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Showing posts from January 11, 2026

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Cornish Lithium Awards Halliburton Contract for Geothermal Lithium Project Development

Cornish Lithium awards contract for Cross Lanes Geothermal Lithium Project to Halliburton‌‍‍‍‌‍‌‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‌‍‍‌‌‌‌‍‌‍‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‍‍‍‍‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‌‍‍‌‌‌‌‌‌‍‍‍‍‌‍‌‍‌‍‌‍‍‌‍‍‌‌‌‍‍‍‌‌‍‌‍‍‌‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‍‌‌‌‌‌‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‌‍‍‌‌‌‌‍‌‍‍‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‍‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‌‌‌‍‌‍‌‌‍‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‍‍‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‍‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‍‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‍‍‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‍‍‌‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‌‌‍‌‍‌‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‍‌‍‍‍‌‍‌‌‍‍‍‌‌‌‌‌‌‍‍‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‌‍‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‌‍‍‍‌‍‌‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‍‍‌‌‌‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‍‌‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‍‌‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‍‍‌‌‍‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‍‌‌‌‌‌‌‍‍‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‍‌‍‌‌‍‍‌‌‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‍‌‌...

Geothermal Exploration on Hawaiian Home Lands

Geothermal Exploration on Hawaiian Home Lands: A Path to Energy Independence and Economic Empowerment By: Robert Buluma In a bold move that could reshape Hawaii's energy landscape and provide long-term benefits for Native Hawaiians, the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands ( DHHL ) announced plans to request $15 million from the state legislature for geothermal exploration. This funding, spread over three years, aims to investigate and identify geothermal resources across DHHL's trust lands statewide. Led by DHHL Chair Kali Watson, the initiative highlights geothermal energy's potential as a revenue generator to lower electricity costs for homesteaders, produce water through desalination processes, and fund essential home construction projects. "It’s actually a tremendous potential revenue source, especially considering the cost of electricity nowadays," Watson emphasized in recent statements. This proposal comes at a pivotal time for Hawaii, where high energy costs ...

Dongying's 162°C Geothermal Breakthrough and the Path to Monetization

Unearthing the Future: Dongying's 162°C Geothermal Breakthrough and the Path to Monetization By: Robert Buluma In the heart of Shandong Province's Dongying Port Economic Development Zone, a remarkable spectacle unfolded on January 9, 2026. From the depths of the earth, at a staggering 4002.17 meters below the surface, hot water surged forth from the "Dong Gao Re 1" well, reaching an outlet temperature of 138°C and a bottom-hole temperature of 162°C. This wasn't just a gush of steam and water; it was a beacon of hope for China's energy transition. Enveloped in a misty plume that caught the winter sun's rays, creating subtle rainbows, this event marked a pivotal moment in the nation's pursuit of sustainable energy under the "dual carbon" goals—aiming for carbon peak by 2030 and neutrality by 2060. The announcement came during a press conference on the "Deep High-Temperature Geothermal Resources Exploration in the Yellow River Basin of Shan...

Green Therma and GFZ Potsdam Launch Breakthrough Geothermal Demonstration

Turning Deep Earth Heat Into a Scalable Climate Solution: Green Therma and GFZ Potsdam Launch Breakthrough Geothermal Demonstration By: Robert Buluma Published on January 17, 2026 In the quest for reliable, carbon-neutral energy, geothermal heat stands out as one of the most promising yet underutilized resources. Unlike solar or wind, which depend on weather, geothermal energy draws from the Earth's constant internal heat — a source that's available 24/7, year-round. However, traditional geothermal systems often face high costs, geological risks, and significant heat loss when extracting energy from great depths. Enter Green Therma, a Danish innovator, and the Helmholtz Centre Potsdam GFZ (Germany's leading earth sciences research center). In early 2026, they're launching a groundbreaking demonstration at the renowned geothermal research site in Groß Schönebeck, north of Berlin. This project marks the world's first real-world installation of Green Therma's pate...

