ALPHAXIOMS Geothermal News & Energy Research

Eavor Demobilizes Rigs from Geretsried: What It Really Means for Closed-Loop Geothermal For three years, two drilling rigs on a farm estate near Geretsried, a Bavarian town about 40 km south of Munich, stood as the symbol of the world's most ambitious closed-loop geothermal experiment. Now in October 2026,  Eavor Technologies, the Calgary-based developer of the Eavor-Loop, has told the town and its heating utility that both rigs would leave the site . The company said keeping idle rigs and specialist services on site was costly, and that releasing them would help put the project in the strongest position to continue with Loop 2 once its commercial structure is reworked . On the surface, this is a logistics decision. Underneath, it is one of the clearest signals yet about where first-of-a-kind geothermal technology stands, and how hard it is to turn a technical proof into a bankable business. This article explains exactly what happened, what the move means and what it does not mean...

California Appeals Court Orders New Environmental Review for Imperial County Geothermal–Lithium Project Image: California Salton Lake Sea Hell’s Kitchen geothermal and lithium extraction plan sent back for deeper water, air-quality and mitigation analysis under CEQA A California appeals court has ordered Imperial County to conduct a more rigorous environmental review of the proposed Hell’s Kitchen geothermal power plant and lithium extraction project near the Salton Sea. The Fourth District Court of Appeal found that the county’s original environmental impact report (EIR) did not adequately address long-term water availability, enforceable mitigation measures for water shortages, or potential air-quality impacts tied to the receding Salton Sea. The ruling partially reverses a lower court decision and remands the case to Imperial County Superior Court, requiring the county and project developer Controlled Thermal Resources to address the identified deficiencies before the project can m...

US Geothermal Tax Credits in 2026: What Is Actually Still Alive After OBBBA For an industry that spent more than a decade building financial models around a stable federal incentive structure, 2026 has been a year of whiplash. The 30% federal geothermal tax credit that developers and homeowners built forecasts around is gone in one form and still alive in another, and even the IRS’s own public guidance has been confusing enough to trigger uncertainty across the market. That confusion is not a minor clerical issue. It is shaping investment decisions, contractor sales pitches, homeowner timelines, and project finance assumptions right now. If you work in geothermal, the key question is no longer whether federal incentives exist, but which incentive applies, to which project type, and under what ownership structure. The law that changed the timeline To understand where things stand in 2026, you have to start with the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, which created a long runway for clean e...

  Boise’s $1 Million Geothermal Breakthrough: A Bold Step Toward Affordable Clean Heating By:  Robert Buluma A City Turning Underground Heat Into Housing Solutions In the global race to build cleaner, more affordable cities, innovation often emerges from unexpected places. One such place is Boise, Idaho, a community already known for its pioneering use of geothermal heating. In early 2026, Boise captured international attention after winning a $1 million grant through the Bloomberg Philanthropies Mayors Challenge, a global competition that rewards cities developing groundbreaking solutions to pressing urban problems. The recognition was not simply about technological innovation. Boise’s winning proposal demonstrated how geothermal energy can be used to reduce the cost of living , specifically by lowering utility bills for residents in affordable housing developments. With the award, Boise now plans to build a new apartment complex powered by geothermal heating—potentially ...

 Geothermal Projects in Africa: Country-wise Overview By : Robert Buluma Africa is increasingly turning to geothermal energy as a sustainable solution to meet its growing electricity demands. With abundant geothermal resources spread across the continent, several countries have embarked on ambitious projects to harness this clean and renewable energy source. Let's delve into the geothermal projects in various African countries, highlighting key players and prospects. Algeria Algeria is exploring its geothermal potential, particularly in the northern regions. Although in the early stages, initiatives are underway to assess feasibility and potential locations for geothermal power plants.  Burundi Burundi has shown interest in developing its geothermal resources, primarily in the northwest region near Lake Tanganyika. The government is actively seeking partnerships with international firms to kickstart exploration and development efforts. Comoros The Comoros Islands are situated ...

