Skip to main content

Just In

Eavor Geretsried Geothermal Breakthrough: Inside the Closed-Loop Energy Revolution, Drilling Challenges, and Path to Scalable Clean Power

The Geothermal “Holy Grail” Just Got a Reality Check: Inside Eavor’s Geretsried Breakthrough By: Robert Buluma   May 22, 2026 It’s not every day a deep-tech energy company publishes a detailed technical report that openly documents what went wrong on its flagship project—and still comes out looking stronger. That’s exactly what Eavor Technologies did with its Geretsried geothermal project in Bavaria, Germany. The result is unusually transparent: part technical post-mortem, part validation of a technology many have doubted for years. And the core message is simple. They built it. It works. But it wasn’t smooth. The short version Eavor is trying to solve one of geothermal energy’s hardest problems: how to produce reliable heat and power anywhere, not just in rare volcanic hotspots. Their claim has always been bold: a closed-loop geothermal system that is scalable, dispatchable, low-carbon, and independent of natural reservoirs. Critics have long argued it wouldn’t survive...
Post a Comment

Deep dive into Ormat's Geothermal Power House



Geothermal energy, a sustainable and environmentally friendly power source, is gaining momentum in the global energy landscape. As nations strive to reduce their carbon footprint and transition towards cleaner alternatives, companies like Ormat Technologies are at the forefront of driving innovation and shaping the future of geothermal energy.

Ormat Technologies Overview:



Founded in 1965, Ormat Technologies has emerged as a key player in the geothermal energy sector. The company specializes in the development, construction, and operation of geothermal power plants, providing clean and reliable electricity across the globe. With a focus on technological advancements and sustainable practices, Ormat exemplifies the current trends in the geothermal energy sector.

Current Trends in Geothermal Energy:

1. **Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS):**
   Ormat Technologies, like many other industry leaders, is exploring Enhanced Geothermal Systems. EGS involves engineering methods to enhance the permeability of hot rocks beneath the Earth's surface, enabling the extraction of geothermal energy from areas previously deemed unsuitable. Ormat's efforts in this field signify a commitment to expanding the reach of geothermal energy to new regions.

2. **Binary Cycle Technology:**
   The adoption of binary cycle technology is a notable trend in the geothermal sector. Ormat has been a pioneer in the implementation of binary cycle power plants, which utilize low-temperature geothermal resources more efficiently. This technology enhances the economic viability of geothermal projects and contributes to a broader utilization of available resources.

3. **Hybrid Power Plants:**
   To address the intermittent nature of some renewable energy sources, hybrid power plants are gaining traction. Ormat is actively involved in developing geothermal-solar and geothermal-biomass hybrid projects, combining the strengths of different renewable technologies to ensure a more stable and reliable power supply.

4. **Digitalization and Remote Monitoring:**
   In line with broader industry trends, Ormat is leveraging digitalization and remote monitoring technologies. This allows for real-time monitoring and optimization of geothermal power plants, improving efficiency and reducing operational costs. The integration of smart technologies positions geothermal energy as a dynamic and adaptive component of the modern energy grid.

5. **Global Expansion:**
   As the demand for clean energy continues to grow globally, Ormat is expanding its footprint. The company is involved in geothermal projects in various regions, contributing to the diversification of the global energy mix and supporting the transition to sustainable energy sources.

Conclusion:

Ormat Technologies exemplifies the dynamic and innovative nature of the geothermal energy sector. By embracing trends such as EGS, binary cycle technology, hybrid power plants, and digitalization, Ormat is not only enhancing the efficiency of geothermal projects but also contributing to the broader goals of mitigating climate change and ensuring a sustainable energy future. As geothermal energy continues to evolve, companies like Ormat will play a pivotal role in shaping the landscape of the renewable energy sector.

Comments

Post a Comment

Hot Topics 🔥

Eavor steps back from operator role in the Geretsried geothermal project

Eavor at the Crossroads: What Geretsried Really Tells Us About the Future of Closed-Loop Geothermal By Alphaxioms Geothermal Insights | May 13, 2026 For years, Eavor Technologies was the geothermal sector's most talked-about enigma. The company raised hundreds of millions of dollars, attracted backing from heavyweights including BP , Chevron , Helmerich & Payne , and Temasek , and made bold promises about a proprietary closed-loop technology that would quietly revolutionise how humanity extracts heat from the earth. But it rarely said much in public. The secrecy was, to many observers in the geothermal community, a feature rather than a bug — protecting intellectual property, managing competitive intelligence, buying time. Now, Eavor is talking. And what it is saying is worth listening to very carefully. In an exclusive interview published on May 13, 2026, by GeoExpro editor Henk Kombrink, Eavor's new president and CEO Mark Fitzgerald — who took the role in October 2025 ...
Post a Comment
Read more

