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Showing posts from May 17, 2026

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Global Geothermal Power Market Review 2026.

Global Geothermal Power: Policies, Funding, Wells, Strengths, Opportunities and Barriers Geothermal is moving into a broader investment cycle. In 2026, the story is no longer limited to volcanic power plants in a few classic markets; it now includes enhanced geothermal systems, closed-loop designs, district heating, superhot rock, lithium from brines and industrial heat. Across the United States, Canada, Germany, the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Iceland, France and Italy, the sector is being shaped by a simple question: who is de-risking the first wells, and who is ready to finance the next ones?  United States: the next-generation testbed The United States has the broadest geothermal innovation ecosystem in this group, with a mature conventional base in the West and a fast-growing next-generation pipeline. The main policy signal in 2026 is the Department of Energy’s US$171.5 million funding opportunity for next-generation geothermal field-scale tests, exploration...

MND Completes Landmark Deep Geothermal Drilling Project in Košice, Powering Central Europe’s Clean Heating Future

MND Pushes Central Europe Toward a Geothermal Future with Landmark Košice Project Central Europe has just witnessed a major geothermal breakthrough. Czech energy and drilling giant MND has officially completed the drilling phase of one of the largest geothermal heating projects in Central Europe, marking a decisive moment not only for Slovakia’s energy future, but also for the wider European geothermal sector. Located in the city of Košice, Slovakia’s second-largest city, the ambitious geothermal development demonstrates how deep geothermal energy is rapidly transforming from a niche renewable resource into a strategic pillar of urban energy security, district heating, and industrial decarbonization. The announcement by MND revealed that three deep geothermal boreholes were successfully drilled to depths of up to 3.6 kilometers under difficult geological conditions. Once fully operational, the geothermal system could cover as much as 55% of Košice’s heat consumption — an extraordina...

XGS, Baker Hughes, and Meta Ignite New Mexico’s 150MW Geothermal AI Power Revolution

XGS and Baker Hughes Push Geothermal Into the AI Era With Massive 150MW Meta-Linked Project in New Mexico The geothermal industry has officially entered a new phase — one where artificial intelligence, hyperscale data centers, and next-generation geothermal technologies are beginning to converge into a single industrial ecosystem. In one of the most significant geothermal-energy announcements of 2026, XGS Energy has partnered with Baker Hughes to accelerate development of a massive 150MW geothermal power project in New Mexico tied to the growing energy demands of Meta data center operations. The project is not merely another renewable energy development. It represents a major industrial test of whether advanced geothermal systems can reliably power the exploding AI infrastructure economy that is rapidly transforming electricity demand across the United States and the world. According to reports, the geothermal facility will provide electricity into the grid operated by Public S...

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...

The Retrofit Revolution: How GreenFire Energy Is Turning Abandoned Oil & Geothermal Wells Into Continuous Clean Power Without New Drilling

The Retrofit Revolution: How GreenFire Energy Is Unlocking Geothermal Power Without Drilling a Single New Well By: Robert Buluma   While much of the geothermal energy sector has been focused on breakthrough drilling techniques—deeper wells, hotter reservoirs, and complex engineered systems—a quieter revolution has been unfolding in the background. Instead of chasing entirely new subsurface frontiers, one company has chosen a radically simpler question: What if the answer was already in the ground? GreenFire Energy is advancing a retrofit-first geothermal strategy that targets one of the most overlooked opportunities in the global energy transition: existing wells that are underperforming, depleted, or completely abandoned. Rather than drilling new holes into the Earth, the company is reusing the infrastructure that already exists—turning stranded assets into continuous sources of clean, baseload electricity. This approach is not just technically elegant. It may also be one of ...

Colombia Clears Exploratory Phase for Ecopetrol-Led Geothermal Project, Marking a Historic Step Toward Large-Scale Clean Baseload Energy Development

Colombia clears exploratory phase for geothermal project led by Ecopetrol, in partnership with Baker Hughes and CHEC (Grupo EPM), marking a major clean energy milestone. Introduction: A Turning Point for Geothermal Energy in Colombia Colombia has officially cleared a critical milestone in its clean energy transition by approving the exploratory phase of a geothermal project led by state-owned oil giant Ecopetrol. This decision marks the country’s strongest step yet toward developing large-scale geothermal energy , a resource that has long remained underexplored despite Colombia’s rich volcanic geology. The approval is centered on the Nereidas geothermal project located in the Ruiz volcanic massif in Caldas province. The initiative is being developed by Ecopetrol in partnership with international and local energy players including Baker Hughes and CHEC (a subsidiary of Grupo EPM). The project represents Colombia’s first major attempt to harness geothermal energy at scale, signaling a ...

