Skip to main content

Just In

Exergy Gemini Turbine vs Ormat Ormega100: Geothermal Binary Power Comparison

ENEE tasks Geokeri For Honduras Geothermal Feasibility Study

Exploring Geothermal Energy Potential in Honduras: A Feasibility Study in Choluteca



Honduras, known for its rich biodiversity and natural landscapes, is now embarking on a journey to explore another valuable resource beneath its surface: geothermal energy. In a groundbreaking initiative, the state-owned power company, ENEE, has partnered with Mexican consulting firm Geokeri to conduct a comprehensive feasibility study for geothermal energy generation in the Choluteca municipality.


The study, set to commence in February 2024, will focus on the municipalities of Namasigue and El Triunfo, located in southern Honduras. Over the course of seven months, experts from Geokeri will assess the region's geothermal potential, evaluating factors such as geological formations, temperature gradients, and resource accessibility.


This ambitious project has garnered significant support from international partners, with financial backing of EUR 460,000 provided by the KfW Development Bank of Frankfurt, Germany. The funds, designated as non-refundable, underscore the importance of sustainable energy development in Honduras and the broader Central American region.


The decision to explore geothermal energy in Choluteca is strategic, given the area's geological characteristics and existing infrastructure. With only one geothermal power plant, the 35-MW Geotermica Platanares, currently operational in the country since 2017, there is immense potential for further expansion.


The implications of this feasibility study extend beyond energy generation. By harnessing the natural heat from within the Earth, Honduras can reduce its reliance on fossil fuels, mitigate greenhouse gas emissions, and pave the way for a more sustainable energy future. Moreover, geothermal projects have the potential to create jobs, stimulate economic growth, and enhance energy security for communities across the region.


The partnership between ENEE and Geokeri, supported by the KfW Development Bank, exemplifies the collaborative efforts needed to drive renewable energy initiatives forward. Through technical expertise, financial investment, and local engagement, stakeholders are working together to unlock the full potential of geothermal resources in Honduras.



As the feasibility study progresses, stakeholders eagerly await the findings and recommendations that will shape the future of geothermal energy development in Choluteca and beyond. With careful planning, innovation, and commitment, Honduras stands poised to harness the power of geothermal energy for the benefit of its people and the planet.


Stay tuned for updates on this transformative project as Honduras takes bold steps towards a cleaner, more sustainable energy landscape. 


Source: Researched and Written by Robert Buluma, alphaxioms@gmail.com

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Exergy Gemini Turbine vs Ormat Ormega100: Geothermal Binary Power Comparison

Exergy Gemini Turbine vs Ormat Ormega100: Two Different Paths to Geothermal Scale image : a thematic view of a geothermal turbine "blade" Geothermal power is entering a new phase. Two of the most important announcements in the sector point to larger, more standardized, and more commercially viable binary geothermal systems: Exergy’s Gemini Turbine and Ormat’s Ormega100 . At first glance, both machines promise major gains in scale, but they are not trying to solve the same problem in exactly the same way. Gemini is built around a high-capacity radial outflow turbine architecture that can deliver up to 60 MWe per shaft, while Ormega100 is designed as a 100 MW binary surface power unit intended to accelerate enhanced geothermal system commercialization. For project developers, utilities, and data-center buyers looking for firm clean power, the comparison matters because it reveals two competing ideas about how geothermal should grow. Exergy is emphasizing turbine architectur...

GA Drilling: Advanced Geothermal Drilling Technology, Deep Rock Innovation, and Clean Energy Financing

GA Drilling : Deep Drilling Technology, Financing, and Geothermal Scale-Up Image: A GA Drilling Bit GA Drilling is one of the more important technology companies in the geothermal sector because it is trying to solve a problem that has limited geothermal growth for decades: the cost, complexity, and risk of drilling deep wells in hard rock. Rather than operating a geothermal power plant itself, the company focuses on the drilling side of the value chain, developing technologies that can make deep geothermal wells faster, cheaper, and more reliable to build. That positioning gives it a different role from most geothermal developers, and it also makes it strategically significant for the future of clean baseload energy. The geothermal industry has always been constrained by subsurface uncertainty. Developers know where the heat is in a general sense, but they still must drill through high-temperature, abrasive, fractured, and often unpredictable rock to get there. In many projects, dril...

EGS Market Size and Investment Outlook

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...

EU Tripartite Energy Storage Agreement, EGEC and QHeat Drive 30–35 GW Storage Deployment, Geothermal Energy Storage, Flexible Renewable Integration, and Clean Energy Investment Opportunities

The new EU tripartite agreement on energy storage, with EGEC and QHeat among the signatories, gives you a strong “systems-level” angle to layer onto your California geothermal piece by showing how firm clean power and storage are being coordinated on both sides of the Atlantic. Image : UK First Geothermal power plant at United Dawn's by Enel Green Coordinated Clean Firm Power, How California’s Geothermal Push and Europe’s Energy Storage Tripartite Are Rewriting the Rules of the Grid California’s decision to fund geothermal exploratory wells and the EU’s first‑ever tripartite agreement on energy storage are two sides of the same strategic coin, both designed to deliver secure, flexible, and affordable clean electricity. While California is targeting next‑generation geothermal to close its “clean firm gap,” Brussels is rallying 22 Member States, industry, banks, and innovators around a shared pledge to add 30–35 GW of new storage capacity in just two years.Together, these moves sh...