Rodatherm Energy: Pioneering Closed Loop Geothermal in Utah

Revolutionizing Geothermal Energy: Rodatherm's Game-Changing Approach in Utah Posted by Alphaxioms Geothermal News on January 17, 2026 Utah-based Rodatherm Energy Corporation has revolutionized the geothermal energy equation, and venture capitalists have taken note. With pilot projects planned for Millard County and Beaver County, the company has what founder and CEO Curtis Cook calls “a novel approach” to geothermal technology. In a world racing toward sustainable energy solutions, geothermal power has long been a reliable but underutilized player. Traditional geothermal systems rely on water to extract heat from the Earth's depths, often limiting their deployment to remote, sparsely populated areas due to environmental concerns and high costs. But Rodatherm is flipping the script with its innovative, waterless closed-loop system that promises efficiency, scalability, and minimal environmental impact. At the heart of Rodatherm's technology is what Cook describes as ...

52 Golden Geothermal Sites in Tanzania: Cupid's Arrow Hits the Energy Bullseye

Tanzania Embraces Geothermal Energy: A Path to Sustainable Power By: Robert Buluma Tanzania is taking bold steps toward a cleaner, more reliable energy future by prioritizing geothermal power development. During a recent address at the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) Annual Meeting of the Global Geothermal Alliance (GGA) in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Minister for Energy Deogratius Ndejembi reaffirmed the government’s firm commitment to geothermal energy as a key pillar of the country’s energy mix. The minister emphasized that geothermal will help deliver sufficient, affordable, and sustainable electricity while supporting global efforts to transition to clean energy systems. This strategic focus is embedded in major national and international frameworks, including Tanzania’s Development Vision 2050, the 2015 National Energy Policy, the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and the country’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris cl...

The 2025 U.S. Geothermal Market Report published by the National Laboratory of the Rockies & Geothermal Rising

The 2025 U.S. Geothermal Market Report published by the National Laboratory of the Rockies (NLR, formerly NREL) in collaboration with Geothermal Rising and supported by the U.S. Department of Energy's Geothermal Technologies Office (GTO), provides a comprehensive update on the geothermal sector since the 2021 report.  By:  Robert Buluma Released in 2025 (with data through mid-2025), it expands coverage to include geothermal heat pumps (GHPs) for single-building and district applications, alongside power generation and direct use. The report highlights steady growth in installed capacity, accelerating investment in next-generation technologies like enhanced geothermal systems (EGS) and closed-loop geothermal (CLG), cost declines, policy support, and emerging opportunities driven by demand for reliable, 24/7 clean energy. Geothermal Power Generation: Steady Growth and Momentum U.S. geothermal power has seen consistent expansion, with nameplate installed capacity reaching 3,96...

SMUD and Calpine's Contracts Expansion at The Geysers Geothermal Field

Harnessing Earth's Fury: SMUD and Calpine's Bold Expansion at The Geysers Geothermal Field Deep beneath the rolling hills of Northern California, a primordial force simmers—a vast reservoir of superheated steam, born from the planet's molten core. This is The Geysers, the world's largest geothermal complex, where the Earth's inner heat is tamed to power homes, businesses, and dreams of a cleaner future. In a significant step forward for renewable energy, the Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) and Calpine Corporation have announced an extension and expansion of their power purchase agreement (PPA) for geothermal energy from this iconic site. This partnership boosts capacity, fortifies the grid, and promises reliable, zero-carbon power for decades to come. The Geysers' story blends natural wonder with human innovation. Revered for millennia, the area saw commercial geothermal power generation begin in 1960. Today, the field spans a vast area in the Mayac...

