Ruggero Bertani European Geothermal Innovation Award 2026: Nominations Now Open

Ruggero Bertani European Geothermal Innovation Award 2026 Is Now Open , Submit Your Nomination Today!

The geothermal sector has never been more vibrant, more competitive, or more innovative and at the center of this momentum stands one of the most respected honours in the industry: The Ruggero Bertani European Geothermal Innovation Award.

The 2026 edition is officially open, inviting innovators, companies, research teams, and technology developers to showcase groundbreaking contributions that are shaping the next frontier of geothermal energy. If you or your organisation have been pushing boundaries, developing solutions that boost performance, reduce emissions, or introduce new possibilities in the geothermal value chain this is your moment.
🌋 Celebrating Excellence, Advancing Innovation
Named after Ruggero Bertani, a globally respected geothermal visionary, the award recognises:

Originality & innovation

Reliability & technological robustness
Reduction of emission
Improvements in geothermal energy output
Scientific advancement & high-impact projects
Each nomination undergoes a rigorous evaluation, and winning the award is more than recognition , it is a signal to the entire geothermal world that your innovation is moving the industry forward.
Endorsed nominees and the final winner receive international visibility and acknowledgement across Europe’s rapidly growing geothermal landscape.
Submit Your Nomination Today
If you believe your project or technology deserves the spotlight, now is the perfect time to apply.
Application links:
📄 Application Form – Word File
📥 Application Form – Interactive PDF
📘 Terms & Conditions
For questions or further clarifications, reach out to the EGEC Secretariat:
📧 egia@egec.org](mailto:egia@egec.org
The 2026 Award Winner will be announced at the GeoTHERM Expo & Congress in Offenburg, Germany, on 26–27 February 2026.
A Look Back: Previous Winners and Their Innovations
From cutting-edge lithium extraction technologies to advanced drilling solutions and next-generation geothermal systems, past winners reveal the remarkable diversity and strength of geothermal innovation in Europe.
2025 – EnBW Energie Baden-Württemberg

🏅 CASCADE Project

A pioneering approach to lithium extraction from geothermal brines, setting new standards for sustainable mineral production.
2024 – Vulcan Energie Ressourcen GmbH
🏆 LEOP – Lithium Extraction Optimization Plant
A transformative solution accelerating Europe’s push for sustainable, geothermal-sourced lithium.

2023 – Huisman Geo

🔧 Composite Downhole Tubulars (HCT)
The first ever full composite downhole tubular system , corrosion-resistant, strong, light, and designed for demanding geothermal and CO₂ storage environments.

2022 – Baker Hughes

⚙️ Corrosion-Resistant Podded ESP & Completion System
A breakthrough completion design allowing geothermal production to continue without risking casing corrosion.

2021 – ENGIE Solutions

🔥 Multidrains Borehole Architecture
A system capable of almost doubling geothermal reservoir productivity**, now supporting district heating for thousands of homes.

2020 – Carbfix (Iceland) & Eavor (Germany)

🌍 Joint Winners
Carbfix for pioneering carbon mineralisation, and Eavor for its closed-loop Eavor-Loop geothermal system.

2019 – Jansen HIPRESS Borehole Heat Exchanger

Revolutionising geothermal heat pump efficiency at depths beyond 300 metres.

2018 – GDF Latin America

A risk mitigation initiative supporting surface studies and appraisal drilling in Latin America.

2017 – enOware
Miniaturised geothermal sensors enabling precise planning and monitoring of shallow geothermal probes.

2016 – Exergy

The world’s first two-pressure-level cycle on a single-disk turbine, demonstrated in Turkey.

2015 – MijnWater
An innovative mine-water distribution infrastructure for sustainable heating in the Netherlands.

2014 – BESTEC

Awarded for advancing commercial Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS) projects.

Stay updated on geothermal news, policy developments, and innovation opportunities.

