Skip to main content

Posts

Showing posts from November 16, 2025

Just In

"US Geothermal Tax Credits 2026: What the IRA/45Q Changes Mean for Developers"

US Geothermal Tax Credits in 2026: What Is Actually Still Alive After OBBBA For an industry that spent more than a decade building financial models around a stable federal incentive structure, 2026 has been a year of whiplash. The 30% federal geothermal tax credit that developers and homeowners built forecasts around is gone in one form and still alive in another, and even the IRS’s own public guidance has been confusing enough to trigger uncertainty across the market. That confusion is not a minor clerical issue. It is shaping investment decisions, contractor sales pitches, homeowner timelines, and project finance assumptions right now. If you work in geothermal, the key question is no longer whether federal incentives exist, but which incentive applies, to which project type, and under what ownership structure. The law that changed the timeline To understand where things stand in 2026, you have to start with the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, which created a long runway for clean e...

PGE’s Lumut Balai Unit 2: The 55 MW Geothermal Breakthrough Powering Indonesia’s Clean Energy Future

PGE’s Lumut Balai Unit 2: A 55 MW Geothermal Triumph Rewriting Indonesia’s Clean Energy Future By:  Robert Buluma Indonesia has once again staked its claim as a global geothermal heavyweight. With the successful operationalization of the Lumut Balai Unit 2 Geothermal Power Plant, PT Pertamina Geothermal Energy Tbk (PGE) has delivered a strategic blow in the global race toward clean baseload energy. More than just a 55 MW addition to the country’s energy mix, this project marks a bold step in Indonesia’s ambition to expand its geothermal capacity to 1 gigawatt within the next few years. In a world grappling with climate volatility, unstable energy prices, and growing demand for reliable renewable power, this achievement resonates far beyond Indonesia’s borders. It signals a shift — a declaration that geothermal energy is rapidly maturing, scaling, and proving itself as the backbone of modern clean-energy systems. A Milestone Project in a Region Rich With Geothermal Potential Lumut ...

Biliran II Geothermal Project: The Philippines’ Next 200 MW Renewable Baseload Power Breakthrough

Biliran II: The Philippines' Next 200 MW Geothermal Powerhouse Poised to Transform Data Centers and Industrial Energy Security By:  Robert Buluma In a world racing toward stable and decarbonized energy systems, geothermal power continues to stand out as one of the most reliable and future-proof renewable energy solutions. The Philippines—already home to the world’s third-largest geothermal capacity—is once again making headlines with a transformative new development: the ~200 MW Biliran II Geothermal Project , now advancing toward its final resource confirmation. This landmark project represents a bold new era of geothermal development in Southeast Asia, tapping into renewable baseload power to supply industries that can no longer afford instability, unpredictable pricing, or carbon-heavy electricity. With the rising energy demands of data centers, manufacturing hubs, and digital infrastructure, Biliran II could become a strategic cornerstone in securing long-term energy resilienc...

The Geothermal Boom Begins: New Investments, Bold Tech, and a 20× Outlook by 2050

Global Geothermal Market Heats Up: New Investment Plans Revealed for 2025 By: Robert Buluma The global geothermal energy sector is entering a transformative phase in 2025, driven by surging investments, accelerating technology adoption, and favorable policy shifts. As clean baseload capacity becomes more critical to the world’s energy transition, stakeholders are increasingly turning to geothermal power—not just for electricity generation, but also for industrial heat, green hydrogen, and direct-use applications. This shift could solidify geothermal as a cornerstone of sustainable energy infrastructure in the decades ahead. 1. A Market Poised for Steady Growth According to industry forecasts, the global geothermal energy market is on track for major expansion.   We  project the sector will grow from USD 56.0 billion in 2025 to USD 85.0 billion by 2035 , a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.2%. Business Research Insights forecasts a CAGR of 7.3% between 2025 and 20...

Archi Indonesia and Ormat Launch 40 MW Geothermal Venture in North Sulawesi

Archi Indonesia and Ormat Form Powerful Geothermal Joint Venture: A 40 MW Vision That Could Redefine North Sulawesi’s Energy Future By: Robert Buluma In a decisive move that signals Indonesia’s accelerating transition toward renewable energy, Archi Indonesia (ARCI ) —one of the country’s largest pure-play gold mining companies—has joined forces with global geothermal powerhouse Ormat Technologies . Their new joint venture, PT Toka Tindung Geothermal (TTG) , aims to deliver a 40-megawatt geothermal power plant within ARCI’s mining concession in North Sulawesi. The partnership is more than a business deal. It represents a strategic realignment in Indonesia’s energy landscape, a recalibration of ARCI’s identity, and a major step forward for geothermal development in Southeast Asia. Below is a deep, comprehensive look at what this collaboration means, what it could unlock, and why it deserves the attention of every energy observer today. A Bold Partnership: ARCI Holds 5%, Ormat Lead...

