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Ijen vs Zanskar: Blind Geothermal Energy Discovery and Development

Ijen’s Blind Geothermal System vs. Zanskar’s AI-Discovered Resources: Two Models for Finding Hidden Heat The geothermal industry is entering a new phase in which the most valuable resources may no longer be the fields marked by obvious hot springs, geysers, fumaroles, or steaming ground. Increasingly, developers are targeting “blind” or hidden geothermal systems,reservoirs that lack clear surface expressions but can still contain the temperature, permeability, and fluid needed for commercial power generation. Two examples illustrate how different parts of the industry are approaching this challenge. In Indonesia, the Blawan-Ijen geothermal field in East Java was developed through geological interpretation, magnetotelluric imaging, conceptual modelling, and drilling. The project is now operating commercially, with its first phase delivering approximately 35 MW to the Java grid under a 30-year power purchase agreement.  In the United States, Zanskar Geothermal & Minerals is using...

Indonesia Turns Geothermal Waste Heat Into Scalable Power

From Waste Heat to Power: Indonesia’s Lahendong Breakthrough and the Future of Geothermal Efficiency By: Robert Buluma In the global transition toward clean, resilient, and sustainable energy systems, geothermal power has consistently stood apart. Unlike solar or wind, it does not depend on weather conditions. Unlike fossil fuels, it does not emit significant greenhouse gases. It is stable, reliable, and—perhaps most importantly—immensely underutilized. Yet even within geothermal, a quiet inefficiency has persisted for decades: waste heat . Now, Indonesia is rewriting that narrative. A landmark agreement between  Pertamina Geothermal Energy (PGE) ,  PLN Indonesia Power , and  Perusahaan Listrik Negara (PLN) signals a pivotal shift—not just for Indonesia, but for the global geothermal sector. The trio has finalized electricity tariff terms for the Lahendong Bottoming Unit , a 15 MW geothermal expansion project that transforms previously wasted heat into usable electric...

From Energy Poverty to Power Independence: Enfield’s Geothermal Revolution

Tiny North Carolina Town Takes a Big Step Toward Geothermal Energy By: Robert Buluma In the quiet rural landscape of , a bold energy revolution is quietly taking shape. What appears to be just another small American town is, in reality, positioning itself at the forefront of a transformative clean-energy movement—one that could redefine how underserved communities access power, reduce costs, and build resilience. At the heart of this transformation is a nearly $300,000 seed grant secured by . This funding marks the first tangible step toward deploying a neighborhood-scale geothermal system—also known as a thermal energy network—that promises to deliver heating, cooling, and hot water without reliance on fossil fuels. A Vision Born from Necessity For decades, Enfield has struggled with high energy costs, aging infrastructure, and systemic underinvestment. Residents routinely face electricity bills that can soar to unsustainable levels, especially during extreme weather seasons. But u...

Geothermal Lithium Extraction: Costs, Companies, Profitability Explained 2026

Geothermal Lithium Extraction: Costs, Companies & Profitability (2026) By: Robert Buluma đŸ”„ Introduction As the global transition to clean energy accelerates, lithium has become one of the most strategically important resources of the 21st century. It powers electric vehicles, grid-scale storage systems, and a growing ecosystem of battery technologies. Yet, traditional lithium extraction methods—hard rock mining and evaporation ponds—are increasingly under scrutiny for their environmental footprint, long development timelines, and geographic concentration. Against this backdrop, geothermal lithium extraction is emerging as a compelling alternative. By leveraging existing geothermal energy systems, this approach enables the simultaneous production of renewable electricity and lithium from subsurface brines. It represents a rare convergence of energy and mineral extraction—one that could reshape supply chains while reducing environmental impact. But beneath the promise lies a crit...

US House passes bill enabling oil well repurposing clean energy.

House Bill to Repurpose Oil Wells for Alternative Energy: A Turning Point in the Energy Transition The United States House of Representatives has passed a significant piece of legislation aimed at transforming the future of aging oil and gas infrastructure. The bill allows depleted and underutilized oil wells to be repurposed for alternative energy applications, marking a strategic shift in how fossil fuel assets are viewed in the broader energy transition. Instead of being abandoned as environmental liabilities, these wells are now being repositioned as potential gateways to cleaner and more diversified energy systems. This move reflects a growing global trend: the transition from fossil-fuel dependency toward integrated energy systems that maximize existing infrastructure while reducing environmental impact. The legislation is not just about energy policy—it is about reimagining industrial legacy systems as platforms for innovation. Reframing Oil Wells as Energy Assets, Not Waste ...

"Olkaria: Africa's Geothermal Giant, Still Searching for Synergy"

Olkaria Geothermal Field: Africa’s Energy Giant With Untapped Billions Beneath Deep within Kenya’s Great Rift Valley lies a geothermal powerhouse that has quietly redefined Africa’s energy landscape—Olkaria Geothermal Field. For decades, Olkaria has stood as a symbol of resilience, innovation, and baseload stability in a continent long challenged by energy insecurity. But here’s the uncomfortable truth:   Olkaria is not yet operating at its full potential. Beneath its steam fields, pipelines, and turbines lies a far more complex, under-optimized system—one that, if properly engineered and integrated, could unlock billions of dollars in additional value beyond electricity generation. This is not just a story about megawatts.   This is a story about missed integration, untapped resources, and the next frontier of geothermal dominance. 1. The Scale of Olkaria — Impressive, Yet Fragmented Olkaria is one of the largest geothermal complexes in the world, with Kenya’s total...

