Skip to main content

Transforming Geothermal Energy: GTO and ConnectWerx Launch $19 Million Regional Data Expansion Initiative

Geothermal Technology Office and ConnectWerx Launch $19 Million Initiative to Enhance Regional Geothermal Data Collection

The U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Geothermal Technologies Office (GTO), in collaboration with ConnectWerx, has announced a substantial funding opportunity aimed at strengthening geothermal data collection across various U.S. regions. This $19 million initiative seeks to identify and address regional data gaps, thereby promoting further geothermal exploration and development.
Objective of the Initiative

The primary goal of this funding opportunity is to establish regional partnerships that will:

- Identify existing gaps in geothermal data.

- Prioritize and plan data collection activities.

- Execute comprehensive data collection and dissemination efforts.

By addressing these areas, the initiative aims to incentivize and stimulate subsequent geothermal exploration and development activities, contributing to a more sustainable and energy-resilient future.

Role of ConnectWerx

ConnectWerx serves as a Partnership Intermediary to the DOE, working closely with various DOE Program Offices to administer projects and funding opportunities. Their mission is to connect the U.S. industrial and academic base to help the DOE address energy, environmental, and nuclear challenges through transformative science and technology solutions. In this initiative, ConnectWerx will facilitate the formation of regional partnerships, ensuring effective collaboration and execution of geothermal data collection projects.

Funding Details and Application Process

The funding opportunity is structured to encourage broad participation from various stakeholders, including energy producers, communities, businesses, educational institutions, and technology developers. The application process is as follows:

1. Concept Papers: Interested parties are encouraged to submit concept papers by February 24, 2025, at 5:00 pm.

2. Full Applications: Following the review of concept papers, selected applicants will be invited to submit full applications by April 22, 2025, at 5:00 pm.

Detailed information about the funding opportunity, including submission guidelines and evaluation criteria, can be found on the ConnectWerx website.

Significance for the Geothermal Industry

This initiative represents a significant step forward in advancing geothermal energy in the United States. By systematically identifying and addressing regional data gaps, the program aims to:

- Enhance the understanding of geothermal resources.

- Encourage investment in geothermal exploration and development.

- Foster collaboration among key stakeholders in the energy sector.

Ultimately, the initiative seeks to unlock the vast potential of geothermal energy, contributing to the nation's clean energy goals and reducing reliance on fossil fuels.


The Geothermal Technologies Office is dedicated to advancing geothermal energy technologies through research, development, and demonstration projects. Their efforts focus on enhancing the understanding and utilization of geothermal resources to promote sustainable and clean energy solutions.


ConnectWerx is a DOE platform designed to accelerate partnership formation to expand the development and deployment of critical energy solutions. Their mission includes engaging with a network of energy producers, communities, businesses, educational institutions, and technology developers to advertise DOE initiatives, match stakeholders tackling key energy challenges with solution providers and relevant DOE funding opportunities, and collaborate throughout the execution of DOE’s portfolio of projects.

For those interested in this funding opportunity or other initiatives,staying in touch with Alphaxioms is highly recommended. These communications provide updates on funding opportunities, events, publications, and activities directly related to geothermal advancements.

This funding opportunity underscores the U.S. government's commitment to supporting cutting-edge innovations for a cleaner, more sustainable energy future.


Connect with us: LinkedIn , X

Comments

Hot Topics 🔥

Pertamina Geothermal Energy Withdraws from Kenya's Suswa Project Amid Concerns Over Returns and Majority Stake

Pertamina Geothermal Energy Withdraws from Kenya's Suswa Project: A Strategic Pivot in International Expansion By: Robert Buluma Image: Pertamina Geothermal Energy Withdraws from Kenya's Suswa Project Amid Concerns Over Returns and Majority Stake In a significant development for the global geothermal sector, PT Pertamina Geothermal Energy Tbk (PGEO ), the renewable energy arm of Indonesia's state-owned energy giant Pertamina, has officially withdrawn from its planned investment in the Suswa geothermal field in Kenya . Announced in late February 2026, this decision marks the end of a multi-year exploration of collaboration between PGEO and Kenya's Geothermal Development Company (GDC), a fully government-owned entity tasked with advancing the country's vast geothermal resources. The news first surfaced prominently in Indonesian media, including Bisnis.com, where Pertamina New & Renewable Energy (NRE ) President Director John Anis provided direct insight during an...

