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Showing posts from June 28, 2026

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MB Centuary sells a drilling rig

By Robert Buluma Alphaxioms
MB Century sells Rig 32 to Webster Energy Services: what the move means for New Zealand geothermal drilling MB Century and Webster Energy Services have agreed the sale of MB Century’s Drillmec HH350 drilling rig, Rig 32, with completion slated for December 2026 after the rig finishes its current campaign for Tūaropaki Power Company. The transaction signals a strategic shift for MB Century,moving away from direct drilling ownership toward concentrating on engineering, reservoir and technical services,while Webster Energy uses the acquisition to deepen its footprint in the New Zealand geothermal market. This article summarises the deal, then drills into the operational, market and workforce implications for New Zealand’s geothermal sector, the strategic logic for both companies, and what the transaction suggests about capacity, competition and future drilling trends. Deal overview and timeline Parties: MB Century (seller) and Webster Energy Services (buyer). - Asset: Drillmec HH350 rig k...
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Ceraphi-Led Geothermal and Green Hydrogen Innovation: Sustainable Baseload Power, Low-Carbon Heating and Cooling, and Research Partnerships with Leading Climate and Energy Institutes

By Robert Buluma Alphaxioms
A pioneering hydrogen storage project in North Yorkshire has secured £500,000 from Ofgem’s Strategic Innovation Fund, positioning the retired Knapton power station at the heart of a new “green energy hub” for flexible, low-carbon power generation. By: Robert Buluma Image: Ceraphi Well Pad With a Rig, Dril baby drill The Knapton power station in the Vale of Pickering stopped generating electricity in 2019 and was later acquired by Centrica in 2023. Centrica’s vision is to repurpose this former gas-fired plant into a green energy hub that can support low-carbon peaking power stations—facilities that only run when electricity demand and prices surge. This shift reflects a broader UK trend: instead of building entirely new sites, companies are reusing existing infrastructure to accelerate the energy transition while reducing costs and planning hurdles. This hasn't been the first we pointed out geological hydrogen as the next geothermal gem we saw this before of course companies are ...
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Geothermal Data Centers: 24/7 Carbon‑Free Energy for AI, Cloud Computing, and Hyperscale Infrastructure

By Robert Buluma Alphaxioms
Geothermal Data Centers: How Earth’s Heat Is Powering the AI and Cloud Computing Boom AI training, hyperscale cloud platforms, and edge computing are driving an unprecedented surge in data center electricity demand. Operators now face a triple challenge: securing reliable power, meeting aggressive net‑zero targets, and overcoming grid constraints that delay new capacity. Solar and wind are essential but intermittent, which makes it difficult to guarantee the 24/7 uptime and predictable pricing that AI and cloud workloads require. Geothermal‑powered data centers offer a compelling alternative: firm, always‑on, low‑carbon energy drawn directly from the earth’s heat. Why Geothermal Energy Matters for Modern Data Centers Data centers never sleep—and neither does their electricity demand. As AI models scale and cloud services expand, power consumption becomes both a technical and strategic bottleneck, shaping where and how fast digital infrastructure can grow. Geothermal energy stands out b...
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US Backs Advanced Chips for Faster Geothermal Drilling and Energy Security

By Robert Buluma Alphaxioms
US Backs Next-Gen Chips to Speed Geothermal Drilling and Boost Energy Security By: Robert Buluma A strategic bet on energy and chips The U.S. Department of Commerce has awarded I-Pulse $250 million under the CHIPS Research and Development program to accelerate advanced semiconductor technologies with applications in geothermal drilling, manufacturing, mining, and defense . The award reflects a broader push to strengthen domestic semiconductor capability while supporting energy security and industrial resilience . At the center of the project is a set of high-temperature silicon carbide semiconductor components and pulsed power systems designed to work in extreme environments. Those conditions matter because the same technology that can survive heat, pressure, and shock in drilling and defense can also help reduce reliance on foreign chip supply chains. Why geothermal drilling is so hard   Geothermal energy has long promised reliable, around-the-clock clean power, but drilling dee...
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NYC High-Rise Geothermal Heating and Cooling: Green Building Laws, Clean Energy, and Sustainable Urban Decarbonization