Switch's Bold Move: 13MW Geothermal PPA with Ormat in Nevada – Game-Changer

Switch's Bold Move: Signing a 13MW Geothermal PPA with Ormat Technologies in Nevada – A Game-Changer for Sustainable Data Centers Image: Ormat Power Plant Posted by Alphaxioms Geothermal News on January 12, 2026 Welcome back to Alphaxioms Geothermal News, your go-to source for all things geothermal energy, innovation, and sustainability. As we kick off 2026, the intersection of renewable energy and high-tech industries is heating up—literally. Today, we're diving deep into a groundbreaking announcement that's set to reshape how data centers power their operations. Global data center operator Switch has inked a 20-year Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with Ormat Technologies for 13MW of geothermal power from the Salt Wells geothermal power plant in Nevada. This isn't just another deal; it's a pivotal step toward carbon-free, reliable energy for the AI-driven future. In this comprehensive blog post, we'll unpack the details of this agreement, explore the technolog...

China-Backed OrPower 22 to Start Supplying 35MW Geothermal Power to Kenya in March

Kenya's Geothermal Revolution: How the China-Backed OrPower 22 Plant is Powering a Sustainable Future By: Robert Buluma Kenya stands tall as a leader in Africa's renewable energy journey, with geothermal power taking center stage. Deep within the dramatic landscapes of the Great Rift Valley lies one of the continent's most abundant and reliable clean energy resources. Experts estimate Kenya's geothermal potential at over 10,000 MW, yet the country has so far developed only a fraction—approximately 950 MW—placing it among the world's top geothermal producers despite utilizing just a small portion of what nature offers. In this exciting chapter of Kenya's energy story, the OrPower 22 geothermal power plant marks a significant milestone. This 35 MW facility, supported by China's Kaishan Group , is scheduled to start delivering electricity to Kenya Power in March 2026. With the plant now complete and testing set to begin shortly, the $92 million (approximately ...

Versailles Powers Its Historic Legacy with Deep Geothermal Energy: A Model for Sustainable Urban Heating

Versailles Embraces Deep Geothermal Energy to Decarbonize Its District Heating Network By Robert Buluma The historic city of Versailles in France's Yvelines department is taking a bold step toward sustainability. On December 18, 2025, Mayor François de Mazières and Franck Lacroix, Deputy Managing Director of Engie , signed a 32-year concession agreement. This partnership entrusts Engie with transforming, modernizing, and greening the city's district heating network, aiming to slash carbon emissions while providing reliable, renewable heat to residents. At the project's core is deep geothermal energy, harnessing the natural heat from underground aquifers. The site targets the Dogger aquifer, a limestone formation from the Middle Jurassic period, located about 1,500 meters below the Paris Basin. Water in this layer reaches temperatures of around 60°C, making it ideal for heating. The plan involves drilling a geothermal doublet two wells: one to extract hot water and another t...

Popular posts from this blog

AFK Geothermie launches €65M dublette drilling to heat 1,200 homes

AFK Geothermie launches second dublette drilling in Aschheim , pathway to 1,200 geothermal heat connections Summary AFK Geothermie has begun preparing the drill site for a second deep geothermal dublette near Aschheim. Drilling is scheduled to start in November at depths up to 2,600 meters. The project aims to supply up to 1,200 residential connections in Aschheim, Feldkirchen and Kirchheim with district heating from January 2028, expanding an established field first tapped in 2008. Total investment is around €65 million, combining public grants, municipal contributions, company equity and long-term loans. Why this matters now The AFK project is a practical example of how municipal-scale geothermal systems move from demonstration to scale-up. As European policymakers push for decarbonized heating, replicable, well-financed geothermal projects that integrate with existing district heating networks are becoming critical. The Aschheim dublette highlights common technical, financial and ...

Plum IV and CTR’s Geothermal Critical Minerals Deal Takes Shape

Plum Acquisition Corp. IV and  Controlled Thermal Resources Outline a Large-Scale Geothermal and Critical Minerals Platform Plum Acquisition Corp. IV (“Plum IV”) and Controlled Thermal Resources Holdings Inc. (“CTR”) are moving toward a proposed business combination that would create a public company focused on one of the most ambitious geothermal and critical minerals developments in the United States. The combined entity is expected to trade on Nasdaq under the pro forma ticker CTRH, reflecting a platform built around clean baseload power, lithium recovery, and broader critical minerals production. The investor presentation dated August 2026 frames the transaction around CTR’s Hell’s Kitchen project in Imperial County, California, which is presented as a strategically positioned resource opportunity with energy, minerals, infrastructure, and permitting advantages.   At the center of the presentation is a clear message: this is not just a power project, and it is not j...

