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Showing posts with the label Geothermal

Barito Renewables Ignites Growth: BREN Expands Geothermal Power Capacity Across Indonesia

Barito Renewables  Heats Up: BREN Expands Geothermal Capacity to Power Indonesia’s Energy Future By:  Robert Buluma Indonesia’s renewable energy landscape is heating up — literally. 💥 PT Barito Renewables Energy Tbk (BREN) ), owned by billionaire Prajogo Pangestu, is taking bold steps to reinforce its position as a geothermal powerhouse. The company has unveiled a strategic expansion plan aimed at boosting its geothermal power generation capacity across multiple key plants. According to its latest public presentation, BREN will increase the capacity of its geothermal power plants (PLTP) in four locations — a move designed to propel corporate growth while contributing significantly to Indonesia’s clean energy targets. Among the headline projects: Wayang Windu Unit 3 will see a 30 MW capacity boost. Salak Unit 7 will gain an additional 40 MW , both targeted for completion by Q4 2026 . Wayang Windu Units 1 & 2 will undergo a retrofit adding 18.4 MW , expected by Q...

Iceland’s Geothermal Revolution: Bjarni Pálsson to Lead Strategic Task Force Shaping the Nation’s Energy Future

Iceland Charts a Bold Geothermal Future: Bjarni Pálsson to Lead the Nation’s Strategic Task Force By  Robert Buluma | October 30, 2025 Iceland — the land where fire meets ice — is once again positioning itself at the forefront of geothermal innovation. In a decisive move, Iceland’s Minister for Environment, Energy, and Climate , Jóhann Páll Jóhannsson, has launched a new strategic initiative to redefine how the country harnesses its powerful geothermal resources — not just as an energy source, but as a national tool for growth, equality, and global leadership. At the helm of this vision stands Bjarni Pálsson , the President of the International Geothermal Association (IGA) and Executive Director of Wind and Geothermal at Landsvirkjun , Iceland’s national power company. Pálsson will chair an expert task force charged with developing a forward-thinking roadmap for Iceland’s geothermal future — one that could once again set a global benchmark for sustainable energy. A Task Force of ...

Exploring the Golden Depths: The Overlooked Connection Between Geothermal Energy and Mineral Wealth

Gold and Geothermal: Unveiling the Hidden Synergy Beneath the Pacific’s Ring of Fire By:  Robert Buluma Imagine working somewhere around the Pacific’s Ring of Fire — a region synonymous with fiery volcanoes, seismic activity, and immense geological potential. Now, picture conducting diamond core drilling, only to discover that beneath the geothermal-rich zones lies something even more valuable — mineralised gold. This fascinating overlap between geothermal energy and mineral exploration is the focus of an intriguing discussion led by William David Hartell , Managing Director at Stellae Energy Ltd . His reflections shed light on a promising but often overlooked opportunity: the co-development of geothermal and mineral resources . A Hidden Wealth Beneath the Earth From North and Central America down to South America, and across the vast Pacific to New Zealand, the Western Tropical Pacific, Indonesia, the Philippines, Taiwan, and Japan — the Pacific’s Ring of Fire hosts hundreds ...

Green Climate Fund and IDB Drive Geothermal Transformation Across the Eastern Caribbean

Sustainable Energy Facility for the Eastern Caribbean: Unlocking Geothermal Power for Island Nations By:  Robert Buluma In a bold step toward achieving energy independence and climate resilience, the Green Climate Fund (GCF), in partnership with the  Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), is spearheading a regional geothermal revolution across the Eastern Caribbean. The Sustainable Energy Facility for the Eastern Caribbean (FP020) is not just a clean energy project—it’s a blueprint for how small island developing states (SIDS) can transition from fossil fuel dependency to sustainable, homegrown power. A Regional Vision for Energy Transformation Approved by the GCF Board in October 2016, this multi-country initiative spans Dominica, Grenada, Saint Kitts & Nevis, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent & the Grenadines—five nations bound by geography, vulnerability, and a shared goal of energy security. Collectively, these islands have long relied on imported liquid fuels to gen...