PhD Opportunity at Newcastle University: Subsurface Geoenergy Science and Geothermal Formation Alteration

Two fully funded PhD studentships at Newcastle University focus on uncertainty quantification in subsurface geoenergy and formation alteration during geothermal production. Deadline: 5 June 2026. The Science Beneath the Steam: Why Two PhD Studentships at Newcastle University Could Shape the Future of Geothermal Energy By Alphaxioms | Geothermal Intelligence & Energy Research Introduction: The Invisible Frontier The global energy transition is fought on many fronts — in boardrooms, on policy floors, in grid-scale engineering tenders, and in the quiet corridors of university research departments where the foundational science of tomorrow's energy systems is being built, one dissertation at a time. It is in these corridors that some of the most consequential decisions about our energy future are made, not by politicians or investors, but by researchers willing to dedicate years of their lives to questions that most of the world has not yet thought to ask. Two such questions have n...

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Top 10 Critical Geothermal Energy Problems Costs Risks Seismicity

Top 10 Geothermal Problems: Why a 24/7 Resource Still Struggles to Scale Image credit : Fida, C.E.O Geosilica... This is what scaling looks like downhole in geothermal pipes Intelligence; Strategy for the Geothermal Decade Geothermal energy is often presented as the clean firm resource that can support a renewable electricity system around the clock. It does not depend on sunshine, it can operate through calm weather, and it can provide heat and power for decades. Kenya already relies heavily on geothermal generation , Iceland uses geothermal heat across its economy, and next generation developers are now signing large power contracts with technology companies seeking reliable carbon free electricity. Yet the global geothermal sector remains small compared with solar and wind, with installed electricity capacity still near 16 GW.  That gap is not caused by one obstacle. It is produced by a chain of interlocking problems involving geology, drilling, finance, permitting, public acce...

Global Geothermal Power Market Review 2026.

Global Geothermal Power: Policies, Funding, Wells, Strengths, Opportunities and Barriers Geothermal is moving into a broader investment cycle. In 2026, the story is no longer limited to volcanic power plants in a few classic markets; it now includes enhanced geothermal systems, closed-loop designs, district heating, superhot rock, lithium from brines and industrial heat. Across the United States, Canada, Germany, the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Iceland, France and Italy, the sector is being shaped by a simple question: who is de-risking the first wells, and who is ready to finance the next ones?  United States: the next-generation testbed The United States has the broadest geothermal innovation ecosystem in this group, with a mature conventional base in the West and a fast-growing next-generation pipeline. The main policy signal in 2026 is the Department of Energy’s US$171.5 million funding opportunity for next-generation geothermal field-scale tests, exploration...

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...

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...

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...

PT Geo Dipa Energi Launches Strategic Minor Overhaul Tender for Dieng Unit 1 to Strengthen Geothermal Reliability

PT Geo Dipa Energi Opens Tender for Minor Overhaul of Dieng Unit 1 in 2026 Image: Indonesian Geothermal power plant PT Geo Dipa Energi (Persero) has opened a tender for the minor overhaul of the Dieng Geothermal Power Plant Unit 1 in 2026, signaling a continued focus on preserving the reliability of one of Indonesia’s most important geothermal assets. The procurement is aimed at selecting a qualified contractor with proven experience in turbine and generator maintenance for thermal power plants, underscoring the technical complexity and operational importance of the work. The tender, identified as RKS-004-PST/GDE/I/2026, uses a post-qualification bidding method and applies strict administrative, technical, and safety requirements. The schedule places document registration and collection between 26 and 28 January 2026, followed by a mandatory RKS explanation session and field visit on 29 January 2026. Procurement Scope and Process The procurement procedure requires prospective bidders...

Texas Geothermal Energy Growth: RRC Permits, Geopressured Storage, and Shallow Well Expansion in 2026

Geothermal Energy Gains Ground in Texas Under RRC Leadership Texas is better known for oil and gas, but over the last three years the state has rapidly expanded its geothermal footprint under the regulatory oversight of the  Railroad Commission of Texas (RRC) . From permitting deep geopressured wells for long-duration energy storage to a surge in shallow closed-loop ground-source systems used for heating and cooling, geothermal technologies are moving from pilot projects into commercial-scale development. The RRC’s transfer of geothermal jurisdiction from the  Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) in September 2023, combined with carefully calibrated rules and a permissive permitting pathway, have helped accelerate deployment while preserving environmental and safety safeguards. This article examines the technical and regulatory developments that underpin the growth of geothermal energy in Texas, assesses commercial opportunities and constraints, and outlines the o...

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...

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 ...