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New Zealand Geothermal Exploration Expands into Taranaki and Waikato Regions

By Robert Buluma Alphaxioms
Geothermal Exploration in Taranaki and Waikato: Unlocking New Energy Opportunities in New Zealand New Zealand is expanding its geothermal ambitions beyond the country’s established development zones. Two Māori-led exploration projects in Taranaki and South Waikato have received a combined NZ$5.95 million in government grants to investigate previously underexplored geothermal resources and assess their potential to support regional growth, energy resilience, employment, and decarbonisation.  The initiatives reflect a broader shift in geothermal development. While New Zealand’s geothermal industry has traditionally focused on high-temperature resources suitable for electricity generation, the new projects will also examine lower-temperature heat that could serve industrial, agricultural, commercial, and community applications. Government Funding for Two Exploration Projects The New Zealand Government has allocated NZ$3 million from the Regional Infrastructure Fund to the Taranaki Ge...
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€3 Billion Before 2028: The EU’s High-Stakes Move to Decarbonise Buildings and Road Transport

By Robert Buluma Alphaxioms
€3 Billion Climate Shockwave: How the EU’s ETS2 Frontloading Facility Is Reshaping Buildings and Road Transport By: Robert Buluma   Europe Unlocks €3 Billion to Accelerate Decarbonisation Before ETS2 Launch On 4 February 2026, the European Investment Bank and the European Commission launched a bold financial mechanism  the ETS2 Frontloading Facility making €3 billion available to accelerate decarbonisation in buildings and road transport across the European Union. This funding comes years before the new Emissions Trading System (ETS2) officially begins in 2028. That timing is not accidental it is strategic. The goal: reduce emissions, protect households, and prevent economic shock before carbon pricing expands to homes and vehicles. What Is the ETS2 Frontloading Facility? The ETS2 Frontloading Facility is a pre-financing tool that allows EU Member States to access funding before ETS2 revenues are generated. Instead of waiting for carbon market income, governments can: Inves...
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Berlin Goes Geothermal: First Scans Reveal Massive Heat Potential

By Robert Buluma Alphaxioms
Berlin is on the brink of an underground revolution — and it's heating up fast! 🌍🔥 By: Robert Buluma Deep beneath the streets of the German capital lies a massive, untapped source of clean, reliable heat: deep geothermal energy. Now, Berlin is taking bold steps to unlock this hidden treasure, and the early results are nothing short of exciting. Breakthrough First Scans Reveal Promising Heat Reservoirs Last summer (July 2025), specialized teams rolled out heavy-duty Vibro-Trucks through the districts of Lichtenberg and Marzahn-Hellersdorf. These powerful vehicles sent controlled vibrations deep into the earth — like sending sound waves on a treasure hunt. The echoes bounced back from ancient rock layers thousands of meters below, captured by sensitive geophones spread across the surface. The 2D seismic data that came back? Crystal clear and highly encouraging. Geologists and geophysicists are already spotting strong signals of geothermal-friendly horizons — layers that could hold ...
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Unlocking Aberdeen's Hidden Heat: 100 Seismic Sensors Map the Path to Geothermal Future

By Robert Buluma Alphaxioms
Unlocking the Heat Beneath Our Feet: Aberdeen's Bold Step Toward Geothermal Energy with City-Wide Seismic Sensors By:  Robert Buluma Aberdeen, long known as Europe's oil and gas capital, is quietly pivoting toward a cleaner, more sustainable future. On February 13, 2026, researchers from the University of Aberdeen announced a groundbreaking milestone in the Aberdeen Geothermal Feasibility Pilot (AGFP): the deployment of a city-wide network of seismic sensors to map the subsurface and assess the potential for geothermal heating. This initiative could transform how Aberdeen heats its homes, public buildings, and institutions, tapping into the natural heat stored in the ancient granite beneath the city. What is Geothermal Energy and Why Aberdeen? Geothermal energy harnesses the Earth's internal heat—generated from radioactive decay and residual heat from the planet's formation—for practical uses like district heating. Unlike solar or wind, it's available 24/7, providi...
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The Geothermal Breakthrough We’ve Been Waiting For – Introducing the HOT ROCK Act

