DOE launches Geothermal Center of Excellence to push U.S. geothermal toward gigawatt scale The U.S. Department of Energy has launched a new Geothermal Center of Excellence in Golden, Colorado, with a clear mandate: connect industry with the national labs, accelerate geothermal innovation, and help move the technology toward gigawatt-scale deployment. The center is part of DOE’s effort to position geothermal as a more competitive source of reliable baseload electricity in the United States. The announcement matters because it comes at a time when geothermal is gaining fresh attention from policymakers, developers, and power buyers, especially as data centers and industrial users look for firm clean electricity. DOE says the U.S. already leads the world in geothermal electricity capacity at just over 4 GW, but that current output represents only a fraction of the country’s technical potential. [1] Why DOE created it DOE says the new center is designed to become industry’s main entry...
Mazama Energy’s Athena drilling milestone points to a new phase for superhot rock geothermal Mazama Energy says its Athena well at Newberry, Oregon reached 10,350 feet in 15 drilling days, cutting the drilling time to the same depth by 80% versus its 2025 result. The company says the performance supports a broader case for superhot rock geothermal as a lower-cost, scalable source of firm power. A faster drilling result Mazama’s update is important because drilling speed is one of the biggest cost drivers in geothermal development. Reaching the same depth in 15 days instead of the much longer 2025 campaign suggests the team is learning quickly and improving operational efficiency. The company also reported instantaneous rates of penetration above 350 feet per hour and sustained rates above 130 feet per hour over extended intervals. That matters because geothermal economics often hinge on whether drilling can be made predictable, repeatable, and cheaper over time. ...