By Robert Buluma Alphaxioms
How an NYC High-Rise Is Keeping Cool With Geothermal Energy (And Heating Up a New Era for Cities By: Robert Buluma   Image: The entrance to 555 Greenwich St. in Manhattan's Hudson Square neighborhood (Matt Ritchie) On a sweltering Manhattan afternoon, most office towers battle the heat with roaring chillers and aging boilers that guzzle fossil fuels.  But at 345 Hudson Street, a glass-and-steel high-rise is quietly doing something radical: it’s using the Earth itself as a battery to stay cool in summer and warm in winter — without burning a single molecule of gas on-site. This isn’t just a clever engineering trick; it’s a glimpse of how cities like New York can reinvent their skylines in the age of climate change.  Why an NYC Office Tower Needed a New Way to Stay Cool New York City has given its big buildings a tough ultimatum: cut carbon emissions or start paying hefty fines under Local Law 97. [3][4] Office towers, with their endless HVAC systems, are among the worst of...
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Deep Geothermal Powering Graz: How OMV and Energie Steiermark’s “Tiefenkraft” Project Is Transforming District Heating

By Robert Buluma Alphaxioms
Deep geothermal energy is quietly becoming one of Europe’s most powerful tools for decarbonizing heat, and the new “Tiefenkraft” project by OMV and Energie Steiermark in the Graz region shows exactly why it matters – and how it will work in practice. By: Robert Buluma Why Deep Geothermal Matters Now Across Europe, the heat transition has become the missing piece of the climate puzzle: electricity is decarbonizing fast, but buildings still rely heavily on fossil fuels for heating. District heating systems offer a way to decarbonize entire cities at once, and geothermal energy is uniquely suited because it delivers constant, weather-independent heat. In Graz and Styria, the deep geothermal potential of the subsurface is now being tapped at scale, promising a regional, climate-friendly heat supply that can run 24/7 for decades. The “Tiefenkraft” Project At A Glance “Tiefenkraft” is the name of a joint deep geothermal initiative by OMV and Energie Steiermark focused on the greater Gra...
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Geothermal Breakthrough in Henan: China’s Deep Earth Clean Energy, Record‑Breaking Connection Wells and High‑Efficiency District Heating

By Robert Buluma Alphaxioms
Breaking Through the Deep Earth: China’s Record‑Breaking Geothermal Connection Wells in Henan By: Robert Buluma China is quietly rewriting the rules of clean heating—and one of the most exciting breakthroughs is happening deep underground in Henan Province. Two seemingly ordinary wells, drilled only 35 meters apart at the surface, are reshaping how cities can tap geothermal energy safely, efficiently, and at scale. If you care about clean energy, smart engineering, or how future cities will stay warm without burning fossil fuels, this story is worth your full attention. In this article, we’ll walk through what happened in Henan, why it matters technically and economically, and what it might mean for the rest of the world. A New National Record in Deep Geothermal Recently, in Henan Province, China, the first pair of deep geothermal “connection wells” for the Zhongyuan Agricultural Valley Clean‑Energy Central Heating Phase II Project was successfully completed. These wells are not just a...
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OMV and Wien Energie’s Vienna Geothermal Tests Exceed Expectations, Boosting Clean District Heating Potential

By Robert Buluma Alphaxioms
OMV and Wien Energie’s Deep Geothermal Breakthrough in Vienna Signals a New Era for Urban District Heating By: Robert Buluma Image : Vienna  Vienna’s energy transition just took a major step forward, and it came from deep underground. At the Aspern site in the Austrian capital, OMV and Wien Energie have reported that their deep geothermal tests exceeded expectations, producing hotter water and stronger output than originally forecast. The results do more than validate a promising project; they strengthen the case for geothermal energy as a serious solution for urban district heating, climate action, and long-term energy security in dense European cities. What makes this development notable is not just the temperature of the water or the technical success of the tests, but what those numbers imply for Vienna’s future. The city is working to reduce its dependence on fossil fuels while expanding clean heating options for households. Deep geothermal energy, unlike weather-dependent...
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Sage Geosystems’ Project Vector: EGS at Ormat Blue Mountain Plant