Source: EGEC

Connect with us:LinkedIn, X

Comments

Meta and XGS Energy Partner on 150 MW Geothermal Power Project in New Mexico

Meta and XGS Energy Partner on 150 MW Geothermal Power Project in New Mexico A Game-Changer for AI, Clean Energy, and the Future By Robert Buluma – Alphaxioms Energy Blog In a bold move that signals the future of energy and technology convergence, XGS Energy and Meta Platforms, Inc. have announced a groundbreaking agreement to develop 150 megawatts (MW) of next-generation geothermal energy in New Mexico. This partnership not only promises to reshape the state's energy landscape but also underscores the growing demand for sustainable, round-the-clock power to fuel the age of artificial intelligence (AI) and data-driven economies. Clean Power Without Water – XGS’s Unique Edge At the heart of this partnership lies XGS Energy’s proprietary solid-state geothermal technology. Unlike traditional geothermal systems that rely heavily on water and specific geological conditions, XGS’s innovation enables electricity production from hot, dry rock with zero operating water use. This water-inde...

Germany’s Laufzorn II Geothermal Heating Plant Achieves Positive Results from First Drilled Well

“The Water Is Hot!” – Successful Geothermal Drilling in Laufzorn Powers Grünwald’s Energy Future By: Robert Buluma Grünwald, October 23, 2025 – A dramatic plume of white steam over Laufzorn recently caught the attention of residents in nearby Oberhaching, prompting several calls to the local fire department. But there was no fire — the vapor marked a breakthrough moment for renewable energy in the region. “The water is hot!” announced Grünwald’s Mayor Jan Neusiedl (CSU) after the first geothermal drilling at Laufzorn II struck success. The discovery marks a major step forward in the community’s plan to secure sustainable heating for future generations. A Major Milestone for Renewable Heat The successful test pumping confirmed results similar to the earlier Laufzorn I project — with temperatures well above 100°C and a flow rate exceeding 100 liters per second. These promising figures ensure the project’s technical viability and future operational stability. Mayor Neusiedl highlighted th...

Exergy ORC Sets New World Record: 46 MW of Geothermal Power in Turkey Delivered in Under 13 Months

Exergy ORC Delivers Two Geothermal Power Plants in Turkey in Record Time: 46 MW Added in Under 13 Months By: Robert Buluma On November 30, 2025, Exergy International proudly announced the successful commissioning of two new geothermal power plants in Aydın, Turkey: Maren Nezihe Beren 2 (13 MWe) and Emir (33 MWe), totaling 46 MW of new clean electricity capacity. What makes this milestone truly remarkable is the execution speed , both plants were delivered in less than 13 months from contract signing to full commercial operation, setting a new benchmark in the geothermal ORC (Organic Rankine Cycle) industry. Why This Achievement Matters in 2025 In an era where renewable energy projects often face delays of 24–36 months (or longer), completing two binary-cycle geothermal plants totaling 46 MW in under 13 months is nothing short of extraordinary. Turkey already ranks 4th globally in installed geothermal capacity (~1.7 GW as of 2024), and these new plants reinforce the country’s lead...

China Just Built the World’s Cleanest Large-Scale Geothermal Heating System – And Barely Anyone Noticed

China Just Quietly Built One of the Greenest Heating Systems on Earth – And Hardly Anyone Noticed By: Robert Buluma In a quiet corner of Shaanxi Province, something remarkable just happened. On an ordinary day in late 2025, nine deep geothermal wells in Qishan County, Baoji City, began pumping clean heat from 2,800 meters beneath the Earth’s surface into thousands of homes. No smoke. No coal. No water extracted from the ground and no wastewater discharged back into it. This is China’s first large-scale mid-deep geothermal closed-loop district heating project, and it might be one of the most under-reported green energy milestones of the decade. The Numbers Are Staggering 9 geothermal wells (drilled to 2,800–3,000 m) 100% closed-loop heat exchange – zero fluid leaves or enters the rock formation Supplies central heating to the entire southern district of Qishan County Annual savings: 12,000 tons of standard coal Annual CO₂ reduction: 3...

TOYO Advances Next-Generation Geothermal Power with Coaxial Closed-Loop Technology in Japan

TOYO Selected for Feasibility Study on Coaxial Closed-Loop Geothermal Technology in Japan Toyo Engineering advances next-generation geothermal power solutions with JOGMEC approval By: Robert Buluma October 27, 2025 Toyo Engineering Corporation (TOYO) has been officially selected by the Japan Organization for Metals and Energy Security (JOGMEC) to conduct a feasibility study under the "Next-Generation Geothermal Power Generation Technology" program. TOYO’s proposal, titled “Feasibility Study on Coaxial Closed-Loop Geothermal Power Generation Technology in Japan” , has been approved for commissioning, marking a major step toward the domestic implementation of next-generation geothermal systems. Unlike conventional geothermal power, which relies on groundwater or natural geothermal reservoirs, the coaxial closed-loop system can generate electricity wherever heat sources exist, across a variety of geological conditions. The system works by circulating a heat transfer fluid,...

