Geothermal Power in the Western United States: A Transmission and Planning Roadmap to 2030 Introduction The Western United States is approaching a decisive period for geothermal power. Electricity demand is rising because of data centers, industrial electrification, population growth, electric vehicles and the replacement of retiring fossil-fuel generation. At the same time, utilities are under growing pressure to add clean resources that can operate reliably when solar and wind output declines. Geothermal power is well positioned to fill this role. Unlike weather-dependent generation, geothermal plants can provide firm electricity for long periods, support grid reliability and reduce the amount of storage required in deeply decarbonized power systems. However, the industry’s expansion will depend on more than subsurface heat and drilling technology. By 2030, transmission access, resource planning, project finance, permitting and utility procurement will determine whether geothermal be...
DeepU Laser Drilling Technology Enters Field Testing: A Leap Toward Cleaner, Cheaper Geothermal Energy By : Robert Buluma October 29, 2025 The quest to make geothermal energy more accessible and sustainable has taken a major step forward. The DeepU project , a European research and innovation initiative, has announced that its cutting-edge laser drilling technology is now ready for field testing , after 44 months of intensive research, laboratory experiments, and simulations. The DeepU system uses a laser beam combined with a supercritical nitrogen stream to drill through rock without physical contact, a breakthrough that promises to reduce costs, enhance efficiency, and minimize the environmental impact of deep drilling operations. Funded by the European Innovation Council (EIC) Pathfinder programme under Horizon Europe, DeepU is coordinated by the University of Padua and RED SRL, in collaboration with Prevent GmbH, Fraunhofer IAPT, Geoserv Ltd, the University of Wroc...