Fervo Energy's $462 Million Geothermal Gold Rush: Google Joins the Heat By:  Robert Buluma December 10, 2025 In the fast-evolving world of clean energy, where solar panels dominate skylines and wind farms stretch across horizons, a deeper and quieter revolution is rising from beneath our feet. Fervo Energy, the Houston-based innovator in enhanced geothermal systems (EGS), has just announced an astonishing $462 million Series E funding round. This isn’t just another climate-tech investment,it's a tectonic moment for geothermal energy. The round was led by   B Capital , joined by major players including Google , Tesla co-founder JB Straubel, and nuclear industry leader Kris Singh. With continued backing from Breakthrough Energy Ventures and Devon Energy, Fervo’s total funding now exceeds $1.5 billion. Why the sudden rush? As AI-driven data centers consume unprecedented amounts of electricity and political winds shift around renewable priorities, geothermal’s promise of 2...

First Utility-Owned Geothermal Network Set to Double with DOE Grant , A Bipartisan Clean Energy Win By: Robert Buluma In a political climate where clean energy funding is under siege, geothermal is emerging as the unexpected survivor. Just days ago, the U.S. Department of Energy greenlit an $8.6 million grant to expand the nation's pioneering utility-led geothermal heating and cooling network in Framingham, Massachusetts. This move, finalized under the Trump administration, signals that geothermal – reliable, efficient, and domestic – might just be the renewable technology that transcends partisan divides. The Framingham Pilot: A Groundbreaking Start Launched in 2024 by Eversource Energy , the Framingham project marked a U.S. first: a utility-owned networked geothermal system serving an entire neighborhood. Spanning residential homes, a school, a firehouse, and low-income housing, the initial phase taps into stable underground temperatures around 55°F via dozens of boreholes drill...

Hyundai E&C Breaks Record: Building the World’s Largest Single-Unit Geothermal Power Plant in Indonesia By:  Robert Buluma In a remarkable feat of engineering, Hyundai Engineering & Construction ( Hyundai E&C) has just completed the Sarulla Geothermal Power Plant (Sarulla GPP) in North Sumatra, Indonesia now officially recognized as the world’s largest single-unit geothermal power plant with a capacity of 330 MW. This milestone not only showcases Korean engineering excellence on the global stage but also marks a significant step forward for clean, reliable renewable energy in Southeast Asia. A Giant Leap for Geothermal Energy Located in the Sarulla region of North Sumatra, the plant consists of three units that together deliver 330 megawatts of clean electricity enough to power approximately 2.1 million Indonesian households. What makes Sarulla truly special is its single-unit design. While many geothermal projects around the world are built in smaller, modular phases...

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...

Big Blind: The Geothermal Discovery That Changes Everything By: Robert Buluma Utah startup  Zanskar Geothermal quietly dropped one of the most important announcements in American energy in decades. They discovered and confirmed “Big Blind” ,the first completely blind, commercial-grade geothermal system found in the United States in over thirty years. Let that sink in. No hot springs.   No fumaroles.   No steaming ground.   No prior wells.   Zero surface expression whatsoever. Just desert, sagebrush, and – 7,000 feet below,  a reservoir hot enough and permeable enough to support gigawatt-scale power production. This isn’t incremental progress. This is a paradigm breaker. Why “Blind” Discoveries Matter So Much For the last 40 years, geothermal development in the U.S. has been geographically handcuffed. You could only build plants where nature advertised the resource on the surface – think Yellowstone, The Geysers, or Imperial Valley. Ever...

Iceland's Geothermal Renaissance: Government Bets Big on Low-Enthalpy and Innovative Uses By: Robert Buluma Iceland has long been the poster child for geothermal energy. With legendary high-temperature fields powering everything from the famous Blue Lagoon to nearly 100% of the country’s electricity and district heating, most people assumed the geothermal story was already written. Apparently not. In a move that has the global geothermal community buzzing, the Icelandic government has just announced a massive ISK 600 million (roughly €4 million / $4.4 million USD) grant program specifically designed to kick-start innovative geothermal projects, with the state covering up to one-third of total project costs. What makes this announcement truly exciting isn’t the money itself (Iceland has funded geothermal before), but the deliberate shift in focus: low-enthalpy resources and non-traditional applications. Why This Matters  The Low-Enthalpy Revolution For decades, Iceland’s geothermal ...

