ALPHAXIOMS Geothermal News & Energy Research

SM’s PGPC Wins Leyte Geothermal Contract: A Game-Changer for Philippine Renewable Energy By Robert Buluma – June 8, 2026 In a landmark move that reinforces the Philippines’ position as a global leader in geothermal energy, Philippine Geothermal Production Co. Inc. (PGPC) — a wholly owned subsidiary of the Sy family’s SM Investments Corp. (SMIC) — has secured a government contract to develop a significant geothermal resource in Leyte. The award, confirmed by Energy Secretary Sharon Garin on June 1, 2026, under the Department of Energy (DOE) ’s fifth open and competitive selection process (OCSP5), marks a pivotal expansion for PGPC. The company won the rights to Pre-determined Area (PDA) 2, known as the Southern Leyte Geothermal Project, which has a potential capacity of 25 megawatts (MW) . This article dives deep into the implications of this contract, the strategic importance of geothermal energy for the Philippines, and what it means for the future of renewable energy (RE) in the...

Sanborn Expands Geothermal Surveying to Accelerate Clean Energy Exploration in the United States By: Robert Buluma Introduction: A New Push Toward Subsurface Clarity The global energy transition is increasingly being shaped not just by how we generate electricity, but by how deeply we understand what lies beneath the Earth’s surface. In this context, geothermal energy has emerged as one of the most promising yet underutilized renewable resources. Unlike solar or wind, geothermal power offers constant baseload energy, independent of weather conditions or time of day. However, its development hinges on one critical factor: accurate subsurface data. In early May 2026, a significant development in this space was announced. Sanborn , through its subsidiary EDCON-PRJ, Inc., revealed an expansion of its geothermal surveying operations across the western United States. This move is not just a routine business expansion; it reflects a growing recognition that advanced geophysical mapping is ...

Italy Opens First Geothermal Auction Under FER2 Incentives Image: These are real operational geothermal power plants in Larderello, Tuscany—the world’s oldest geothermal production area. The visible steam plumes come from cooling towers that are part of electricity generation using underground heat. By:  Robert Buluma Italy is preparing to reopen one of the most historically significant chapters in global energy innovation—its geothermal sector—through a structured, modern financial mechanism designed to unlock stalled development. Under the newly established FER2 incentive scheme, the country will hold its first-ever geothermal energy auction on 8 June 2026, marking a pivotal moment in Europe’s renewable energy transition. This is not just another renewable energy policy update.  It represents a strategic attempt by Italy to revive a sector where it once led the world but has since seen stagnation for nearly a decade. With 30 MW of geothermal capacity allocated specifically f...

Cross-Border Geothermal Power: Europe’s Silent Energy Revolution Introduction: Beneath Borders Lies Power In a world increasingly defined by energy insecurity, volatile fossil fuel markets, and the urgent need to combat climate change, a quiet revolution is taking shape—not above ground, but deep beneath it. Far below the political boundaries that divide nations, heat flows freely. And now, countries are beginning to realize something profound: energy cooperation doesn’t have to stop at borders—especially when the resource itself doesn’t recognize them. The recent geothermal collaboration between Belgium and the Netherlands signals more than just a regional project. It represents a paradigm shift in how nations think about energy, infrastructure, and sustainability . This is not just about electricity. This is about redefining sovereignty in an age of shared resources. Understanding Geothermal Energy: The Power Beneath Our Feet Geothermal energy harnesses the Earth’s internal ...

The recent strategic partnership between Diverso Energy and Dandelion Energy ,announced on March 10, 2026, represents a transformative moment for geothermal heating and cooling in the United States residential market.  By: Robert Buluma This collaboration unites Diverso's mature, utility-owned geothermal model—proven in Canada—with Dandelion's leading U.S. deployment expertise and innovative financing approaches. Together, they aim to overcome longstanding barriers to widespread adoption, such as high upfront costs, installation complexity, and scalability challenges, by delivering geothermal systems to new low-rise housing developments without burdening builders or homeowners with significant capital outlays. Geothermal heat pumps (also known as ground-source heat pumps) leverage the earth's stable subsurface temperatures—typically 10–15°C (50–59°F) year-round in most U.S. regions—to provide highly efficient heating in winter and cooling in summer. A closed-loop system ci...

Ormat Technologies Co-Leads $97M Series B in Sage Geosystems: A Defining Moment for Next-Generation Geothermal By:  Robert Buluma Image:  Ormat Technologies Co-Leads $97M Series B in Sage Geosystems The global geothermal sector has just crossed another strategic inflection point. On January 21, 2026, Ormat Technologies Inc. (NYSE: ORA),one of the world’s most experienced and vertically integrated geothermal companies,announced a $25 million equity investment as co-lead in an over $97 million Series B funding round for Sage Geosystems Inc., a fast-rising pioneer in next-generation geothermal and energy storage technology. The funding round was co-led by Ormat Technologies and Carbon Direct Capital ,signaling not just financial confidence, but deep industrial and climate-aligned convictionn Sage’s technological pathway. More importantly, this investment is tightly coupled with an existing commercial agreement between Ormat and Sage, marking a rare alignment of capital, technolo...