By Robert Buluma Alphaxioms
Sage Geosystems Selects Ormat’s Blue Mountain Plant for Project Vector: a Major Step Toward Commercial EGS Sage Geosystems will deploy its proprietary EGS technology at Ormat’s Blue Mountain power plant in Nevada for Project Vector, targeting first electricity in 2027 and full-scale production in 2028. The two-well project aims to deliver firm, 24/7 geothermal power with lower water losses and higher net output,advancing commercial EGS, validating GeoTwin predictive modeling, and strengthening strategic ties with Ormat amid growing corporate demand for reliable baseload clean energy. Why this matters Sage Geosystems ’ selection of Ormat Technologies’ Blue Mountain geothermal plant for Project Vector represents a pivotal demonstration of commercial-scale  enhanced geothermal systems (EGS) integrated into existing power infrastructure. The decision leverages an established plant to reduce non-core capital, accelerate timeline risk reduction, and prioritize validation of subsurf...
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Vulcan Energy Starts Lionheart 30MW Geothermal & 24,000tpa Lithium Plant , Landau

By Robert Buluma Alphaxioms
Vulcan Energy Kicks Off Civil Works at Lionheart: Europe’s Flagship Geothermal + Lithium Plant Starts Rising in Landau Image: The vulcan Lionheart project in Landau, Upper Rhine Graben  Vulcan Energy Resources has started civil construction on its 30 MW Lionheart Geothermal Power Plant in Landau, Germany a milestone that turns engineering blueprints into concrete reality for one of Europe’s most ambitious integrated geothermal and direct lithium extraction (DLE) projects. The first concrete layers are down, foundations are being formed, and supporting infrastructure works are under way. For stakeholders across the clean‑energy and critical minerals value chains, Lionheart represents far more than a single power station: it’s a demonstration of industrial symbiosis, price resilience, and a pathway to decarbonized battery supply chains in Europe. Why Landau matters: location, geology, and industrial context Landau sits in the Upper Rhine Graben, a tectonic trough with a favorable geo...
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TEVERRA Joins Alaska DOE Geothermal Initiative to Reduce Risk

By Robert Buluma Alphaxioms
TEVERRA Joins $5 Million DOE Geothermal Initiative in Alaska Alaska is entering an important new phase in its geothermal energy development, with TEVERRA joining a $5 million U.S. Department of Energy-supported initiative focused on accelerating geothermal development across the state. The project brings together researchers, government geoscientists and private-sector subsurface specialists from the  University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF), University of Alaska Anchorage (UAA), Alaska Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys (DGGS), TEVERRA and Logic Geophysics. At the center of the initiative is a challenge that has constrained geothermal development in many parts of the world: the subsurface is difficult to understand before expensive drilling begins. For Alaska, where geothermal resources are distributed across a vast and geologically complex landscape, improving the quality of geological, geophysical and geomechanical information could become an important step toward...
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The "Heat-as-a-Service" (HaaS) Business Model: Geothermal Without the CAPEX Nightmare

By Robert Buluma Alphaxioms
Heat-as-a-Service takes geothermal from a capital-intensive power project to a financeable, contract-based heat utility: instead of selling electrons, you sell stable, decarbonized heat under long-term contracts that match what industrial customers and investors actually want. Image: A thematic picture of a geothermal power plant By shifting risk and ownership away from end users and toward specialised developers and infrastructure capital, it can unlock geothermal in markets where electricity tariffs are low but demand for reliable, low-carbon process heat is strong. From kWh to “heat-as-a-service” Traditional geothermal projects earn revenue by selling electricity into a grid, often at wholesale prices that barely cover high up-front drilling and plant costs unless there is a feed-in tariff or premium.Many industrial users, however, do not need electricity; they need heat for processes like brewing, greenhouse climate control or pulp and paper production, and they currently buy that ...
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Mazama Energy Raises $135M for Superhot Geothermal Power

By Robert Buluma Alphaxioms
Mazama Energy Raises $135M to Drill Superhot Geothermal Wells for AI Power Mazama Energy’s new $135 million Series B is a major signal that superhot geothermal is moving from frontier science toward real commercial deployment. The company says the capital will help it drill deeper, develop horizontal wells in superhot rock, and move closer to generating electricity next year from its Oregon project.   Mazama Energy’s $135 Million Funding Round Mazama Energy announced an oversubscribed Series B totaling $135 million, with backing from major climate and energy investors. The round was led by Centaurus Capital and Doerr Capital, and it also drew participation from ConocoPhillips, Shell Ventures, Khosla Ventures, Gates Frontier, SiteGround Capital, H. Barton Asset Management, and the Jeffrey and Marieke Rothschild Foundation.   That investor mix matters because it shows geothermal is attracting both traditional energy capital and venture investors. The company was incuba...
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Fervo and Google Sign Record 396 MW Geothermal Deal for Utah Data Center Power.

