Latest News

• Region: Europe
• Topics: Geothermal
• Date: 29th October 2026

Project InnerSpace, in partnership with Future Cleantech Architects, has released its ‘Unlocking Europe’s Geothermal Industrial Heat Potential’ analysis identifying geothermal potential across all EU countries and highlighting 30 industrial clusters that are priority candidates for geothermal heat conversions.

• Region: North America
• Topics: Geothermal
• Date: 27th October 2026

Geothermal lease sales during the third quarter of 2026 netted the US’ Bureau of Land Management almost US$26mn — with a cumulative total of over US$42mn for the first nine months of the year.

From July through September 2026, the BLM generated US$25.8mn in geothermal sales, the government agency announced.

For the nine-month period, from January to September, BLM reported US$42.4mn in geothermal lease sales, which, it noted, reflects “continuing industry interest.”

This figure includes another successful sale in June in New Mexico that generated US$16.6mn on 47 parcels totalling 152,381 acres. 

The trend has continued into the fourth quarter after the BLM concluded geothermal lease sales in Nevada that generated almost US$5mn in receipts.

The BLM is planning further geothermal lease sales this season in Idaho and California.

Nonetheless, geothermal sales still represent only a small portion of the revenues generated by the BLM, in relation to the award of oil and gas leases.

During the third quarter, it received nearly US$400mn in total receipts from oil, gas and geothermal sales combined — dwarfing the US$25.8mn from geothermal awards.

Q3 lease sales

During the third quarter, a number of records were set, again underscoring the rise in interest in the nation’s geothermal potential.

In August, the BLM set records for the bureau’s highest parcel bid at $4,168,725, and highest per-acre bid at $1,207 — it was also the second largest lease sale in total dollars in the bureau’s history.

In Utah, the BLM accepted winning bids on 32 parcels totalling 72,398 acres for US$24.7mn.

Another August sale in Oregon brought in more than US$1.1mn on two parcels totalling more than 9,500 acres.

The combined bonus bids, rentals and subsequent royalties from any geothermal leases are distributed among the US Treasury, the states and counties where the leases are located.

The BLM is the US authority responsible for managing geothermal leasing, exploration and development on approximately 245 million surface acres of public lands and the 700 million acres where the United States owns the subsurface mineral estate.

• Region: North America
• Topics: Geothermal
• Date: 23rd October 2026

The latest round of geothermal energy leases in Nevada has attracted US$4.83mn in bids, according to the Bureau of Land Management (BLM).

Successful developers in the round included Ormat, and Invenergy, which secured the highest number of land parcels with 10 in total.

In all, the BLM auction saw bids accepted on 59 parcels in the US state, covering some 186,641 acres of land.

The parcels are located Lyon, Churchill, Mineral, Humboldt, Esmerelda, Lander, Nye, Eureka, Lincoln and White Pine counties.

Ormat Nevada was named high bidder on eight parcels, followed by Desert Valley Land Company, Glovate, Navram Resources and Dudley Land Company.

Other successful bidders included United Minerals and Mining, Skyladder Capital, Castor Renewables, Hexagon Development, Thomas E. Jennings, TLS Geothermics Corp, Zanskar Geothermal & Minerals Inc, Contralto Energy, MRP Development and Christopher L Martin.

“Geothermal lease sales support domestic energy production and American energy independence, while contributing to the nation’s economic and military security,” a BLM statement read after confirmed the results.

Leasing is the first step in the process to develop these geothermal resources.

“Expanding reliable domestic energy production is essential to strengthening America’s energy dominance, driving economic development and making life more affordable for American families,” said BLM Nevada Acting State Director Justin Abernathy.

He said the auction demonstrates continued strong interest in developing the nation’s natural resources to support energy security, create economic opportunities and generate revenue for local communities.

“Through collaborative resource development and continued innovation, we continue to unlock America’s full energy potential and maintain our leadership in the global energy landscape.”

• Region: APAC
• Topics: Geothermal
• Date: 22nd October 2026

In a boost for Indonesia’s renewable energy ambitions, Mitsubishi Power has completed the retrofit of Unit 3 at the Star Energy Darajat II Ltd’s Darajat Geothermal Power Plant in Indonesia, and commenced commercial operation

The renovation has increased the power output from 121 MW prior to the retrofit to 129 MW, making it the largest single-unit geothermal power unit in Indonesia, as the country seeks to add 42.6 GW of renewable energy by 2034, reaching a 34.3% renewable share in the energy mix.

The retrofit project involved a partial upgrade of facilities using steam turbines manufactured by MHI's Nagasaki Shipyard & Machinery Works in Nagasaki. Mitsubishi Power handled the design, manufacturing, and installation support, with local subsidiary PT. Mitsubishi Power Indonesia carrying out the on-site installation work through turnkey project execution.