Kenya’s Geothermal Power Fuels Africa’s First Green Ammonia Revolution

From Steam to Soil:  KenGen and Kaishan Pioneer Kenya’s Green Ammonia Revolution By:  Robert Buluma Kenya is taking a bold step toward green industrialization. In a landmark collaboration, KenGen and Kaishan  Group have teamed up to develop Africa’s first large-scale geothermal-powered green ammonia and fertilizer plant at Olkaria in Naivasha. The project, valued at around $800 million , will utilize 165 MW of geothermal steam and power supplied by KenGen under a 30-year agreement. Kaishan’s subsidiary, Kaishan Terra Green Ammonia Limited , will construct and operate the facility, which is expected to produce over 100,000 tons of green ammonia annually—processed into fertilizer products like urea and ammonium nitrate. Transforming Kenya’s Energy and Agricultural Landscape This project marks a turning point for Kenya’s geothermal sector. It extends the value of geothermal energy beyond electricity generation, proving that steam can fuel not just turbines—but also ...

“Mazama Energy Unveils the World’s Hottest Geothermal System — A Blueprint for Terawatt-Scale Clean Energy”

  Mazama Energy Ignites a New Era: The World’s Hottest Geothermal System Powers Toward a Carbon-Free Future By Robert Buluma , October 2025 In a quiet corner of Oregon’s Cascade Range, deep beneath the rugged volcanic landscape of Newberry, a new energy revolution is taking shape.  Mazama Energy — a startup incubated by Khosla Ventures and backed by Gates Frontier — has just achieved a technological milestone that could change the way we power the planet. At a staggering 629 °F (331 °C), Mazama’s newly completed Enhanced Geothermal System (EGS) is now the hottest ever recorded on Earth. And this is just the beginning. By 2026, the company expects to push those temperatures to 750 °F (400 °C) — unlocking enough energy to power gigawatts of clean electricity from this single site. 🔥 Cracking the Code of the Earth’s Heat For decades, geothermal energy has been the “quiet cousin” of renewables — clean, reliable, but limited to places where hot water naturally flows near the sur...

Utah and New Zealand Join Forces to Supercharge Geothermal Energy Innovation under “Operation Gigawatt”

A New Chapter in Geothermal Diplomacy: Utah & New Zealand Seal Geothermal Pact By:  Robert Buluma In October 2025, a significant milestone was achieved when Spencer Cox, Governor of Utah, and Simon Watts, New Zealand’s Minister for Energy, signed a Letter of Intent in Auckland. The agreement formalises cooperation between Utah and New Zealand, with a special focus on developing geothermal energy as part of their shared goal to expand and diversify clean energy generation. Key Elements of the Agreement The newly signed agreement aims to strengthen collaboration in energy generation, diversification, and innovation — with geothermal energy taking center stage. The partnership also aligns with Utah’s broader mission, Operation Gigawatt , which seeks to create energy abundance through the development of renewable and advanced energy technologies. This signing was part of a wider trade and innovation mission involving cooperation in sectors such as critical minerals, clean energy, ...

XGS Energy Achieves 3,000-Hour Milestone in Geothermal Innovation

XGS Energy  Achieves 3,000-Hour Milestone for Water-Independent Geothermal System By : Robert Buluma HOUSTON, Sept 30, 2025 – In a groundbreaking achievement for the geothermal sector, XGS Energy has announced the successful 3,000-hour operation of its water-independent geothermal system at commercial scale. This milestone not only validates the system’s commercial economics but also positions XGS as the first company to demonstrate such technology under real-world, commercial conditions. A New Era in Geothermal Innovation The operations took place at the Coso Geothermal Field in California’s Western Mojave Desert, a site owned by Atlantica Sustainable Infrastructure and operated by Coso Operating Company. XGS Energy  revitalized a well that had been idle for over two decades, installing its proprietary closed-loop geothermal system enhanced by Thermal Reach Enhancement (TRE) technology. Flow testing delivered a record performance, maintaining a sustained temperature differenc...