Quaise Energy Secures $200 Million to Unlock Superhot Geothermal Power in Oregon

Quaise Energy's Ambitious $200 Million Raise: Paving the Way for Superhot Geothermal Revolution By: Robert Buluma Welcome back to Alphaxioms Geothermal News, your go-to source for the latest breakthroughs in sustainable energy from the heart of geothermal innovation. As we dive into March 2026, the geothermal sector is heating up—literally—with exciting developments that could reshape our global energy landscape. Today, we're spotlighting Quaise Energy , a Houston-based startup that's making waves (millimeter waves, to be precise) in the quest for unlimited clean power. The company is in the process of raising approximately $200 million to fund its groundbreaking first commercial geothermal power plant in Oregon. This move not only underscores the growing investor confidence in next-generation geothermal technologies but also positions Quaise as a frontrunner in unlocking terawatt-scale energy from deep beneath the Earth's surface. For those new to the geothermal scene...

$44.1 Million Powers NexTitan: GA Drilling Accelerates the Breakthrough That Could Finally Scale Geothermal Globally

Revolutionizing the Earth's Heat: GA Drilling Secures $44.1 Million to Accelerate NexTitan – The Breakthrough for Geothermal at Scale By:  Robert Buluma Image: Revolutionizing the Earth's Heat: GA Drilling Secures $44.1 Million to Accelerate NexTitan – The Breakthrough for Geothermal at Scale In a world urgently transitioning to net-zero emissions, geothermal energy stands out as one of the most promising yet underutilized renewable resources. Unlike solar or wind, which are intermittent, geothermal offers baseload power—steady, reliable electricity available 24/7, with minimal land use and near-zero operational emissions. The Earth's subsurface heat is virtually limitless; if harnessed effectively, it could power civilizations indefinitely. Yet geothermal's growth has been stymied by one dominant factor: the exorbitant cost of drilling deep into hard, hot rock formations. Drilling often accounts for up to 70% of total project expenses in conventional geothermal develo...

Oil Giant Goes Deep for Clean Heat: Occidental Drills 4 Miles Underground in Colorado – Fastest Superduper Geothermal Well Yet

The Quiet Revolution Underground: How an Oil Giant Drilled 4 Miles Deep for Geothermal Heat And What It Means for the Future of Clean Energy By:  Robert Buluma  Date:March 6, 2026 Imagine this: In the flat, oil-soaked plains of Weld County, Colorado—where drilling rigs have long been synonymous with fossil fuels—a massive rig rises quietly last spring. No fanfare, no press releases blasting headlines. Just Occidental Petroleum (Oxy) , the oil behemoth better known for pumping black gold, sinking twin boreholes nearly four miles (about 20,000 feet) into the Earth. Not for oil or gas this time—but for something far more revolutionary: limitless, carbon-free heat from the planet's depths. Completed in under six weeks starting April 2025, this secretive project—dubbed GLADE (Geothermal Limitless Approach to Drilling Efficiencies)—has sent ripples through the geothermal world. Backed by a $9 million U.S. Department of Energy grant from 2022, GLADE wasn't about extracting hydrocarb...

Hell’s Kitchen Goes Public: CTR’s $4.7B SPAC Deal Powers Up U.S. Geothermal-Lithium Dominance

Controlled Thermal Resources (CTR) and  Plum Acquisition Corp. IV (Nasdaq: PLMK  marks a significant milestone in the U.S. push for domestic clean energy and critical minerals production.  By: Robert Buluma On March 9, 2026, the two entities revealed a definitive Business Combination Agreement that will take CTR public via a merger with the SPAC, valuing CTR at a pro forma enterprise value of approximately $4.7 billion. Upon closing—anticipated in the second half of 2026—the combined company will operate as Controlled Thermal Resources and list on Nasdaq under the ticker symbol CTRH, pending shareholder approval, SEC registration effectiveness, HSR Act clearance, and other standard conditions.  An aftermath of an initial Letter of Intent which we at Alphaxioms covered in depthly earlier. Why This Deal Matters: The Hell’s Kitchen Project At the heart of this transaction is CTR's flagship Hell’s Kitchen Project in California's Imperial Valley (Salton Sea geothermal fi...