First Gen and Unilever Philippines Renew Renewable Energy Partnership By:  Robert Buluma In a strong move toward sustainability, First Gen Corporation will continue to supply 10 megawatts (MW) of renewable energy (RE) to seven of Unilever Philippines’ facilities. This renewed partnership underscores both companies’ commitment to operational efficiency and environmental responsibility. The agreement covers Unilever’s production and distribution sites across Metro Manila, Cavite, Laguna, and Batangas . These facilities manufacture a wide array of products, from ice cream, sauces, and seasonings to beauty, personal care, and home care items. First Gen will source the power from the geothermal plants of its subsidiary, Energy Development Corp. (EDC) , located in Bicol, Tongonan in Leyte, and Palinpinon in Negros Oriental . “Since 2017, First Gen has been our partner in helping us reduce the carbon footprint of our manufacturing operations with a steady supply of renewable en...

Greenvale Energy (ASX:GRV) Unlocks Geothermal Potential with $5M Farm-in Deal from Sunrise Energy Metals By: Robert Buluma 26 November 2025 In a move that could prove highly strategic for both companies and the north-west Queensland region, Greenvale Energy Limited (ASX:GRV) has announced a binding Farm-in and future Joint Venture agreement with SRL Hot Rocks Pty Ltd, a 100%-owned subsidiary of ASX-listed Sunrise Energy Metals (ASX:SRL). The deal centres on Greenvale’s 100%-owned Millungera Basin Geothermal Project, located ~120 km east of Mount Isa in one of Australia’s hottest and most prospective geothermal provinces. Key Deal Terms SRL Hot Rocks will sole fund up to A$5 million in exploration and development expenditure. - Upon completing the $5M spend, SRL-HR will earn a 51% majority interest in the Millungera geothermal tenements, with a pathway to a full Joint Venture. Greenvale retains a meaningful free-carried interest through the earn-in phase, allowing it to preserve capita...

Strataphy Raises $6 Million to Revolutionize AI & Industrial Cooling with Geothermal Innovation November 25, 2025 Author:  Robert Buluma In a major boost for sustainable infrastructure, Strataphy , a cutting-edge deep-tech company, has raised $6 million in seed funding to scale its revolutionary geothermal-based cooling technology across the Middle East and other high-temperature regions. The round was led by Outliers VC and Shorooq Partners , with additional participation from PlusVC . As artificial intelligence, hyperscale data centers, and industrial facilities continue to expand, cooling has become one of the biggest bottlenecks , especially in hot climates. In the Middle East, cooling consumes nearly 50% of total electricity use and constitutes a massive $120 billion market , with Saudi Arabia alone accounting for $13 billion . PrimeLoop™: Cooling Powered by Deep Subsurface Energy At the heart of Strataphy’s breakthrough is PrimeLoop™ , a proprietary subsurface cooling...

URI Embraces Geothermal Innovation: Ocean Frontiers Building to Run on Clean, Subsurface Energy By: Robert Buluma The University of Rhode Island (URI) is taking bold strides toward a low-carbon future — and geothermal energy is at the heart of its latest breakthrough.  As part of the Narragansett Bay Campus revitalization, the new Ocean Frontiers Building will be powered by a cutting-edge geothermal heating and cooling system, replacing the aging Horn Laboratory with a modern hub for ocean science research. With institutions around the world racing to decarbonize, URI’s geothermal leap stands as a model for sustainable campus infrastructure, demonstrating both scientific rigor and forward-thinking environmental stewardship. Tapping the Earth for Clean Power Beginning in early 2024, URI’s Facilities Group initiated discussions on integrating geothermal energy into the campus. After assessing feasibility, the team drilled an 850-foot geothermal test well — a deep subsurface p...

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...

⚡ Quaise Energy’s Groundbreaking Demo: Drilling with Pure Energy — A Revolution Rooted in MIT Posted by  Robert Buluma — November 2025 In the heart of Marble Falls, Texas, the earth trembled not from an explosion, but from innovation. Quaise Energy — a bold spinout from the MIT Energy Initiative (MITEI ) — has just proven the impossible : drilling through granite using pure energy , not physical bits. This September, the company hosted the first of several live public demonstrations of its millimeter-wave drilling system — a technological leap that could redefine the future of geothermal energy. 🔥 The Birth of a Drilling Revolution Quaise’s CEO Carlos Araque calls it “the first drilling innovation in 100 years.” He believes this breakthrough can unlock clean, renewable geothermal power on a scale rivaling fossil fuels . And that’s not hyperbole. With early funding and research support from MITEI , Quaise is turning decades of plasma and fusion science into the key tha...