Maryland’s Geothermal Rebate Program  FY26 Geothermal Rebate Program is entering its final stretch with funding already oversubscribed, which is a strong sign that homeowner interest in geothermal heating and cooling is rising quickly in the state.  The program offers a $3,000 rebate for eligible new geothermal heating and cooling systems for Maryland residents in single-family detached homes and townhomes, but the application portal is now closed while the state works through the existing queue. That update matters because it shows how incentive programs can move from a policy idea into real household demand very quickly. A program with a $150,000 budget does not usually run out of room unless homeowners, contractors, and installers all see geothermal as a practical investment. In Maryland’s case, the fact that requests exceeded the full FY26 budget suggests the market is responding to both energy-cost concerns and long-term efficiency goals. What the program offers The Maryl...

LCOE Compared: Eavor Technologies vs.  Fervo Energy   Two Bets on Next-Generation Geothermal An Alphaxioms Geothermal Insights Analysis | May 2026 Image:  Eavor and Fervo Drilling Rigs well poised in their respective well pads , drill baby , baby what a time to be a live Introduction: Why the Cost Question Matters Now The global geothermal sector is in the middle of a pivotal moment. After decades of stagnation largely confined to volcanic hotspots, two fundamentally different technological approaches are racing to prove that geothermal energy can be deployed broadly, cheaply, and at scale. Eavor Technologies , the Calgary-based advanced geothermal systems (AGS) company, and Fervo Energy , the Houston-based enhanced geothermal systems (EGS) pioneer, represent the sharpest divergence in next-generation geothermal strategy today. Each company is backed by hundreds of millions of dollars in private capital, each has reached key commercial milestones, and each is advancing ...

Quaise Energy's Bold Vision for 2026: Pioneering Superhot Geothermal and Millimeter Wave Drilling By: Robert Buluma Image: Quaise Energy’s 2026 Breakthrough: Superhot Geothermal Meets Millimeter Wave Drilling In the rapidly evolving world of renewable energy, few announcements capture the imagination quite like those promising to unlock vast, untapped sources of clean power. On a recent post shared by Carlos Araque, CEO of Quaise Energy, the company declared 2026 as a transformative year—one that could redefine how humanity accesses the Earth's heat for electricity generation. Araque's message highlights groundbreaking progress in two key areas: superhot geothermal energy and millimeter wave drilling. These innovations aim to deliver always-on, zero-carbon power at unprecedented scales, potentially revolutionizing global energy security and sustainability.  What is Superhot Geothermal? Traditional geothermal energy taps into hot water or steam reservoirs near the Earth...

image source:(unsplash.com,Jakob Madsen) GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy (GEH), in partnership with Ontario Power Generation (OPG), SNC-Lavalinand Aecon, has signed a contract for the deployment of a BWRX-300 small modular reactor (SMR) at OPG’s Darlington New Nuclear Project site, marking the first commercial contract for a grid-scale SMR in North America. This groundbreaking agreement, through which GEH will provide the reactor design, encompasses a comprehensive range of project activities, including design, engineering licensing support, construction, testing, training and commissioning. Jay Wileman, President and CEO of GEH, stated, "This contract is an important milestone and solidifies our position as the leading SMR technology provider. We aim to deliver the first SMR in North America and, in doing so, lead the start of a new era of nuclear power that will provide zero-emission energy generation, energy security and energy reliability around the globe. We can’t express our appre...

Utica Shale Geothermal Breakthrough Redefines America’s Clean Energy Future By: Robert Buluma The United States is preparing to test one of the most ambitious geothermal energy demonstrations ever attempted in the eastern part of the country. In a move that could fundamentally reshape how abandoned and active oil and gas infrastructure is utilized, the US Department of Energy (DOE) has announced a $14 million Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS) demonstration project targeting the prolific Utica Shale formation in Pennsylvania. At first glance, the announcement may appear like another government-backed energy research initiative. But beneath the surface lies something far more transformative: the possible birth of a new geothermal frontier built directly on the foundations of America’s shale revolution. For decades, geothermal power in the United States has largely been associated with the western states—California, Nevada, Utah, and parts of Idaho—where naturally occurring geothermal...