By Robert Buluma Alphaxioms
Fervo and Google sign world’s largest deal for next-gen geothermal power Fervo Energy’s latest agreement with Google is a major milestone for next-generation geothermal and a clear sign that big tech is getting more serious about 24/7 clean power. The deal covers 396 MW from Fervo’s Cape Station project in Utah, with the option for Google to expand its commitment later, potentially pushing the relationship much closer to gigawatt scale.   For the geothermal sector, the significance goes beyond one contract. It is a public validation that enhanced geothermal systems can attract a blue-chip corporate buyer at a size usually associated with utility-scale solar, wind, gas, or nuclear procurement. For Google, it strengthens a strategy centered on securing always-available, carbon-free electricity for future data center growth.   Fervo’s announcement also lands at a moment when electricity demand is rising fast, especially from artificial intelligence infrastructure. Tha...
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Geothermal Well Cost 2026: Country Benchmarks, Drilling Costs per Meter, Depth & Reservoir Risk, and Investment Insights

By Robert Buluma Alphaxioms
Geothermal Well Cost by Country (2026): Drivers, Benchmarks, and Investment Implications image: a thematic image of a geothermal field Geothermal drilling remains one of the most capital‑intensive steps in developing clean, dispatchable energy. In 2026 the headline fact is familiar: drilling costs vary sharply between countries and projects. But the deeper story is about why those costs vary, which factors are controllable, and how investors, developers, and policymakers should interpret country‑level benchmarks. This article explains the technical and commercial drivers behind geothermal well expense, surveys the cost landscape across major geothermal markets in 2026, illustrates the dynamics with project examples and recent performance data, and offers practical recommendations for modeling, financing, and policy design. Why geothermal wells are expensive Drilling a geothermal well is not simply “digging a hole.” It is a technically complex, multi‑phase process that combines explorat...
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Geothermal Rare Earth Elements from Brines: Unlocking Critical Minerals, Lithium, and Strategic Metals from Clean Geothermal Energy

By Robert Buluma Alphaxioms
Geothermal brines can become a meaningful source of rare earth elements (REEs) and other critical minerals, but the industry is still in an early, pre‐commercial phase where technology, economics, and policy need to align.  Why Geothermal Brines Matter for Critical Minerals Geothermal systems circulate hot, mineral-rich fluids through crustal rocks, dissolving metals and concentrating them in brines that already flow through wells for power and heat. Unlike conventional mining, which moves huge volumes of rock, geothermal operations tap fluids that are already being pumped, monitored, and handled for energy production.  Several factors make geothermal brines attractive for critical minerals: - They contain lithium, REEs, and other valuable metals at trace to moderate concentrations. - Infrastructure (wells, pipelines, power plants) already exists at many sites. - Co-production of minerals with baseload renewable energy lowers the carbon footprint of supply chains.  For co...
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Best US States for Geothermal Investment in 2026: Top Markets, Growth Opportunities, and Investor Insights

By Robert Buluma Alphaxioms
Best US States for Geothermal Investment The best US states for geothermal investment are California, Nevada, Utah, New Mexico, and Texas, with Oregon, Idaho, Alaska, and Arizona also offering attractive upside depending on whether you want operating assets, early-stage development, or next-generation geothermal exposure. Geothermal is becoming a broader investment story than it was a few years ago. Stronger drilling methods, rising demand for firm clean power, and more state-level policy support are widening the field beyond the traditional western hot spots. Introduction For investors , geothermal is one of the few clean energy technologies that can deliver round-the-clock power with a relatively small land footprint. That reliability is a big advantage in a market where utilities, data centers, and industrial customers increasingly want clean electricity that behaves more like conventional baseload generation. The challenge is that geothermal is highly location-dependent. The qualit...
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Global Geothermal Power Market Review 2026.

By Robert Buluma Alphaxioms
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...
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