superhot geothermal is moving from frontier science toward real commercial deployment. The company says the capital will help it drill deeper, develop horizontal wells in superhot rock, and move closer to generating electricity next year from its Oregon project.   Mazama Energy’s $135 Million Funding Round Mazama Energy announced an oversubscribed Series B totaling $135 million, with backing from major climate and energy investors. The round was led by Centaurus Capital and Doerr Capital, and it also drew participation from ConocoPhillips, Shell Ventures, Khosla Ventures, Gates Frontier, SiteGround Capital, H. Barton Asset Management, and the Jeffrey and Marieke Rothschild Foundation.   That investor mix matters because it shows geothermal is attracting both traditional energy capital and venture investors. The company was incuba...
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Best US States for Geothermal Investment in 2026: Top Markets, Growth Opportunities, and Investor Insights

By Robert Buluma Alphaxioms
Best US States for Geothermal Investment The best US states for geothermal investment are California, Nevada, Utah, New Mexico, and Texas, with Oregon, Idaho, Alaska, and Arizona also offering attractive upside depending on whether you want operating assets, early-stage development, or next-generation geothermal exposure. Geothermal is becoming a broader investment story than it was a few years ago. Stronger drilling methods, rising demand for firm clean power, and more state-level policy support are widening the field beyond the traditional western hot spots. Introduction For investors , geothermal is one of the few clean energy technologies that can deliver round-the-clock power with a relatively small land footprint. That reliability is a big advantage in a market where utilities, data centers, and industrial customers increasingly want clean electricity that behaves more like conventional baseload generation. The challenge is that geothermal is highly location-dependent. The qualit...
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Top 10 Critical Geothermal Energy Problems Costs Risks Seismicity

By Robert Buluma Alphaxioms
Top 10 Geothermal Problems: Why a 24/7 Resource Still Struggles to Scale Image credit : Fida, C.E.O Geosilica... This is what scaling looks like downhole in geothermal pipes Intelligence; Strategy for the Geothermal Decade Geothermal energy is often presented as the clean firm resource that can support a renewable electricity system around the clock. It does not depend on sunshine, it can operate through calm weather, and it can provide heat and power for decades. Kenya already relies heavily on geothermal generation , Iceland uses geothermal heat across its economy, and next generation developers are now signing large power contracts with technology companies seeking reliable carbon free electricity. Yet the global geothermal sector remains small compared with solar and wind, with installed electricity capacity still near 16 GW.  That gap is not caused by one obstacle. It is produced by a chain of interlocking problems involving geology, drilling, finance, permitting, public acce...
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