Marriott Drilling to Support Tenerife’s First Deep Geothermal Wells with SGI Collaboration

Marriott Drilling to Support Tenerife’s First Deep Geothermal Wells with SGI Collaboration By: Robert Buluma Marriott Drilling Group has been awarded a borehole rig services contract by Soluciones Geotérmicas Integradas (SGI) to deliver Tenerife’s first deep geothermal wells. This landmark project marks a significant step toward unlocking the Canary Islands’ untapped renewable energy potential. SGI, headquartered in Madrid, Spain, and a wholly owned subsidiary of TAQA (Industrialization & Energy Services Company) , is leading Tenerife’s first deep geothermal exploration campaign. Marriott Drilling has been commissioned as the sole drilling contractor to provide high-performance geothermal borehole services, supporting the island’s transition to cleaner energy. The project, set to begin in 2025 , is commissioned by Energía Geotérmica de Canarias (EGC) —a consortium comprising Reykjavik Geothermal , DISA , ITER , and Involcan . The campaign aims to evaluate geothermal electricity...

GDC Opens Multiple Senior Job Vacancies as Kenya’s Geothermal Sector Expands

GDC Announces Multiple High-Level Job Vacancies: A Major Opportunity for Kenya’s Geothermal Talent By: Robert Buluma Kenya’s geothermal sector continues to surge forward—and once again, the Geothermal Development Company (GDC) is opening its doors to top professionals ready to shape the future of clean energy. GDC has officially announced multiple senior and principal-level job openings , signaling the company’s commitment to strengthening its technical, administrative, and governance capacity. These new roles come at a time when Kenya is accelerating geothermal development to meet national energy demands and support the transition to sustainable, reliable baseload power. 🔥 Positions Now Open at GDC GDC is inviting qualified candidates to apply for the following key roles: 1. Manager, Geothermal Resource Management A strategic leadership position responsible for managing resource assessment, reservoir monitoring, geoscientific planning, and supporting field development. This ro...

Zanskar’s Humboldt County Discovery Could Become Nevada’s Largest Geothermal Power Plant

Nevada’s Next Geothermal Giant: Zanskar’s Pumpernickel Discovery Signals a Clean Energy Breakthrough By:  Robert Buluma Nevada is no stranger to geothermal power — but a new discovery in Humboldt County may redefine the state’s renewable energy landscape. Zanskar , a cutting-edge geothermal exploration company using artificial intelligence to hunt for hidden underground heat, has successfully drilled a major geothermal well that could become Nevada’s largest geothermal power facility within just three years. This milestone, known as the Pumpernickel well , is more than a drilling success. It marks the emergence of a bold strategy, a new wave of discoveries, and a significant step toward reliable, 24/7 carbon-free energy for the Western United States. A Breakthrough Hidden Beneath the Surface Zanskar’s Head of Geoscience, Aubry DeReuil , explained that geothermal energy is often associated with obvious surface indicators like hot springs. But the company’s philosophy mirrors...

Iceland Launches First High-Temp Slimhole Well in 15 Years — A New Era for Geothermal Discovery Begins

Iceland Launches a New High-Temperature Slimhole Well After 15 Years: A Major Leap for Geothermal Exploration By: Robert Buluma Iceland has once again taken a bold step in strengthening its geothermal leadership, as Orkuveitan announced the commencement of its first exploration well in over 15 years . This milestone marks the beginning of a new chapter for geothermal innovation in the Meitlar area—one that blends scientific precision, sustainability, and future-focused energy development. The newly launched well is no ordinary project. It is a high-temperature slimhole designed to reach depths of 1,500 meters , allowing geoscientists to test the presence, behavior, and potential of the geothermal system hidden beneath the Meitlar landscape. This well represents years of planning, rigorous geological studies, and persistent pursuit of clean-energy solutions. According to the project team, this initiative is a key element of Orkuveitan’s New Energies department, which works tirelessly t...