New Geothermal Field Discovered Beneath Iceland’s Hellisheiði Region

A New Geothermal Frontier at Hellisheiði: Iceland’s Hidden Heat Revolution Emerges from Meitlar Introduction: When the Earth Speaks Again In the quiet, volcanic landscapes of Iceland, where fire and ice have coexisted for millennia, a new chapter in geothermal energy is quietly unfolding. On April 16, 2026, a major announcement emerged from Orkuveitan (ReykjavĂ­k Energy), revealing the discovery of a previously unidentified geothermal area at Meitlar on Hellisheiði. If confirmed by a third exploratory well, this discovery could reshape not only Iceland’s energy landscape but also the global conversation around deep geothermal exploration, energy security, and sustainable heat production. This is not just another geological update. It is a signal—an indication that even in one of the most studied geothermal regions on Earth, the subsurface still holds untapped surprises. Hellisheiði: A Global Benchmark for Geothermal Energy Hellisheiði is already one of the most important geotherma...

Geothermal Lithium Breakthrough Powers Clean Energy and EV Future

Power Beneath the Surface: How Geothermal Lithium Is Rewriting the Energy Future In the global race toward clean energy and electrification, a quiet revolution is unfolding deep beneath our feet. It is not driven by wind turbines slicing through the sky or solar panels stretching across deserts, but by something far more constant, more reliable—and arguably more transformative. Geothermal energy, long recognized for its ability to deliver steady baseload power, is now stepping into an entirely new role: powering the extraction of one of the world’s most critical minerals—lithium. At the center of this breakthrough stands (GEL) , a company redefining what geothermal projects can achieve. Their latest milestone—securing funding under the UK’s ambitious DRIVE35 programme—signals not just a win for one company, but a turning point for the entire clean energy ecosystem. This is not just a story about energy. It is a story about convergence—where heat, chemistry, engineering, and policy c...

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Jicarilla Apache Geothermal Study Wins $2.5 Million Grant

Jicarilla Apache Nation Launches $2.5 Million Geothermal Feasibility Study The Jicarilla Apache Nation in northern New Mexico has launched a major investigation into its geothermal energy potential after receiving a $2.5 million grant from the State of New Mexico. The funding will support a detailed feasibility study examining whether underground heat resources on tribal lands could be developed for electricity generation, direct heating, or other energy applications. The initiative represents an important step in the Nation’s efforts to understand and diversify its energy resources. Although the Jicarilla Apache Nation has not yet committed to building a geothermal facility, the study could provide the geological, technical, and economic information required for future investment decisions. The project is particularly significant because the Nation already has extensive experience with subsurface exploration through its oil and gas activities. Existing geological records, drilling inf...

Next-Gen Geothermal Funding 2026: VCs, Banks, Government Capital

Who Is Really Funding Next-Gen Geothermal in 2026? Next-generation geothermal has moved beyond laboratory research into a capital-intensive commercialization phase. In 2026, the most important financing is no longer coming from one investor category: venture capital funds are financing drilling, subsurface modelling and hardware; strategic energy companies are providing equipment, project access and market credibility; banks are beginning to lend against contracted projects; and governments are absorbing exploration and first-of-a-kind technology risk. The strongest financing activity is concentrated in the United States and Canada, but Europe is becoming increasingly important through Germany-based deployment, European Union grants, UK innovation support, and strategic participation from European energy companies. The central investment question is changing from “Can this technology work?” to “Can the developer deliver repeatable, financeable projects at commercial cost?” The 2026 fun...

Billionaire Families Bet on Advanced Geothermal Energy Investments

Billionaire Geothermal Families Bet on Geothermal Billionaire families and private investment offices are placing increasingly large bets on geothermal energy, especially on technologies designed to make the resource available in more locations. Their investments are helping finance enhanced geothermal systems, advanced drilling, closed-loop designs, and other approaches that could transform geothermal from a regionally concentrated power source into a globally scalable clean-energy industry. The investment surge reflects a broader change in the energy market. Electricity demand is rising because of artificial intelligence, data centers, industrial electrification, electric vehicles, and the expansion of digital infrastructure. At the same time, utilities and large corporations need power that is reliable around the clock. Solar and wind remain essential to the clean-energy transition, but their output varies with weather and time of day. Geothermal could complement these technologies ...