GEN Electric Grid Impact Study RFP in Framingham Massachusetts Advances Utility Geothermal Networks

GEN Electric Grid Impact Study RFP Signals a Defining Moment for Geothermal Energy Networks in the United States By: Robert Buluma The United States geothermal sector is entering a new phase, one where geothermal systems are no longer being viewed only as sources of heating and cooling, but increasingly as strategic infrastructure capable of strengthening the electric grid itself. In one of the most important emerging developments in utility-scale thermal network deployment, the Home Energy Efficiency Team (HEET), in partnership with Eversource Gas, has officially launched a Request for Proposals (RFP) for a groundbreaking Electric Grid Impact Study focused on Geothermal Energy Networks (GENs), also referred to as Thermal Energy Networks (TENs). Backed by funding from the U.S. Department of Energy under grant “DE-EE0010662.0002 Home Energy Efficiency Team Utility-Managed Geothermal Pilot in Framingham, Massachusetts,” the initiative represents far more than a local energy pilot. It is...
Post a Comment
Read more

Rodatherm Energy: The Refrigerant Gambit

By: Robert Buluma   Rodatherm Energy has done something no other geothermal startup has attempted at commercial scale: swapped water for refrigerant in a closed-loop system. The claim is 50% higher thermal efficiency than water-based binary cycles, achieved by circulating a proprietary phase-change fluid through a fully cased, pressurized wellbore. The company emerged from stealth in September 2025 with a $38 million Series A—the largest first venture raise in geothermal history. Lead investor Evok Innovations was joined by Toyota Ventures, TDK Ventures, and the Grantham Foundation. The engineering thesis is elegant. The execution risks are significant. This is an Alphaxioms examination of both. II. The Thermodynamic Distinction Every geothermal company you've covered moves heat using water or steam. Rodatherm moves heat using a fluid that boils and condenses inside the wellbore. In a conventional closed-loop water system (Eavor's model), water circulates as a single-phase liq...
Post a Comment
Read more

China's Supercritical CO₂ Geothermal Heating Breakthrough: What It Means for the World

China’s Supercritical CO₂ Geothermal Heating Breakthrough: What It Means for the World By Robert Buluma | Alphaxioms Geothermal Insights | May 19, 2026 Introduction: A Quiet Breakthrough in Zhengzhou On May 19, 2026, a major but underreported milestone emerged from Zhengzhou in China’s Henan Province. China Huaneng Group , one of the country’s largest state-owned energy companies, commissioned what is believed to be the world’s first commercial geothermal heating system using supercritical carbon dioxide (CO₂) as its working fluid instead of water. The announcement did not generate major global headlines, yet its implications are significant. This is not just another geothermal pilot project. It represents a working demonstration of a fundamentally different geothermal architecture that could reshape how heat is extracted from the Earth, especially in urban district heating systems. The Zhengzhou project signals a possible shift in geothermal engineering thinking—from water-based sys...
Post a Comment
Read more

Fervo Energy Is Sitting on a Lithium Goldmine: Why DLE + IPO Is the Billion-Dollar Move They Haven't Made Yet

Fervo Energy has raised $1.5B, slashed drilling costs, and is eyeing an IPO. But ignoring DLE lithium co-production leaves billions on the table. Here's why By Alphaxioms | Energy & Critical Minerals Analysis Image: Fervo Energy’s Nasdaq debut marks a defining moment for geothermal energy. ⚡🌍 Fervo Energy has become the undisputed poster child of next-generation geothermal. With over $1.5 billion raised, drilling times slashed, and high-profile power deals with Google and California utilities, they've proven that enhanced geothermal systems (EGS) can work at scale  But Fervo is leaving money in the ground. Literally. Every day, Fervo pumps millions of gallons of hot, pressurized brine through deep underground fractures at Cape Station (Utah) and Project Red (Nevada). They extract the heat, generate clean electricity, and then reinject the fluid. Job done. Except that brine isn't just water. Across the Great Basin — where Fervo operates — geothermal brines carry d...
Post a Comment
Read more

Zanskar Advances Arizona Geothermal Project as Arizona Oil and Gas Conservation Commission Approves New Wells