Philippines Geothermal Drilling: Rufino "Dong" Cotanda Jr. on PGPC, EDC, ThermaPrime, and the Future of Geothermal Energy

Alphaxioms Exclusive: Inside the Philippines' Geothermal Drilling Success Story , A Conversation with Rufino "Dong" Cotanda Jr. Image : Rufino "Dong" Cotanda Jr The Philippines is the world's third-largest producer of geothermal electricity, with more than 2 GW of installed capacity. Behind this achievement is decades of technical expertise, sustained government support, and some of the world's most experienced geothermal drilling professionals. One of those professionals is Rufino "Dong" Cotanda Jr., a drilling veteran with over 45 years of experience in both oil & gas and geothermal operations. Having worked with Saudi Aramco , Desco , Unocal, Chevron , and now the Philippine Geothermal Production Company (PGPC), Dong has helped shape drilling programs across multiple continents. In this exclusive interview with Alphaxioms, he discusses the evolution of geothermal drilling in the Philippines, the technologies improving well performance,...

EGS, Superhot Rock & AI: Geothermal Expert Cary Lindsey on the Industry's Next 20 Years

“Inside the Next Wave of Geothermal Innovation: Opportunities, Risks, and Global Impact” By:  Robert Buluma An indepth interview with Cary Lindsey, PhD Research Scientist Great Basin Center for Geothermal Energy, Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology, University of Nevada Reno  1. Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS) are often described as geothermal's "breakout technology." From a geological standpoint, what are the biggest unresolved uncertainties preventing large-scale commercial deployment ? The progress we've seen in EGS over the last few years has been incredible. For a long time, geothermal was largely limited to places where nature had already done the hard work for us by creating hot, permeable reservoirs. EGS opens the door to developing geothermal resources in places that were previously off the table. That said, there are still some big questions we need to answer. Can we maintain those engineered reservoirs for decades? How much liquid (water or brine) will the...

Dynelectro, Syntholene, and the Geothermal SOEC Breakthrough in Iceland

Dynelectro, Syntholene, and the Geothermal SOEC Breakthrough in Iceland Dynelectro’s role in the Syntholene Iceland project highlights a major shift in how the market should think about SOEC technology. For years, solid oxide electrolysis cells have been seen as highly efficient but too difficult to commercialize because of stack degradation, short operating life, and the complexity of integrating them into real industrial systems. This project helps challenge that view by showing how geothermal integration, advanced power electronics, and system-level design can make SOEC a credible industrial solution.   The most important takeaway is simple: the market has often misunderstood SOEC as a technology limited by chemistry alone, when in fact a large part of the challenge is operational. Dynelectro’s approach shows that if the stack is controlled properly and supported by the right electrical architecture, SOEC can move much closer to commercial viability. The Syntholene Iceland ...

SECI Invites Geothermal Agencies for Resource Assessment and Power Development in Andaman & Nicobar Islands

SECI’s Geothermal EOI for Andaman & Nicobar Islands: What It Means for India’s Next Frontier in Clean Power The Solar Energy Corporation of India’s EOI for geothermal resource assessment and development in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands is a notable signal that India is widening its renewable-energy playbook beyond solar and wind. For developers, consultants, and investors, this tender is less about a single procurement and more about a strategic entry point into one of India’s most technically intriguing clean-energy frontiers. Why This EOI Matters SECI has published Tender ID SECI000268 under reference SECI/C&P/EOI/17/0003/26-27 for the “Identification and Capability Assessment of Agencies for Geothermal Resource Assessment, Exploration, Development, and Utilization of Geothermal Power Plant in UT of A&N Islands.” The document indicates that the initiative is meant to identify agencies with capability across geothermal resource assessment, exploration, development, and...