Global Geothermal Investment 2026: 15 High-Growth Markets

Global Geothermal Investment 2026: 15 Markets Where Developers Should Look Next Geothermal energy is entering its most investable decade yet, with developers, drilling contractors, turbine suppliers and private capital providers scanning a widening map of opportunities beyond the traditional “big five” producers.  This article profiles 15 markets where project pipelines, policy signals, resource quality and technology readiness converge to create compelling entry points in 2026 and beyond.  Why 2026 Is a Turning Point for Geothermal Capital Global geothermal investment is accelerating as governments seek firm, low‑carbon baseload to back up variable wind and solar, while advanced drilling and subsurface engineering lower costs and expand the resource base. Market analysts project the geothermal energy market to reach roughly USD 13.56 billion by 2030, up from about USD 9.81 billion in 2025, implying sustained double‑digit growth in development spend. Capital is flowing not onl...

Vercana Electric Rig Advances Geothermal Brine Lithium Extraction Economics

Electric-Rig Direct Lithium Extraction From Geothermal Brine: The Economics of Vercana Versus Ormat Vulcan Energy Resources is pursuing an integrated model that combines geothermal drilling, direct lithium extraction, renewable electricity and industrial heat. Through its Vercana subsidiary, the company is also using electric drilling equipment designed to support the development of its Lionheart project in Germany’s Upper Rhine Valley. The approach differs from the conventional geothermal model represented by Ormat Technologies, whose core business remains geothermal power generation, equipment, project development and energy storage rather than commercial lithium recovery from geothermal brine.  The economic question is broader than whether an electric drilling rig costs less to operate than a diesel rig. The more important issue is whether electric drilling, geothermal energy and direct lithium extraction can create a more valuable integrated project than a conventional geotherm...

Western Geothermal Power Transmission Roadmap Toward 2030

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...

Ijen vs Zanskar: Blind Geothermal Energy Discovery and Development

Ijen’s Blind Geothermal System vs. Zanskar’s AI-Discovered Resources: Two Models for Finding Hidden Heat The geothermal industry is entering a new phase in which the most valuable resources may no longer be the fields marked by obvious hot springs, geysers, fumaroles, or steaming ground. Increasingly, developers are targeting “blind” or hidden geothermal systems,reservoirs that lack clear surface expressions but can still contain the temperature, permeability, and fluid needed for commercial power generation. Two examples illustrate how different parts of the industry are approaching this challenge. In Indonesia, the Blawan-Ijen geothermal field in East Java was developed through geological interpretation, magnetotelluric imaging, conceptual modelling, and drilling. The project is now operating commercially, with its first phase delivering approximately 35 MW to the Java grid under a 30-year power purchase agreement.  In the United States, Zanskar Geothermal & Minerals is using...

Alberta Geothermal Startup Phase Secures Funding for High-Temperature Drilling Sensors

Alberta’s Phase Targets a Critical Geothermal Drilling Barrier With High-Temperature Sensors Alberta is using its deep oil-and-gas expertise to pursue a new opportunity beneath the surface: geothermal energy. Among the companies receiving support through Emissions Reduction Alberta’s Drilling Technology Challenge is Edmonton-based Phase Advanced Sensor Systems Corp., which is developing a high-temperature downhole pressure sensor for enhanced geothermal systems. The project addresses a problem that could determine whether deep geothermal energy becomes commercially viable: operators need reliable, accurate information from wells exposed to extreme heat and pressure. Phase plans to demonstrate a sensor capable of operating at temperatures above 200°C, with testing planned at 200°C, 250°C and 275°C.  The project has a total value of approximately C$1.57 million, including C$420,000 in ERA funding, according to Alberta’s project information.  Dealroom reported the award as approx...

Unlocking Impermeable Geothermal Reservoirs: Hydraulic Stimulation, Menengai and Olkaria

Unlocking the Impermeable Reservoir: Lessons from a 30-Year Reservoir Engineer An Alphaxioms interview with Richard Joseph Holt, Principal Consultant in Reservoir Engineering at RESPEC . Context: Menengai East and Olkaria Central. Every geothermal developer knows the moment.  The rig is gone and the money is spent. The well is drilled to depth, the temperature is there, and then the well will not flow. The heat is real, but the connection between the well and the reservoir is not. Wells like this sit at the centre of one of the most important questions in geothermal development: what do you do with a tight reservoir? Walk away and drill again, or find a way to unlock what is already there? To explore the question, Alphaxioms spoke with Richard Joseph Holt, Principal Consultant in Reservoir Engineering at RESPEC . Richard brings 30 years of global experience in geothermal energy.  We framed our questions around two settings, Menengai East and Olkaria Central, and asked him how ...

Kaishan Targets 2 GW Kenya Geothermal Development Across Five Fields

Kaishan Targets 2 GW of Geothermal Development Across Kenya Kenya's geothermal sector has opened a potentially significant new chapter after Kaishan Group and the Geothermal Development Company (GDC) signed a collaboration framework agreement covering five geothermal blocks in the East African Rift Valley. Signed in Nairobi on September 14, 2026 , the agreement establishes a framework for the two parties to explore potential joint development of Silali, Paka, Korosi, Baringo and Suswa . According to Kaishan, the five areas have potential to support approximately 2 GW of installed geothermal capacity . The headline figure is substantial, but it is important to distinguish between resource potential and committed generation capacity . The framework agreement is non-binding. The parties will first conduct due diligence, assess the resources and negotiate development plans before potentially signing separate binding agreements for individual geothermal blocks. The development coul...