Mitsubishi Power and SEG also signed a Technical Study and Cooperation Agreement (TSCA) to explore using the latest maintenance technologies to increase steam turbine output and enhance the plant's reliability and availability. This will see Mitsubishi Power Indonesia introduce the latest technologies from MHI Group to maximise the asset value of the power plant. These initiatives are based on the Innovative Total Optimization (ITO) strategy adopted by MHI Group, which aims to provide ongoing value to customers throughout the equipment lifecycle.

Shigeo Yakushijin, executive vice president, Mitsubishi Power, said, "The retrofit of Unit 3 at the Darajat Geothermal Power Plant increased the power output while achieving operational performance exceeding guaranteed values and was completed in a short timeframe without any safety incident. In particular, by adopting innovative construction methods that leverage our expertise as the original designer and manufacturer, and through turnkey project execution, we significantly shortened the construction period, which we believe demonstrates the new value delivered to customers. With its cutting-edge technology and local service structure, MHI Group will continue to be a trusted partner for customers."

• Region: Europe
• Topics: Geothermal
• Date: 20th October 2026

France’s Groupe Coriance and the City of Alfortville have commissioned a new geothermal installation, securing the long-term operation of the area’s district heating network and maintaining a renewable energy share for the area close to 90%.

Alfortville is a region located in the southeastern suburbs of Paris, France.

Inaugurated on 15 October 2026, the new geothermal system comprises two production wells and one reinjection well.

In a statement, Groupe Coriance said it means the heat network will retain geothermal energy as the main source of the city’s heat network.

The installation also marks the completion of a renewal programme designed to replace ageing geothermal infrastructure dating back to the 1980s.

The new wells extract natural heat from underground water at a depth of nearly 2,000 metres, where temperatures reach approximately 70°C.

The project received €7.3mn in support from the French government through the ADEME-managed Heat Fund, alongside €2.6mn from the Île-de-France region.

The commissioning represents a further step in maintaining a local, renewable heat supply for Alfortville, while extending the operational life of its established geothermal network, according to Groupe Coriance.

The inauguration ceremony was attended by Luc Carvounas, Mayor of Alfortville, and Fabrice Lepoutre, President of Group Corinne, as well as other key officials.

• Region: North America
• Topics: Geothermal
• Date: 20th October 2026

Seattle-based Endurance Energy, developer of subsea geothermal power systems, has announced that it has drilled the world’s first offshore geothermal well in an end-to-end demonstration of subsea geothermal power designed to test the engineering realities of operating a geothermal system on the ocean floor.

During a three-week Adélie test deployment at Axial Seamount, 300 miles off the Oregon coast, Endurance drilled a geothermal well 5,000 feet beneath the surface, which produced hydrothermal fluid at 260° celsius.

A three-ton power plant was installed on the seafloor, and operated remotely over the National Science Foundation’s Regional Cabled Array, a seafloor fibre-optic network operated by the University of Washington as part of the Ocean Observatories Initiative. As the fluid was insufficient to run the plant, the turbine was connected to a nearby natural vent flowing at approximately 281°C (538°F), reaching approximately 26,000 rpm. For 8.7 seconds, the system generated more electricity than it consumed—a median of around 2 kilowatts net and a peak of 16.5 kilowatts net. The net-positive run at the nearby natural vent ended when battery overcurrent protection stopped the system. During a restart attempt, a power cable feeding the refrigerant pump failed, ending the dive.

The deployment produced data on seafloor drilling, well flow, heat transfer, mineral buildup, high-temperature power generation, and long-distance control of subsea equipment, information Endurance will use to build its next system.

What comes next?

Following on from the test, Endurance is planning to deploy a refurbished and upgraded version of Adélie designed to target higher power and longer sustained generation. The company expects deeper wells to deliver the greater flow needed for sustained generation. In parallel, Endurance is developing Leopard, its 2-megawatt commercial generator.

When commercialised, it is envisaged that subsea geothermal systems could convert the heat beneath the ocean floor into continuous clean electricity for coastal grids and industrial sites and data centres around the Pacific and worldwide.

“On Sept. 27, we put a power plant on an active underwater volcano and made power,” said Andrew Redd, founder and CEO of Endurance Energy. “This historic milestone is also our first end-to-end test. We now know, firsthand, what works at depth, what needs to be improved, and how to build the next system for sustained commercial generation.”

• Region: Europe
• Topics: Geothermal
• Date: 19th October 2026

Vulcan Energy has announced that commercial-scale production of its proprietary VULSORB lithium extraction adsorbent in Germany has begun — it marks a milestone in the delivery of Phase One Lionheart, a key geothermal energy project.

