Geothermal Isn't Expensive: The Reservoir Always Has the Final Say Somewhere beneath a volcanic ridge, a drill bit is turning through rock that has not moved in two million years. It costs money every second it turns. And nobody on the surface — not the engineer, not the financier, not the minister who announced the megawatts — knows yet whether that well will produce steam or silence. That single moment explains almost everything people get wrong about geothermal energy. Geothermal is routinely described as expensive, slow, capital-hungry and haunted by drilling risk. Investors are reminded that tens of millions can disappear underground before a single megawatt reaches a grid. All of that is true. But it is not the whole truth. The uncomfortable question the industry keeps avoiding is this: is geothermal expensive, or is the way we develop geothermal making it expensive? Those are two completely different problems. One is geology. The other is us. Why Geothermal Refuses to Be...
Accelerating Energy Transition: France Simplifies Geothermal Mining Procedures By: Robert Buluma In a bold move to expedite France's energy transition and bolster its supply security, Bruno Le Maire and Roland Lescure unveiled groundbreaking measures on April 12th, aimed at simplifying mining procedures. These measures are poised to pave the way for crucial projects vital to both energy transition and supply security. France boasts a rich subsoil teeming with essential resources pivotal for successful energy transition endeavors, such as geothermal energy, lithium, and copper. However, the exploitation of these resources has been hampered by lengthy bureaucratic procedures. Unlocking Geothermal Potential: Geothermal energy, a renewable and carbon-neutral energy source, harnesses the thermal energy from the Earth's subterranean depths and aquifers. With 90% of the national territory suitable for geothermal exploitation, it stands as a prime candidate for scaling up renewable en...