Zanskar’s geothermal ambitions in Arizona gain momentum after the Arizona Oil and Gas Conservation Commission approved new exploration wells tied to the landmark MILESHIGH project near the Morenci copper mine. By:  Robert Buluma Arizona’s Geothermal Ambitions Surge Forward as New Wells Approved for Landmark Copper Mine Project Arizona is no longer sitting quietly on the sidelines of America’s geothermal revolution. In a development that could reshape both the state’s mining industry and its clean energy future, regulators have approved new geothermal exploration wells tied to the ambitious MILESHIGH geothermal project in Greenlee County. The approval signals far more than another drilling authorization—it represents a decisive step toward integrating geothermal energy into one of North America’s largest copper mining operations while potentially opening a new chapter for geothermal development across the American Southwest. The newly approved wells are associated with a groundbre...
Post a Comment
Read more

Iceland Drilling Company Reveals Future of Deep Geothermal Innovation

Exclusive Expert Insights on Superhot Resources, Cost Barriers, Africa’s Growth, and the Next Era of Geothermal Energy By : Robert Buluma   Image:Bruce Gatherer, Geothermal Drilling Business Development & Operations Advisor at Iceland Drilling Company, and Sveinn Hannesson, CEO, who provided the expert insights behind this exclusive interview. Geothermal energy is entering a new and far more extreme frontier. As the global energy transition accelerates, attention is shifting from conventional hydrothermal systems to superhot, ultra-deep, and engineered geothermal systems that promise dramatically higher energy yields and broader geographic applicability. In this exclusive expert exchange,  Iceland Drilling Company  shares detailed insights on the future of geothermal drilling,covering technical frontiers, cost structures, workforce challenges, Africa’s geothermal opportunity, oil and gas crossover, digitalization, partnerships, and what the next 10–15 years may hold f...
Post a Comment
Read more

Arverne and Banque des Territoires Advance Geothermal Expansion Across the Île-de-France Region

Arverne and Banque des Territoires Accelerate Geothermal Energy in Île-de-France as France Deepens Its Clean Heat Revolution By: Robert Buluma   France’s geothermal ambitions have entered a bold new chapter. In a landmark move that could redefine how urban regions heat their homes, industries and public infrastructure, Arverne and Banque des Territoires have announced the creation of Francilienne de Géothermie , a dedicated company focused on developing, financing and operating geothermal projects across the Île-de-France region. The announcement, made on May 18, 2026, signals far more than another renewable energy partnership. It represents a strategic attempt to transform geothermal energy into one of the dominant pillars of regional decarbonization in France’s most densely populated and economically influential territory. At the center of this initiative lies a compelling idea: that the future of urban heating may not come from imported fossil fuels or unstable electricity...
Post a Comment
Read more

Mazama Energy Newberry Superhot Geothermal Breakthrough Reshapes Clean Energy

Mazama Energy’s Superhot Rock Vision Redefines Global Geothermal Power By Robert Buluma   The geothermal industry is entering a new era, and one company is pushing the boundaries of what was once considered technically impossible. Mazama Energy has ignited global attention after revealing extraordinary progress at its Newberry geothermal site in central Oregon, where it reportedly achieved temperatures of 331°C in an enhanced geothermal system environment. For an industry accustomed to operating within the 150°C to 300°C range, this milestone is more than impressive — it signals the possible beginning of a technological transformation capable of reshaping the future of clean baseload power. For decades, geothermal energy has quietly remained one of the most reliable renewable energy resources on Earth. Unlike solar and wind, geothermal power does not depend on weather conditions, sunlight, or seasonal variability. It delivers continuous electricity twenty-four hours a day, seven ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Baker Hughes and Helmerich & Payne Unite to Power the Next Era of U.S. Geothermal Energy

Baker Hughes and H&P Partner to Accelerate U.S. Geothermal Development: A Strategic Shift Toward Scalable Clean Baseload Energy By Robert Buluma | Alphaxioms Energy Insights | 2026 Introduction: A Turning Point for Geothermal Energy in the United States The global energy transition is no longer defined only by solar panels and wind turbines. Beneath the surface, a quieter but far more consistent revolution is unfolding—geothermal energy. On May 20, 2026, a major development signaled that this sector is moving from niche experimentation to industrial-scale deployment. Two heavyweight players in the energy and drilling ecosystem— Baker Hughes and Helmerich & Payne (H&P) —announced a strategic collaboration aimed at accelerating geothermal exploration and development in the United States. At the center of the agreement is a geothermal-capable land drilling rig, purpose-built to reduce delays, lower execution risk, and unlock faster development timelines for geotherma...
Post a Comment
Read more