Geothermal Engineering Limited (GEL): Deep Geothermal Technology, Financing, and UK Clean Energy Expansion

Geothermal Engineering Limited (GEL) : Technology, Financing, and Progress Image : Ryan Law is the C.E.O at GEL Geothermal Engineering Limited (GEL) is one of the UK’s most important geothermal developers, with a flagship deep-geothermal project at United Downs in Cornwall and a growing strategy that combines electricity, heat, and lithium extraction. It has also attracted a mix of private capital, public grants, and bank financing to move from exploration and drilling into commercial operations. Company overview GEL was incorporated in 2008 and is registered in Cornwall as a private limited company focused on electricity production, utility construction, and test drilling and boring. Its core mission is to use geothermal resources beneath the ground to support low-carbon power, heating, cooling, and ultra-low-carbon lithium production in the UK. The company presents itself as a lean specialist team built around geothermal engineering, geology, and community engagement capabilities. ...

Tarragona Geothermal Energy Project: Renewable Heating Potential in Six Municipalities

Hidden geothermal energy under six Tarragona municipalities could power a new phase of the energy transition Image : A Geothermal Power Plant gushing steam to power a grid   A renewable resource beneath the ground A new study in Tarragona has revealed that geothermal energy could become a major local source of heat and cooling for six municipalities: Ascó, Mont-roig del Camp, Montbrió del Camp, Flix, Ulldemolins, and El Perelló . The research suggests that shallow geothermal systems could supply hundreds of buildings and public facilities with a steady, renewable, and locally available energy source . The idea is compelling because it combines climate action with territorial resilience. Instead of depending entirely on imported energy or weather-dependent renewables, these towns could tap into the stable temperature of the subsoil to produce heating, cooling, and domestic hot water . For a region that is already managing the transition away from nuclear dependence, this could ...

California Invests in Geothermal Exploratory Wells, Unlocking Next‑Generation Geothermal Growth, Clean Firm Power, and Investment Opportunities in California Geothermal Funding

California’s Big Bet on Next,Generation Geothermal, Why New State Funding Could Unlock Clean, Firm Power California just took an important step toward scaling next,generation geothermal energy. In the 2026 budget, Governor Gavin Newsom and the state legislature included targeted funds for geothermal exploratory wells and early,stage in,field programs, a move Clean Air Task Force (CATF) says is essential to overcoming the subsurface uncertainty that has slowed project deployment. This funding mirrors recommendations from CATF’s recent report, “Build Here: How Targeted State Investment in Geothermal Can Fill California’s Clean Firm Gap,” and could accelerate geothermal’s role as a reliable complement to wind, solar, and storage. Below I unpack why the new funding matters, how it addresses the industry’s biggest barriers, what the potential economic and grid benefits are, and where private capital, developers, and policymakers should focus next to turn this promise into projects. What Ca...

Réseau Terra Confort Geothermal Energy Project: Châtenay-Malabry and Le Plessis-Robinson’s 88% Renewable District Heating Network

Réseau Terra Confort: Châtenay-Malabry and Le Plessis-Robinson Commission a Landmark Geothermal Heating Network Today’s commissioning of Réseau Terra Confort marks a major step in the energy transition of the Hauts-de-Seine area. Designed to supply the Ville de Châtenay-Malabry and the Ville du Plessis-Robinson, the network now brings a large-scale geothermal solution into active service, strengthening the role of local renewable heat in urban decarbonization. This is not just another infrastructure announcement. It is a concrete example of how a municipality-led energy project, supported by public institutions and delivered by an experienced private operator, can become a visible climate solution for thousands of households and public buildings. With 88% renewable energy on the grid, the project stands out as one of the strongest district heating examples in the Île-de-France region. A project shaped by local transition goals Réseau Terra Confort was built around a simple but ambitiou...

Colombia Grants El Barranquero Geothermal Exploration Permit, Advancing Policy, Investment, and Renewable Energy Growth

Colombia Grants Geothermal Exploration Permit to El Barranquero Project A New Signal for Colombia’s Geothermal Future Colombia has taken another decisive step in geothermal energy by granting an exploration permit for the El Barranquero project, a move that strengthens the country’s push to diversify its clean energy mix. The permit is more than a routine approval; it shows that geothermal is moving from policy ambition to practical development in a market that has long talked about its potential but struggled to unlock it.  The project sits between Samaná in Caldas and Nariño in Antioquia, placing it in one of the areas identified for geothermal development by Colombia’s geological authorities. That geographic detail matters because geothermal projects depend heavily on site quality, underground heat, and long-term regulatory certainty.  What the Permit Covers The Ministry of Mines and Energy granted the permit for five years, giving the developers time to carry out a full ex...

Geothermal Drilling Cost Per Well: U.S. and Global Benchmarks by Country

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, ...