By Robert Buluma Alphaxioms
Unleashing Earth's Inferno: The HOT ROCK Act and the Dawn of Superhot Geothermal Energy Posted by Alphaxioms Geothermal News    Nairobi, February 15, 2026 By: Robert Buluma Imagine standing on the surface of our planet, completely unaware of the roaring furnace miles beneath your feet, a colossal reservoir of heat, forged in the fires of Earth’s creation, waiting patiently to be harnessed. This is not science fiction. It is the very real promise of superhot rock geothermal energy, a breakthrough technology that could completely redefine how we generate power across the globe. On February 13, 2026, Representatives Jake Auchincloss (D-MA) and Mark Amodei (R-NV) introduced the HOT ROCK Act , a bold, bipartisan piece of legislation designed to accelerate the development of this next-generation geothermal frontier. For those of us here in Nairobi, watching the steam vents and hot springs of the Great Rift Valley, this news feels especially personal. Africa already leads the world ...
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Geo Dipa Launches Open Tender: Rig Bundling Services Now Available for Jailolo Geothermal Exploration

By Robert Buluma Alphaxioms
PT Geo Dipa Energi (Persero ) has recently announced an open tender for Rig Bundling Services specifically for the Jailolo geothermal exploration project in West Halmahera, North Maluku, Indonesia.  This procurement marks a significant step forward in advancing geothermal energy development in one of Indonesia's promising frontier areas. The tender, referenced under announcement number 008.PLL/PST.PBJ-GDE/III/2026 (or similar variations noted in related documents), invites qualified contractors to provide integrated drilling services. The scope involves drilling two exploration wells in the Jailolo Geothermal Working Area (WKP Jailolo) using a 1000-1500 HP rig, bundled with essential supporting services. These include mud logging, H2S safety monitoring, water supply transfer systems, tubular/OCTG inspection, casing running, drill bits, drilling cuttings and waste management, and fuel supply. This bundled approach streamlines operations, reduces risks, and optimizes costs for the st...
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Exploration of Geothermal Potential in Virovitica Has Begun

By Robert Buluma Alphaxioms
The exploratory well Virovitica GT-1 (VirGT-1) is investigating the possibilities of utilizing a local renewable energy source. By: Robert Buluma Exploration work has started in Virovitica to assess the geothermal potential of the VirGT-1 well. This is part of a project evaluating the use of geothermal energy for energy purposes. The research is being conducted by the Croatian Hydrocarbon Agency ( AZU ) in the geothermal water exploration area “Virovitica 2,” which covers parts of the City of Virovitica and the Municipality of Lukač. “With this initiative, Virovitica is showing a forward-thinking approach to long-term development and the pursuit of sustainable solutions for the city’s future. Exploring geothermal potential is important because it allows us to assess our available options based on expert, verified data,” said Ivica Kirin, Mayor of Virovitica. The VirGT-1 exploratory geothermal well is planned to reach a depth of approximately 1,300 meters. The research targets geologica...
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Geothermal Revolution in the Desert: KAEC Teams Up with Strataphy to Slash Energy Use

By Robert Buluma Alphaxioms
KAEC and Strataphy Forge a Path to Sustainable Urban Cooling: A Landmark Partnership in Geothermal Innovation By:  Robert Buluma In a significant step forward for sustainable urban development in Saudi Arabia, Emaar, The Economic City (KAEC ) has signed a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Strataphy, a leading Saudi deep-tech startup specializing in geothermal cooling solutions. Announced recently, this collaboration aims to explore the large-scale deployment of advanced geothermal cooling technologies across KAEC’s expansive facilities and tenant ecosystem. The partnership focuses on introducing innovative “Cooling as a Service” models that promise to enhance operational efficiency, dramatically reduce energy consumption, lower carbon emissions, and support scalable, future-ready infrastructure. This initiative aligns closely with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 sustainability goals and the broader Saudi Green Initiative. King Abdullah Economic City: The Foundation for...
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Eavor Demobilizes Rigs in Geretsried: What It Means for Closed-Loop Geothermal Investors, Heat Markets, and Project Risk