Nevada’s Geothermal Lease Sale Breaks Records With Bids Surpassing $400 per Acre

Nevada’s Geothermal Lease Sale Shatters Records: What It Means for the Future of Clean Energy By: Robert Buluma The geothermal industry is entering an exciting new chapter—one defined by bold investments, rising land values, and rapidly advancing technology. The latest lease sale in Nevada is a perfect example. According to industry sources, bids are already surpassing previous records , with some parcels hitting over $400 per acre . This remarkable surge comes just months after earlier records were set, signaling a powerful and accelerating trend. As geothermal development continues to pick up momentum across the western United States, Nevada stands out as one of the most attractive hotspots. The state’s rich geothermal resources, combined with strong policy support and advancements in subsurface imaging, drilling, and reservoir engineering, are creating the perfect environment for developers and investors alike. A Record-Breaking Sale: What Happened? The Bureau of Land Management...

Popular posts from this blog

Alphaxioms Interviews Rystad Energy: Geothermal's Inflection Point, Policy, and Drilling Breakthroughs

Geothermal at an Inflection Point: Why Policy, Conventional Resources, and Drilling Breakthroughs Will Define the Next Decade This interview was conducted by Robert Buluma on behalf of Alphaxioms,  responses delivered by  Alexandra Gerken Product manager, Geothermal solution at Rystad Energy   Introduction: The Strategic Crossroads for Geothermal Geothermal energy is entering a decisive phase. After decades of steady but regionally concentrated development, the sector now faces a confluence of technological innovation, policy ambition, and market demand that could either unlock global scale or confine geothermal to niche applications. Alexandra Gerken, Product Manager for Geothermal Solutions at  Rystad Energy , offers a clear-eyed assessment of where the industry stands, which technologies will drive near-term growth, and what must happen for geothermal to become a globally significant source of firm, low-carbon power. Her analysis emphasizes three pillars: the imme...

Green Therma Selects H&P to Drill Denmark’s Longest Geothermal Well

Green Therma Selects H&P to Drill Denmark’s Longest Geothermal Well for Aalborg Heat4Ever Demonstration Denmark is moving from geothermal ambition to execution. Green Therma has selected Helmerich & Payne to drill the Heat4Ever demonstration well near Aalborg, a project that could become one of the country’s most technically ambitious geothermal developments and a meaningful test of closed-loop district heating.   A milestone for Danish geothermal The Aalborg Heat4Ever project matters because it is designed to prove that geothermal heat can be delivered without relying on a natural hot-water reservoir. Instead of producing groundwater from a conventional geothermal field, the system uses a closed-loop pipe-in-pipe design that circulates the same fluid downhole, heats it in contact with hot rock, and returns it to the surface for district heating use.  That distinction is important for Denmark, where district heating is already a major part of the energy system ...

Serbia Advances Mišeluk Geothermal District Heating Project in Novi Sad

Serbia Advances Geothermal Drilling for the Mišeluk District Heating Plant in Novi Sad Serbia is moving forward with plans to develop a geothermal district heating system in Mišeluk, a rapidly urbanizing area of Novi Sad. The project is intended to place geothermal energy at the centre of a new low-carbon heating network, supported by solar power and natural gas backup. Exploratory drilling and construction of the heat distribution network are being carried out by JKP Novosadska toplana, Novi Sad’s public district heating utility. The initiative is supported through the United Nations Development Programme’s “Geothermal Energy in Serbia” programme, with financial backing from Slovakia.  The Mišeluk project is important not only because it could provide a new renewable heat source for Novi Sad, but also because it demonstrates how geothermal energy can be integrated into urban development from the earliest planning stages. Rather than retrofitting a geothermal system into an establi...

North America Geothermal Energy Investment Opportunities, Companies, Resources, and Market Outlook

Investment Opportunities in North American Geothermal Energy North America is entering a new investment cycle in geothermal energy. The United States offers the region’s deepest commercial market and the largest advanced-geothermal pipeline; Mexico provides proven high-temperature volcanic resources and an established utility-scale industry; while Canada presents an earlier-stage opportunity centered on sedimentary-basin geothermal, direct-use heating, closed-loop systems, and oil-and-gas technology transfer. The investment case now extends well beyond conventional geothermal power plants. It includes enhanced geothermal systems, advanced closed-loop systems, geothermal heat pumps, district heating, industrial heat, geothermal storage, lithium extraction from geothermal brines, data-center power, and hybrid renewable-energy projects. In the United States, utilities had already procured or agreed to procure 1,007 MW of next-generation geothermal capacity through 12 power-purchase agreem...