Kenya’s Low Electricity Supply Threatens to Derail Data Centre Ambitions

Kenya’s Low Electricity Supply Threatens to Derail Data Centre Ambitions By: Robert Buluma Earlier on Alphaxioms.blogspot.com, we explored how the EcoCloud Data Centre project represented Kenya’s bold leap into renewable-powered digital infrastructure — a model for how clean energy can drive sustainable data innovation. However, new developments suggest that this vision may be facing serious challenges. President William Ruto has revealed that Kenya’s ambitious plan to host world-class data centres powered by renewable energy has stalled due to the country’s limited electricity generation capacity. While Kenya has earned global recognition for its geothermal and wind power leadership, the current generation levels remain too low to sustain the heavy energy demands of data infrastructure. Ruto pointed to Ethiopia’s 5,400 MW mega-dam, commissioned last month — two and a half times Kenya’s total installed capacity — as a clear indicator of the widening energy gap Nairobi must ...

SWU & Eavor Geothermal Project in Neu-Ulm/Senden Fully Cleared After Seismic Survey Success

Deep Geothermal Energy Breakthrough: Seismic Survey Results Clear Path for Sustainable Project in Neu-Ulm and Senden Published on November 28, 2025 By: Robert Buluma SWU seismic survey confirms no major faults in Neu-Ulm/Senden. Deep geothermal project with Eavor GmbH cleared for full development – clean, 24/7 renewable heat ahead! In the quest for clean, reliable energy sources, deep geothermal energy stands out as a game-changer. Imagine tapping into the Earth's natural heat reservoir endless, emission-free power available 24/7, unaffected by weather whims or fossil fuel fluctuations. That's the promise of deep geothermal energy, and today, we're thrilled to share a major milestone: the seismic survey results for a pioneering project in Neu-Ulm and Senden, Germany. Conducted by SWU Stadtwerke Ulm/Neu-Ulm GmbH , the findings confirm no major underground faults, greenlighting unrestricted progress. This isn't just good news for the regionit's a blueprint for sust...

Arverne’s New Geothermal Drill Could Unlock a Billion-Dollar Lithium Treasure

Arverne Launches First Geothermal Drilling for the Lithium de France Project in Alsace By: Robert Buluma Published: November 24, 2025 Location: Pau, France In a milestone moment for Europe’s geothermal and critical-minerals sectors, Arverne (ARVEN) — France’s leading geothermal solutions provider — has officially begun drilling the first geothermal doublet for the groundbreaking Lithium de France project in Schwabwiller, Alsace. This launch marks a major step toward establishing Europe’s first integrated geothermal-lithium production ecosystem. A New Chapter for European Geothermal Innovation According to the company, drilling operations have begun precisely on schedule following extensive site preparation. The geothermal doublet, which includes a production well and a reinjection well, will start at 10 meters apart on the surface and expand to nearly 1 kilometer of horizontal separation at a depth of 2,400 meters. This phase is crucial. The initial drilling campaign will verify...

DeepU Laser Drilling: Pioneering a Cleaner, Cheaper Geothermal Future

DeepU Laser Drilling Technology Enters Field Testing: A Leap Toward Cleaner, Cheaper Geothermal Energy By : Robert Buluma October 29, 2025 The quest to make geothermal energy more accessible and sustainable has taken a major step forward. The DeepU project , a European research and innovation initiative, has announced that its cutting-edge laser drilling technology is now ready for field testing , after 44 months of intensive research, laboratory experiments, and simulations. The DeepU system uses a laser beam combined with a supercritical nitrogen stream to drill through rock without physical contact, a breakthrough that promises to reduce costs, enhance efficiency, and minimize the environmental impact of deep drilling operations. Funded by the European Innovation Council (EIC) Pathfinder programme under Horizon Europe, DeepU is coordinated by the University of Padua and RED SRL, in collaboration with Prevent GmbH, Fraunhofer IAPT, Geoserv Ltd, the University of Wroc...

ALPHAXIOMS Geothermal News & Energy Research

Search This Blog