Located in the Upper Rhine Valley between Germany and France, Phase One Lionheart is designed to produce 24,000 tonnes of lithium hydroxide monohydrate annually, enough for approximately 500,000 electric vehicle batteries per year.

The project will also generate renewable geothermal electricity and heat for local communities and industry.

VULSORB is Vulcan Energy’s proprietary lithium extraction adsorbent technology used to selectively capture lithium from the geothermal brine.

Cris Moreno, the company’s managing director and CEO, said production of VULSORB will support not only Phase One Lionheart, but also future developments across Vulcan’s Upper Rhine Valley portfolio as well as selected technology licensing opportunities.

“This achievement further de-risks technology deployment, supply chains and project execution ahead of first commercial lithium production,” said Moreno.

He called VULSORB one of the few commercially bankable adsorption-based direct lithium extraction technologies supported by western intellectual property and a diversified manufacturing supply chain.

“This milestone reinforces Vulcan's position as a leading lithium technology company and lays the foundation for future development across the Upper Rhine Valley as we continue our 'design one, build many' approach.”

He added that the current production campaign will provide the first fill volumes required for Lionheart's lithium extraction columns ahead of project commissioning planned for the second half of 2028.

• Region: North America
• Topics: Geothermal
• Date: 16th October 2026

Lithium Harvest has signed a letter of intent with an undisclosed geothermal development partner to explore a joint venture for a large-scale project in Alberta, Canada.

The project will target annual production of 28,500 tonnes of lithium carbonate and 0.67 terawatt-hours (TWh) of renewable electricity.

The Danish company said the proposed facility would combine geothermal power generation with lithium extraction and refining, using geothermal heat to generate electricity and brine from the same resource as feedstock for lithium production.

Lithium Harvest will contribute its integrated brine-to-battery-grade lithium platform, combining water treatment, proprietary Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE) technology and refining designed to produce battery-grade lithium carbonate.

Sune Mathiesen, Chairman of Lithium Harvest, said the agreement advanced the company's ambition to produce low-cost lithium and energy.

“The rapid buildout of data centres and the energy transition in general require large amounts of reliable power, as well as lithium for EV's and battery storage.”

First power generation and lithium carbonate production are both targeted for 2028, with the project expected to reach full capacity through a two-phase development.

Mathiesen added that the company's immediate priorities were “resource validation, engineering and financing” to bring the project towards commercial production.

Operating at full capacity could avoid up to 933,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions annually, according to estimates, although actual reductions would depend on the final design, operational performance and the electricity sources displaced.

The two sides next plan to finalise joint venture arrangements, validate the geothermal resource and lithium extraction process, progress engineering and permitting and secure financing for construction.

Mathiesen added that the project remains at the development stage for now.

“Our focus now is on the resource validation, engineering and financing needed to turn the project’s potential into commercial production.”

• Region: North America
• Topics: Geothermal
• Date: 14th October 2026

Next-gen geothermal systems developer XGS Energy has been selected by the US Department of Energy for federal funding to support the drilling of a deep vertical appraisal well in New Mexico.

• Region: Europe
• Topics: Geothermal
• Date: 13th October 2026

French geothermal group, Arverne, has reported that the European Commission has designated Lithium de France as a Strategic Project under the Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA).

It places the project among a select group of initiatives considered essential to Europe’s industrial and energy independence, it added.

The CRMA sets key targets for 2030, notably aiming for 10% of the EU’s annual consumption of strategic raw materials to be extracted within Europe and 40% to be processed in Europe.

By fully contributing to these objectives, Arverne is supporting the development of a competitive, resilient and sustainable European battery value chain, said Pierre Brossollet, Founder and Chairman and CEO of Arverne.

“This European recognition under the Critical Raw Materials Act, combined with our Notre Dame project status, confirms the essential role of lithium in strengthening Europe’s industrial sovereignty, at a time when demand driven by electrification and energy storage is set to grow at an unprecedented pace over the coming decades,” he said.

“Arverne provides a unique response to this challenge by combining the production of battery-grade lithium with renewable geothermal heat.”

Beyond the latest institutional recognition for its project, the designation represents a powerful catalyst for the development of Lithium de France, according to Brossollet.

He said it increases the project’s visibility among investors, reinforces its strategic importance at European level and opens the way to certain European funding opportunities and regulatory frameworks dedicated to strategic projects.

This European recognition further reinforces Lithium de France’s status as a ‘Grand Projet Stratégique’ (Major Strategic Project), awarded by the President of the French Republic, among 150 major industrial projects intended to become genuine ‘industrial cathedrals’.

“Our ambition is clear: to establish in France one of Europe’s leading low-carbon geothermal lithium projects,” said Brossollet.

“With a targeted production capacity of 27,000 tonnes of lithium per year over 30 years and 2 TWh of renewable heat, we are developing a strategic infrastructure designed to strengthen Europe’s energy and industrial sovereignty.”

