UAE and Phillipines $15 Billion Renewable Energy Stretches Into Geothermal

The Philippines and Masdar Energy Deal: A Game-Changer in the Renewable Energy Landscape with Geothermal Potential

In a groundbreaking move, the Philippines has joined forces with Masdar, the renewable energy giant from the UAE, in a bold partnership that promises to reshape its energy sector. Signed on January 15, 2025, this historic agreement sets the stage for the development of up to 1 gigawatt (GW) of renewable energy capacity by 2030, with ambitious plans to scale up to a staggering 10 GW by 2035. While solar and wind dominate the headlines, there’s a quiet opportunity emerging in the shadows: geothermal energy, a resource that could redefine the future of this collaboration.

A $15 Billion Green Revolution

With an estimated $15 billion in investment, this deal underscores the Philippines' commitment to sustainable growth and energy security. The country aims to increase its renewable energy share in the power generation mix from 22.8% in 2022 to 35% by 2030 and 50% by 2040. The deal promises not just cleaner energy but also thousands of jobs, a stronger economy, and a brighter, greener future.

However, while solar and wind are center stage, the Philippines boasts significant geothermal potential, thanks to its location along the Pacific Ring of Fire. Could this partnership with Masdar be the catalyst that unlocks the untapped power beneath its surface? Speaking of the Pacific ring of fire, we reported earlier on how Masdar was out to give companies a run of their money in this Geothermal rich treasure trove. It's a no brainer the desert eagle wasnt mincing a word.

The Untapped Geothermal Goldmine

Geothermal energy is one of the Philippines' most underutilized treasures. As the world's third-largest geothermal energy producer, the country has a proven track record of harnessing heat from the earth. Yet, there remains vast untapped potential across its archipelago, with regions like Mindoro, Leyte, and Bicol offering promising prospects.

Masdar, with its global expertise, has already invested in geothermal projects in Indonesia through Pertamina Geothermal Energy, A company that is already iconic in the Indonesian Geothermal power play Could this be a stepping stone for the UAE-based company to bring its expertise to the Philippines’ geothermal sector?

The Implementation Agreement with the Department of Energy (DOE) opens doors for pre-development activities, including technical studies, obtaining permits, and securing rights. This framework could easily be adapted to include geothermal exploration and development, aligning perfectly with Masdar’s track record in clean energy innovation.

Beyond Solar and Wind: Why Geothermal Matters

Unlike solar and wind, geothermal energy offers consistent, 24/7 power generation. It’s not dependent on weather conditions, making it a reliable backbone for the renewable energy mix. Integrating geothermal with battery energy storage systems (BESS), which are part of the Masdar-Philippines deal, could revolutionize the country’s energy stability.

The potential for geothermal is not just about electricity; it also extends to direct-use applications like industrial heating, aquaculture, and district cooling. With the DOE's support for clean energy innovations, this partnership could pioneer hybrid renewable energy systems, combining geothermal, solar, and wind in a unique trifecta of sustainability.

A Bold Vision for 2035

By 2035, the Philippines and Masdar aim to achieve 10 GW of renewable energy capacity. Imagine a future where geothermal plants hum alongside sprawling solar farms and towering wind turbines, all supported by cutting-edge battery storage systems. This vision is not just ambitious—it’s transformative.

The Masdar-Philippines deal is more than just an energy agreement; it’s a statement of intent. It’s a declaration that the Philippines is ready to lead Southeast Asia in renewable energy innovation, with geothermal playing a pivotal role.

Final Thoughts

This partnership marks a new chapter in the Philippines’ energy story. While solar and wind capture the spotlight today, geothermal energy is the silent contender poised to become the backbone of the nation’s renewable energy future.

We were a little bit skeptical on having oil & gas lead Renewable Energy at the COP but its evident the Masdar leader has turned out so well in Geothermal.

Masdar has already proven its ability to develop groundbreaking clean energy projects worldwide. If this partnership evolves to include geothermal, it could place the Philippines on the map as a global leader in innovative renewable energy solutions.

The question is no longer whether the Philippines can achieve its renewable energy goals but whether it can unlock the full potential of geothermal energy to exceed them.

Let this deal serve as an inspiration—not just for the Philippines but for the entire world. As we move toward a more sustainable future, it’s time to dig deeper, quite literally, into the earth’s potential.

Sources:Phillipines Department of energy on LinkedIn and Meta , Masdar , mb.com

Connect with us:LinkedIn , X

Comments

Hot Topics

Blowout at Cape Station: Fervo Energy’s First Major Crisis After Blockbuster IPO

Just weeks after a record-breaking IPO, the flagship project of the "geothermal unicorn" faces its first major operational crisis. By : Robert Buluma Beaver County, Utah – The morning of May 27, 2026, began like any other at the Cape Station construction site in rural Utah. Workers for Fervo Energy, the newly public darling of the renewable energy world, were engaged in the complex task of drilling deep into the Earth’s crust to unlock what the company promised would be the future of 24/7 clean power. But by the afternoon, the routine had turned into a crisis. The site had experienced a blowout—an uncontrolled release of fluid or pressure from a well. For any energy company, a blowout is a serious matter. For Fervo Energy, which had just raised $1.89 billion in a blockbuster Nasdaq debut two weeks prior, it represents an immediate stress test of its technology, its safety protocols, and its $7.7 billion market valuation. While the well has since been contained and no injur...