INL Expert Trevor Atkinson Reveals Geothermal's Path to Scalability and Breakthroughs

Exclusive Insights from INL's Trevor Atkinson: The Future of Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS) , Critical Minerals , and Why Geothermal Lags Behind Wind & Solar Published on Alphaxioms Geothermal Insghts   Date: [February 26, 2026]   By Robert Buluma In a detailed email interview, Trevor Atkinson, Research Scientist in Geothermal Energy and Subsurface Systems at Idaho National Laboratory (INL) , shares candid perspectives on the field's priorities, breakthroughs, barriers, and potential. His work focuses on subsurface characterization, reactive-transport modeling, AI optimization, and integrating geothermal with critical mineral recovery. 1. What is INL’s most important geothermal research priority today, and why?   Advancing Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS ) through physics-based modeling and AI-driven optimization. My research focuses on subsurface characterization and reactive-transport modeling, which are essential for predicting fluid–rock interactions and...

Strataphy and Saudi Tabreed Forge Groundbreaking Partnership: Pioneering Geothermal Cooling for Saudi Arabia's AI and Digital Infrastructure Boom

The recent announcement from Stratatphy marks a significant step in sustainable infrastructure development in Saudi Arabia. At the Public Investment Fund (PIF) Private Sector Forum held February 9-10, 2026, in Riyadh, Strataphy signed a strategic agreement with Saudi Tabreed District Cooling Company, a key player backed by the PIF. By:  Robert Buluma Image:Strataphy and Saudi Tabreed Forge Groundbreaking Partnership: Pioneering Geothermal Cooling for Saudi Arabia's AI and Digital Infrastructure Boom This partnership integrates Strataphy's innovative PrimeLoop geothermal cooling technology with Saudi Tabreed's established district cooling platforms. The goal is to address the escalating cooling demands driven by Saudi Arabia's massive buildup of AI and digital infrastructure, including over 3 GW of planned data center capacity.  The Cooling Crisis in the Age of AI Saudi Arabia's ambitious Vision 2030 and beyond includes transforming the Kingdom into a global hub fo...

Gradient Geothermal Teams Up with GEOT.Ai: Geothermal to Power Next-Gen AI Factories in LA Basin

The recent announcement from Gradient Geothermal  marks a pivotal moment in the intersection of renewable energy and artificial intelligence infrastructure.  By:  Robert Buluma On February 25, 2026, the Denver-based geothermal company signed a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Muir Global Holdings, LLC, the incubator of GEOT.Ai, to develop behind-the-meter geothermal power solutions specifically tailored for AI factories. The initial focus is a proposed pilot project in the Los Angeles Basin, southern California, aiming to deliver up to 5 megawatts of clean, reliable geothermal energy to power high-density AI compute clusters. This partnership is more than just another energy deal—it's a blueprint for reimagining how we power the AI revolution while addressing escalating concerns over grid strain, carbon emissions, and energy security. Why AI Factories Need Dedicated, Reliable PowerThe explosive growth of artificial intelligence has created unprecedented en...

Herrenknecht AG Wins 2026 European Geothermal Innovation Award with Groundbreaking Urban Vibro Truck

Congratulations to HERRENKNECHT AG – The 2026 EGIA Award Winner! By:  Robert Buluma Herrenknecht AG has been named the winner of the 2026 European Geothermal Innovation Award (EGIA), also known as the Ruggero Bertani European Geothermal Innovation Award. The award was presented by the European Geothermal Energy Council (EGEC ) during a special ceremony at the GeoTHERM Congress & Expo in Offenburg, Germany, on February 26, 2026. The EGIA recognizes companies making exceptional contributions to the advancement of geothermal energy in Europe through innovative products, scientific research, or project initiatives. Entries are evaluated based on originality, innovation, reliability, emission reductions, and improvements in energy output. This year, EGEC received 16 strong applications, making the selection process highly competitive. A jury of eight experts carefully reviewed the submissions and selected five finalists before crowning Herrenknecht AG as the winner. EGEC Preside...

Dutch-Ukrainian Collaboration Launches Pre-Feasibility Study: Shallow Geothermal District Heating Takes Off in Starokostiantyniv, Ukraine – Powered by RVO & Embassy Support!

Ukraine's Push for Sustainable Heating: The Starokostiantyniv Shallow Geothermal District Heating Project By: Robert Buluma In the heart of Central Ukraine, the town of Starokostiantyniv in the Khmelnytskyi region is stepping into a promising future for clean, reliable heating. A new collaborative initiative, funded by the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO) and supported by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Ukraine, has officially launched. Titled "Shallow Geothermal District Heating in Ukraine," this pre-feasibility study and regulatory recommendations project aims to integrate innovative shallow geothermal technology into the town's district heating system. This development comes at a critical time for Ukraine. The ongoing war has severely disrupted traditional energy supplies, making energy security and resilience top priorities. District heating, which serves a large portion of urban populations through centralized systems, remains heavily reliant...