• Region: North America
• Topics: Geothermal
• Date: 12th October 2026

Energy Catalyst Technologies has launched a geothermal Energy-as-a-Service programme for US homeowners as a solution to rising fuel oil prices.

Under the initiative, homeowners in New York State can replace oil furnaces and boilers with a geothermal heat pump for a low fixed monthly payment.

Energy Catalyst designs, manufactures, and installs geothermal heat pump systems for residential and commercial buildings across the north-eastern US State.

In a statement, the company said the programme offered a complete geothermal heating and cooling solution at a fixed low rate.

Matthew Desmarais, Founder of Energy Catalyst, said it allows households facing high oil prices to implement a solution with no reliance on fossil fuels, long term savings on energy costs, and a superior home environment experience.

“We talk with oil customers everyday who are expecting to pay upwards of $7,500 in heating costs this winter,” said Desmarais.

“For half that amount, you could have a major clean energy upgrade to your home heating and cooling system that comes with a low, stable bill for the next 15 years.”

In Spring 2026, New York State retail heating oil averaged around US$3.80 a gallon, however, NYSERDA data now reports over US$6.14 a gallon.With over 60% increase in costs, and prices continuing to rise, homeowners are looking for solutions, Desmarais added.

New York State has approximately 1.4 million households heating with oil, with most concentrated in the upstate area.

A typical New York oil-heated home burns about 900 gallons a year — at current prices, that is roughly US$5,040 in fuel costs alone, before service calls or further price hikes.

Under the new Energy Catalyst Geothermal EaaS offering, the homeowner pays a flat monthly amount for heating and cooling services over a 15-year term.

Energy Catalyst owns, installs, monitors, maintains, and repairs the system.

A recent representative residential agreement covered a 66,000 BTU/hr Double Hybrid Heat Pump with a 500-ft Twister Geothermal Ground Loop and a 60-gallon hot water tank at US$275 a month, fixed for the full term.

Homeowners also have the option to purchase the system outright at fair market value at the end of year six or at the end of the term.

Desmarais added that, “with the Geothermal Service Agreement, if the system doesn’t work, the customer doesn’t have to pay — we are that confident in our products.”

• Date: 9th October 2026

Academics from Aberystwyth University in Wales are supporting the development of a new state-of-the-art geothermal plant in Solotvyno, Ukraine, near the border between Ukraine and Romania, as part of a team of researchers from UK, Ukraine and Poland.

They are working on the project alongside south Wales-based Rockfield Software Ltd, Ukrainian gas producer JSC "Ukrgasvydobuvannya", Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Poland’s Oil and Gas Institute, and Solotvyno Local Council in Ukraine. The project is supported by the Innovate Ukraine programme and UK International Development. 

The project team is aiming for a decentralised system based on a network of small-to-medium generating capacities that are harder to disrupt as well as contributing to a green transition.

The scientists believe that new geothermal power could strengthen energy resilience and sustainable supply in Ukraine, as well as offering lessons for the UK.

Mitigating risks

Geothermal development is often slowed down by high geological risks and the long exploration phase. The team aims to speed up the process of building the pilot plant through the development of mathematical models of rock properties at a microscopic level.

The researchers will use 3D models to provide accurate forecasting and mitigate risks. They will also devise new algorithms to predict reservoir behaviour over the whole life of the plant, ie up to 30 years.

This will facilitate rapid deployment of the technology and the possibility to scale it up in geologically similar areas of Ukraine and elsewhere.

Professor Gennady Mishuris from Aberystwyth University, said, “Our aim is to revolutionise how geothermal energy is explored and deployed, specifically focusing on the rapid recovery and modernisation of Ukraine’s energy infrastructure with enhanced geothermal systems.

“By combining world-class mathematical modelling with cutting-edge geomechanics and industrial expertise, we are not just solving a technical problem, we are building a decentralised, resilient, and carbon-neutral future for a nation in need.

“The project is more than a technical endeavour: it is a commitment to sustainability, social inclusion, and international solidarity. Aberystwyth University is proud to be at the helm, proving that through collaborative innovation, we can turn geological uncertainty into a stable, green, and prosperous future.”

Aleksei Karpenko, from the Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, added, "This project drew on expertise that our team has developed over several decades. It combined knowledge and data dating back to the Soviet era with modern digitalisation, advanced analytical capabilities, and significant contributions from our in-house, physics-driven AI systems. The contributions of two outstanding female members of TSNUK team, Dr. Anastasia Chupryna and Dr. Mariia Kurylo, were crucial in this effort.

“I am proud that the results we delivered with our INIG colleagues have enabled our international partners to develop a comprehensive model of the thermal resources available in the region.”