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 ...

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...

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...

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...

Steam and Silence: Why Ethiopia's Geothermal Promise Remains Unfulfilled

Steam and Silence: The Uncertain Fate of Ethiopia’s Geothermal Revolution By : Robert Buluma Despite sitting on a volcanic rift valley with over 10,000 MW of clean energy potential, Ethiopia produces just 7.3 MW of geothermal power—enough to power a small town, but a fraction of what the nation needs. For a country long dependent on hydropower (which fluctuates with drought) and biomass (which degrades forests), geothermal offers the dream of steady, 24/7 baseload energy. However, as investigations into the flagship Aluto Langano and Tulu Moye projects reveal, the road from geological promise to actual megawatts is fraught with technical failure, financial gridlock, and conflicting narratives. The Ghosts of Aluto Langano The story begins and, in some ways, remains stuck at Aluto Langano. Developed by the former EEPCO (now Ethiopian Electric Power/EEP), this site is a textbook case of high potential meeting harsh reality. The resource itself is world-class. Data confirms a high-te...

Baseload Capital launches new geothermal power plant in Japan, expanding its presence in the country’s untapped geothermal sector

Bill Gates-backed Baseload Capital has commissioned its second geothermal power plant in Japan, marking further expansion into a market with significant untapped geothermal resources. By : Robert Buluma Image : Kazuyuki Akaishi, manager at Furusato Netsuden and Anders Helling, CEO at Baseload Capital. Press photo ., Credit : Imapct loop The Waita Model: How a Swedish-Backed Startup Just Cracked Japan's Geothermal Code KUMAMOTO / STOCKHOLM — In the misty highlands of Kumamoto Prefecture, on the southern island of Kyushu, a quiet revolution in renewable energy has just switched on. On June 4, 2026, Stockholm-based Baseload Capital officially commissioned its second geothermal power plant in Japan: Waita No. 2. While a 4.995 MW facility might seem modest compared to a nuclear reactor or an offshore wind farm, the financial and political ramifications of this event are seismic. For decades, Japan has been described as the "Saudi Arabia of geothermal." The archipel...

LCOE Benchmarking: Eavor Technologies vs. Fervo Energy

LCOE Compared: Eavor Technologies vs. Fervo Energy Two Bets on Next-Generation Geothermal An Alphaxioms Geothermal Insights Analysis | May 2026 Image: Eavor and Fervo Drilling Rigs well poised in their respective well pads , drill baby , baby what a time to be a live Introduction: Why the Cost Question Matters Now The global geothermal sector is in the middle of a pivotal moment. After decades of stagnation largely confined to volcanic hotspots, two fundamentally different technological approaches are racing to prove that geothermal energy can be deployed broadly, cheaply, and at scale. Eavor Technologies , the Calgary-based advanced geothermal systems (AGS) company, and Fervo Energy , the Houston-based enhanced geothermal systems (EGS) pioneer, represent the sharpest divergence in next-generation geothermal strategy today. Each company is backed by hundreds of millions of dollars in private capital, each has reached key commercial milestones, and each is advancing ...

Ormat’s Ormega100: How the World’s Largest 100 MW Binary Unit Is Industrializing Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS)

The Geothermal Tipping Point: Ormat’s 100 MW Bet on an Engineered Earth By: Robert Buluma An Analysis of the Ormega100 and the Industrialization of Enhanced Geothermal Systems In the quiet corridors of the Calgary TELUS Convention Centre, amid the hum of the World Geothermal Congress 2026, a threshold was crossed. It wasn’t marked by a flashy prototype or a speculative white paper. Instead, it came in the form of a press release from Reno, Nevada-based Ormat Technologies —a company that has spent six decades drilling, building, and operating quietly in the background of the renewable energy boom. The announcement was deceptively simple: Ormat unveiled the Ormega100, a 100 MW binary power generation unit designed specifically for Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS). Buried beneath the technical jargon of heat exchangers and working fluids lies a seismic shift in energy economics. For the last twenty years, the renewable energy narrative has been dominated by the intermittency pro...

Data-Driven Site Selection in Nevada Pushes SLB and Ormat's EGS Development Forward

Breaking Ground Below: How Data-Driven Site Selection in Nevada Is Unlocking the Next Generation of Geothermal Energy Published: June 9, 2026 | By Robert Buluma In the high desert of northern Nevada, where the sagebrush gives way to volcanic rock and the heat beneath the surface has long been a whispered secret, a quiet but profound shift is underway. It is not marked by the dramatic collapse of a coal plant or the sudden rise of a solar farm, but by something far more subtle: the deliberate, data-driven selection of a patch of earth known as Desert Peak. On June 9, 2026, SLB and Ormat Technologies announced that Desert Peak has been selected as the preferred location for a planned enhanced geothermal system (EGS) pilot. This decision, the culmination of a rigorous multi-site evaluation across several of Ormat’s existing geothermal fields, marks a critical inflection point. It is the moment when enhanced geothermal—long a theoretical promise of limitless clean energy—begins it...

ALPHAXIOMS Geothermal News & Energy Research

Search This Blog