By Robert Buluma Alphaxioms
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...
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Endurance Energy Tests World's First Subsea Geothermal Well at Axial Seamount

By Robert Buluma Alphaxioms
Endurance Energy Tests the World's First Subsea Geothermal Well: What the Axial Seamount Demonstration Really Proved What if geothermal energy did not need a power plant on land? What if electricity could be produced directly from the Earth's heat beneath the ocean, with generators sitting on the seafloor and sending power to coastal grids? On October 19, 2026, Seattle-based startup Endurance Energy announced a major step toward that idea. The company said it had drilled and completed the world's first subsea geothermal well and placed a 3-ton test power plant nearly a mile beneath the Pacific. It also reported net-positive electricity from heat at an active underwater volcano, according to its announcement on PR Newswire. The headline numbers are modest. The Adélie prototype produced more electricity than it used for about 8.7 seconds. During that time it delivered a median net output of about 2 kilowatts and a peak of 16.5 kilowatts. One detail matters more than any other...
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Menengai Geothermal Project Delays Expose Kenya’s Broken Steam Supply Model

By Robert Buluma Alphaxioms
Menengai’s Broken Promise: How Kenya’s Geothermal Model Lost the Steam Thematic image of the Olkaria Geothermal Field  Kenya’s Menengai geothermal project was sold as a model of modern public-private partnership. The state would carry the difficult and expensive burden of geothermal exploration and drilling. Private power producers would then build, own and operate power plants. Geothermal Development Company would supply the steam; the independent power producers would convert it into electricity; Kenya Power would buy the output. On paper, the arrangement was elegant. In practice, Menengai has exposed a far more uncomfortable reality: Kenya’s public steam-supply model is not delivering the certainty it promised. Menengai Phase I was designed to produce 105 megawatts from three 35 MW plants. GDC’s own project page says the three plants were awarded to Globeleq Menengai Geothermal, Sosian Menengai Geothermal Power and OrPower Twenty Two under a build-own-operate structure. Yet the ...
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Geiselbullach Geothermal Project Confirms 10 MW District Heating Capacity

By Robert Buluma Alphaxioms
Geothermal milestone at Geiselbullach: 10 MW of heat confirmed after successful second deep well test On 15 August 2026 the Geiselbullach geothermal project reached a pivotal technical milestone: performance testing of the second deep production well completed successfully, delivering a sustained flow of 90 liters per second of thermal water at 79–80 °C. These measured parameters translate into roughly 10 MW of usable thermal power for district heating, enough to replace a portion of heat currently supplied by the municipal waste-to-energy plant (AHKW) and to create headroom for expanding the regional district heating network. The result confirms the project’s technical assumptions and moves the scheme into system-integration and commissioning activities ahead of planned commercial deliveries for the 2027 heating season. This article explains the test results and their significance, outlines the technical and operational consequences, and places the Geiselbullach development in the bro...
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BLM Nevada Geothermal Lease Auction Boosts Renewable Energy Investment amid Solar Land Conflict

By Robert Buluma Alphaxioms
BLM’s Nevada Geothermal Lease Auction Signals Rising Competition for Federal Energy Land The Bureau of Land Management’s latest geothermal lease sale in Nevada attracted nearly $4.83 million in total receipts, highlighting growing investor interest in geothermal resources as electricity demand rises . The auction also exposed an increasingly important land-use conflict: several geothermal parcels overlap with proposed utility-scale solar projects, including NextEra Energy’s 1,000-megawatt Sawtooth Energy Center. The October 20, 2026, sale offered 83 parcels covering approximately 265,155 acres across 10 Nevada counties. Bidders placed offers on 60 parcels covering 186,641 acres, while 23 parcels received no bids. The results provide a new measure of competition for federal geothermal acreage in one of the United States’ most important geothermal states. Auction Results The Nevada auction attracted 32 registered bidders, of which 18 submitted at least one bid. Across the sale, bidders s...
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Lithium Harvest Plans Alberta Geothermal Power and Lithium Project