Cornish Lithium Secures £35M to Advance Geothermal Lithium and Critical Mineral Projects in the UK

Cornish Lithium  Secures £35M in Equity Funding  A Milestone for UK Critical Minerals By:  Robert Buluma In a major boost for the UK’s domestic battery supply ambitions,  Cornish Lithium has announced that it has secured £35 million in new equity funding. This capital raise is intended to propel its key projects closer to construction and commercial stages, marking a pivotal moment in the firm’s trajectory. Backing & Investors The funding round is led by existing institutional backers, with up to £31 million coming from the National Wealth Fund (NWF) , and approximately £4 million from TechMet , a long-standing investor in the company. Cornish Lithium’s legal counsel for the deal was Mayer Brown. What the Funds Will Be Used For Cornish Lithium will allocate the capital toward advancing two flagship projects: Trelavour Lithium Project : The funds will support further engineering work, feasibility studies, and help lead the project toward a construction...

Unlocking Geothermal Power: Subsurface Secrets of Mount Erciyes Revealed”

Mount Erciyes: A Hidden Geothermal Treasure Beneath Cappadocia By: Robert Buluma Beneath the snow-capped slopes of Mount Erciyes , central Turkey’s highest peak, lies more than just volcanic history  it harbors the promise of geothermal energy . A new study published in the Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research has mapped the subsurface of Erciyes using three-dimensional magnetotelluric (MT) imaging , revealing zones of high electrical conductivity that point to heat, fluids, and possible magma bodies deep underground. Cracking the Code Beneath the Mountain Researchers led by S.B. Tank used advanced MT techniques to peer beneath Erciyes and its surroundings. Their results uncovered conductivity anomalies   regions where electricity flows more easily due to the presence of saline fluids, hot water, or partially molten rock . For geothermal experts, these anomalies are gold. They act as subsurface fingerprints of geothermal reservoirs , highlighting where heat ...

Kenya’s Energy Crossroads: Gulf Energy Takes Over Tullow Oil in Turkana’s Geothermal-Rich Fields

Gulf Energy  Takes Over Tullow Oil’s Turkana Fields – Oil Drilling to Overlap a Geothermal Hotspot By:  Robert Buluma In a landmark energy shift for Kenya, British explorer Tullow Oil  has officially exited the country after 14 years , selling its Turkana operations to Gulf Energy  in a deal worth Ksh.16 billion (USD 120 million). The transition marks the end of  Tullow's chapter in Kenya and the beginning of a new phase that could reshape not only oil production but geothermal exploration as well. The takeover grants  Gulf Energy full control of the Turkana oil project , situated in a geologically active zone that also happens to host significant geothermal potential. Beneath Turkana’s arid landscapes, volcanic systems create natural heat reservoirs turning the region into a rare frontier where oil and geothermal energy converge. Tullow Oil  first entered Kenya in 2010, striking the Ngamia-1 discovery well in 2012, which ignited hopes of the countr...

Ahnsbeck Breakthrough: Lower Saxony’s First Deep Geothermal Project Set to Become a Flagship for Clean Energy

First Deep Geothermal Project in Lower Saxony About to Be Implemented – LBEG President Carsten Mühlenmeier: “Ahnsbeck Could Become a Flagship Project” By:  Robert Buluma Sven Krueger, Managing Director of Baker Hughes , shows LBEG President Carsten Mühlenmeier and SVO Managing Director Holger Schwenke (from left) the drilling rig in Ahnsbeck. “We are now here else in Lower Saxony as far along as we are here.” With these words, Carsten Mühlenmeier, President of the State Office for Mining, Energy and Geology (LBEG), made it clear during his visit to the drilling site near Ahnsbeck (Celle district) that just twelve kilometers east of the former ducal residence city, the first deep geothermal project in the state could soon become reality. Baker Hughes has encountered rock layers at around 2,500 meters depth that register temperatures of 113 degrees Celsius. In the future, this heat could be used, for example, to supply buildings with heating. “Up to now, we have issued 42 explorat...