Deep Geothermal Drilling Preparation for Renewable District Heating

Deep Drilling Preparation for Geothermal Energy: The Erdwärme Breisgau Project The Erdwärme Breisgau geothermal project has received approval for its next phase, allowing Badenova and Herrenknecht to begin preparing a deep-drilling site near Hartheim in Baden-Württemberg, Germany. The partners plan to invest approximately €60 million to explore a geothermal reservoir located around 3,200 metres underground and develop a heating plant for regional district heating.  Why Deep Drilling Matters for Geothermal Heating Deep geothermal energy can provide a stable, renewable source of heat for district-heating networks. Unlike solar and wind power, which depend on weather conditions, geothermal heating can operate continuously when the underground reservoir and surface infrastructure are technically and economically viable. The Erdwärme Breisgau project is designed to investigate a hot-water reservoir beneath the Hartheim area. The plan involves drilling two directional wells: one producti...

Exclusive Interview: An In-Depth Look at Exergy’s Game-Changing Gemini Turbine

Exclusive interview with Exergy : discover the new Gemini dual-flow radial outflow turbine, the first single-unit ORC solution for 30–60 MW geothermal projects, offering up to 30 % lower costs and 99 % availability. By:  Robert Buluma .   An interview with  Luca Pozzoni -  Deputy CEO | Group CFO - Exergy International and the Exergy Team 1. Can you walk us through the key design innovations in your new Gemini turbine and how it differs from previous models? The major innovation of the Gemini turbine lies in the dual-flow configuration: unlike conventional radial outflow turbines which are equipped with a single bladed overhung rotor disk, the Gemini features a double-side bladed rotor disk mounted in a between-bearing configuration. This enables the efficient processing of significantly larger volumes of fluid, leading to higher power output having basically two radial outflow turbines in a single machine with enhanced operational stability and simplified mainte...

🔥 Krafla Magma Testbed: Drilling Into the Earth’s Fiery Heart

Krafla Magma Testbed (KMT) : Humanity’s Bold Leap Into the Heart of the Earth Interview  from Bjorn Gudmundsson the C.E.O-Krafla Magma Testbed and Team By:  Robert Buluma In 2009, deep beneath Iceland’s iconic Krafla volcano, a drilling team made history. During the IDDP-1 project, their drill bit pierced into magma molten rock at just two kilometers below the surface. What began as an accident became a scientific revelation. For the first time, humans had safely accessed magma. This “Eureka” moment gave birth to an idea so daring it almost sounds like science fiction: the creation of a permanent observatory where magma could be directly studied. That idea became the  Krafla Magma Testbed (KMT) a visionary international project that promises to rewrite the future of geothermal science, volcanic monitoring, and sustainable energy. Why Krafla? The Perfect Laboratory Beneath Our Feet Krafla’s  geology is unique. It offers a known shallow magma body, decades of research...

Global Geothermal Insights: An Exclusive Interview with Drilling Engineer Sam Abraham

Global Geothermal Insights: Interview with Sam Abraham the Geothermal Global Technical Advisor at  Halliburton This interview was done by  Robert Buluma on 5th of November 7:30 Am EST At   Alphaxioms , we are committed to uncovering the deeper truths behind geothermal energy , the drilling, the risks, the innovations, and the frontiers. Today we welcome Sam Abraham , a veteran drilling engineer whose global geothermal experience spans more than 25 years. From oil & gas beginnings to geothermal hotspots around the world, Sam shares his journey, insights, and advice for the next generation. Career Journey & Background Sam, could you tell us about your career path and what led you into geothermal drilling? I have a background in oil and gas — seven years since 1991. I served as a base manager in Jakarta for three years, and also worked a little in geothermal alongside oil & gas. In 2005 I moved to New Zealand, given its vast geothermal resources. Fro...