By Robert Buluma Alphaxioms
Lithium Harvest’s Alberta Geothermal Project Could Combine Renewable Power and Domestic Lithium Production Lithium Harvest Holding A/S has signed a letter of intent with an unnamed geothermal development partner to establish a joint venture for an integrated geothermal power and lithium production facility in Alberta, Canada. At full nameplate capacity, the proposed project is expected to produce approximately 28,500 tonnes of lithium carbonate annually while generating 0.67 TWh of renewable electricity each year. The development would use a single geothermal resource to supply both baseload power and lithium-bearing brine for direct lithium extraction and refining.  A Dual-Output Geothermal Development The proposed Alberta facility reflects a growing effort to extract more value from geothermal resources than electricity generation alone. Traditional geothermal power projects produce electricity by bringing hot underground fluids to the surface. Depending on resource temperature a...
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KenGen Risks Losing Olkaria Geothermal Wells Over Licence Error

By Robert Buluma Alphaxioms
KenGen Risks Losing Olkaria Wells Over 18-Year Licence Blunder Kenya Electricity Generating Company (KenGen) faces a serious legal and operational risk at Olkaria after an error in the coordinates of its geothermal licence left part of the company’s wells, steam infrastructure and other assets outside its legally recognised area. The licensing mistake, made nearly two decades ago, remains unresolved despite the Ministry of Energy and Petroleum acknowledging the problem in 2017.  The dispute has raised questions about the security of KenGen’s investments, the government’s management of geothermal resources and the potential consequences for Kenya’s electricity supply. Olkaria is the country’s most important geothermal centre and accounts for the overwhelming majority of Kenya’s installed geothermal generation capacity.  Licence Error Exposes Strategic Assets The problem dates back to September 19, 2008, when the Ministry of Energy and Petroleum issued KenGen a licence covering ...
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Djibouti Pays KenGen: $1M Offer on a Five-Year Geothermal Drilling Debt

By Robert Buluma Alphaxioms
Djibouti Pays KenGen: A $1 Million Offer on a Five-Year-Old Geothermal Drilling Debt Djibouti has finally moved to pay part of what it owes Kenya Electricity Generating Company (KenGen) for drilling work done near Lake Assal. The amount is small next to KenGen's balance sheet. What it says about selling geothermal drilling services across Africa matters a lot more. KenGen's latest annual report says Djibouti's state geothermal agency, the Office Djiboutien de Développement de l'Énergie Géothermique (ODDEG), has offered a first instalment of about $1 million (Sh129 million) against outstanding invoices of $2.13 million (Sh276.03 million), according to Business Daily. "ODDEG has acknowledged the debt and has proposed an initial payment of $1 million as the first instalment towards settlement," KenGen said in the report. KenGen is Kenya's largest power producer, with about 54% of the market. The Kenyan government owns 70% of the company and the public holds t...
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Corva and Oliasoft Connect Well Design With Real-Time Drilling

By Robert Buluma Alphaxioms
Corva and Oliasoft Build a Continuous Learning Loop for Smarter Well Construction Introduction Corva AI and Oliasoft have announced a strategic collaboration designed to connect well engineering, real-time drilling operations and post-well analysis through a bidirectional digital workflow. The integration links Oliasoft WellDesign with Corva’s Real-Time AI platform, creating a continuous information loop in which engineering plans guide field execution and drilling results improve future well designs.  The partnership addresses one of the persistent weaknesses in modern well construction: the separation between planning software and operational systems. Although operators generate large volumes of engineering and drilling data, those datasets often remain fragmented across departments, applications and reporting processes. The result is slower decision-making, repeated manual work and limited transfer of lessons from one well to the next. By connecting design assumptions with liv...
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California Court Orders New Environmental Review for Imperial County Geothermal Lithium Project

By Robert Buluma Alphaxioms
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...
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