New Mexico Tribal Geothermal Development: Energy Sovereignty, Jobs, Investment

New Mexico’s Tribal Lands Poised for Geothermal Development: Opportunity, Challenges, and Pathways to Energy Sovereignty Image:  Located in Lordsburg, Lightning Dock is the only utility scale geothermal power plant in New Mexico. (BLM New Mexico via Flickr) Why geothermal matters for New Mexico tribes, nations, and pueblos Geothermal energy uses heat from the earth to produce electricity or heat buildings directly. For New Mexico — a state with abundant subsurface heat resources — geothermal offers a reliable, low‑emission complement to wind and solar. Unlike intermittent renewables, geothermal provides baseload power capable of supporting grid stability and reducing reliance on fossil fuels. For tribal communities, geothermal has particular appeal: it aligns with many Indigenous values around stewardship, can be developed with relatively low water demand compared with some thermal technologies, and offers long‑term revenue, jobs, and enhanced local control over energy resources. E...

NYC Subway Thermal Energy Network Pilot: Geothermal Heat Capture, Radiant Cooling, Seasonal Storage

New York’s Subway Heat Turned into Winter Warmth: The City’s First Transit Thermal Energy Network Pilot Turning platform heat into usable energy — what the Chambers Street and Brooklyn Bridge–City Hall pilot means for urban energy systems New York City has launched a study to design and test a Thermal Energy Network (TEN) that would capture excess heat from two of Lower Manhattan’s hottest subway stations and reuse it to heat nearby municipal buildings. The proposed pilot, centered on the Brooklyn Bridge–City Hall 4/5/6 complex and the Chambers Street J/Z station, is notable for being the first time TENs are being considered inside a U.S. transit system. The plan pairs radiant cooling on platforms with geothermal borehole storage under an abandoned center platform at Chambers Street, converting otherwise wasted heat into a supply that can be stored seasonally and delivered to surrounding municipal facilities during colder months. This initiative sits at the intersection of urban heat r...

€200 Million Dutch Geothermal Financing Accelerates Sustainable Greenhouse Heat Growth

€200 Million Financing Accelerates Dutch Geothermal Energy Cluster in Centraal Oostland A new financing framework of up to €200 million is set to accelerate the development of a major geothermal energy cluster in Centraal Oostland, a greenhouse horticulture region in South Holland, the Netherlands. The facility, arranged by ING and Rabobank for renewable heat infrastructure platform 85 Degrees Renewable, will support the next phase of geothermal development in the region. The funding is expected to finance new geothermal wells, expand heat distribution infrastructure and strengthen the long-term growth of an integrated renewable heat platform serving greenhouse growers. The transaction is significant not only because of its size, but also because it demonstrates the growing ability of geothermal heat projects to attract institutional and bank financing. It highlights a shift from treating geothermal energy as a collection of individual drilling projects toward developing integrated hea...

Innargi Geothermal drives Europe's renewable district heating decarbonisation from Aarhus to Poland

Innargi Geothermal, Decarbonising Europe's Heat, One City at a Time In an era defined by the urgent need to decarbonise Europe’s energy systems, one critical sector often remains overlooked, heating. Accounting for a substantial portion of the continent’s energy consumption, the heating sector has long been dominated by fossil fuels and biomass. Enter Innargi Geothermal, a Danish company on a mission to change that, one community at a time. Founded in 2017 by A.P. Møller Holding , Innargi has rapidly evolved from a single-project venture in Aarhus into an international geothermal energy company with a growing portfolio across Northern and Eastern Europe. By applying decades of subsurface expertise from the oil and gas industry to the untapped potential of geothermal energy, Innargi is industrialising geothermal district heating at a scale never before seen in the European Union. This article takes a deep dive into Innargi’s operations, exploring its revolutionary business model a...

Nowy Dwór Mazowiecki GT-1 Thermal Water Exploration Well: Project Overview, Funding, and Investment Potential

Nowy Dwór Mazowiecki GT,1 Thermal Water Exploration Well: Project Overview, Funding, and Investment Potential Project background and objectives The town of Nowy Dwór Mazowiecki signed grant agreement No. 52/2025/Wn07/FG,hg,dg on 20 February 2025 with the National Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management (NFOŚiGW) under the “Making Poland’s Thermal Waters Accessible” priority program. The grant fully funds the execution of a single exploration and appraisal borehole, Nowy Dwór Mazowiecki GT,1, aimed at locating and characterizing geothermal waters for heating, recreational and balneotherapy uses. The direct objective is to perform geological works to identify and appraise thermal water resources and to make them available for municipal and commercial uses. The drilling target is one borehole to a design depth of 2,070 m (±10%). The project’s declared operational target is to assess thermal water yield and temperature to determine suitability for district heating, spa, recr...

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...