ALPHAXIOMS Geothermal News & Energy Research

Slovakia’s Deep Heat Revolution: Inside the Massive Geothermal Project That Could Redefine Heating in Central Europe By : Robert Buluma  For decades, geothermal energy in Europe has largely been associated with Iceland’s volcanic landscapes, Italy’s historic steam fields, or Turkey’s rapidly expanding geothermal power plants. But now, a quieter revolution is unfolding beneath the surface of eastern Slovakia — one that could fundamentally transform how cities in Central Europe heat their homes. The completion of the third new geothermal well near Ďurkov, outside the city of Košice, marks far more than another drilling milestone. It represents the emergence of one of the most ambitious urban geothermal heating projects in Central Europe — a project capable of changing the energy future of an entire region. At first glance, the numbers are impressive enough. Six geothermal wells. Temperatures reaching 125 to 135 degrees Celsius. Flow rates of 55 to 60 liters per second. More than 3...

Erdwärme Franken: How N-ERGIE’s 2D Seismic Campaign Could Unlock a Geothermal Revolution Beneath Nürnberg and Fürth By: Robert Buluma   Germany’s Hidden Energy Treasure Beneath Bavaria Deep beneath the historic streets of Nürnberg, the industrial zones of Fürth, and the forests and municipalities surrounding them, an invisible energy reservoir may be waiting to transform the future of heating in northern Bavaria. While solar panels dominate rooftops and wind turbines reshape skylines across Europe, another renewable energy frontier is gaining momentum underground: geothermal energy. In a major step toward unlocking this potential, the “Erdwärme Franken” project led by is preparing to conduct a large-scale 2D seismic survey during the second half of 2026. The campaign will investigate underground geological formations across Nürnberg, Fürth, and neighboring districts to determine whether the region can support large-scale geothermal heat production. The announcement marks far ...

From Steam Engines to Servers: How a Historic Norwegian Factory Site is Reinventing Energy for the Future By: Robert Buluma   In the heart of Telemark, Norway, where rivers once powered the industrial revolution, a quiet but profound transformation is taking place. The riverbanks that echoed with the clatter of heavy machinery are now the site of a different kind of innovation—one that merges the ancient stability of the Earth’s core with the high-tech hum of the digital age. The project is Nye Skotfoss Brug. It is a story about respecting the past while building a carbon-free future. It’s a story about taking waste—specifically, waste heat—and turning it into a community asset. And at its core, it’s a masterclass in circular energy economics. Let’s unpack how a team of forward-thinking developers, geothermal drilling experts, and energy system designers are turning a historic industrial site into a "futura district"—a blueprint for how we might heat our homes and power our l...

Riehen Advances Geothermal Future: Loan Application for Major District Heating Expansion By: In the picturesque border municipality of Riehen, near Basel, Switzerland, a significant step forward in sustainable energy is underway. On March 5, 2026, the Government of the Canton of Basel-Stadt and the Municipality of Riehen jointly submitted a request to their respective parliaments: approve a conditionally repayable loan totaling CHF 15.2 million (approximately USD 19.4 million at current rates) to support the expansion of the local geothermal district heating network. Each entity—canton and municipality—proposes to provide CHF 7.6 million to the  Wärmeverbund Riehen AG (WVR) , the operator of the system. This funding targets the ambitious “geo2riehen” project, which aims to scale up one of Switzerland’s oldest and most successful deep geothermal heating operations. Riehen has been a geothermal pioneer since 1994, when its first plant began delivering renewable heat extracted from de...

Croatia Accelerates Geothermal Revolution: €26 Million Boost for District Heating Amid Persian Gulf Energy Crisis By Alphaxioms Geothermal News | March 26, 2026 In a bold and timely response to escalating global energy volatility, the Croatian government has allocated €i26 million to fast-track geothermal district heating projects. This funding forms a key part of the 10th emergency package of measures, valued at €450 million overall, adopted on March 23, 2026, to protect households and the economy from surging energy prices linked to geopolitical tensions in the Persian Gulf. The European Geothermal Energy Council (EGEC) has welcomed the decision, describing it as a strategic step toward enhancing Europe’s energy security through domestic, reliable, and low-carbon sources. The funding will support municipal thermal energy companies in constructing geothermal systems and connecting them to existing district heating networks, with the explicit goal of developing stable local heat sourc...