Latest News

• Region: Asia Pacific
• Topics: Geothermal
• Date: 11th August 2025

New Zealand’s Energy Efficiency & Conservation Authority (EECA) and the New Zealand Geothermal Association have jointly launched a new guide on how businesses can use geothermal heat for smarter heating and cooling.

The geoheat business guide highlights the nation’s geothermal resources and the technology options available to businesses.

These range from direct use of geothermal fluid for process heat to advanced ground source and high-temperature industrial heat pumps, which can supply up to 200–280 °C.

The new report also covers the full development process, from feasibility studies to installation and maintenance.

It also provides an overview of regulatory and consent requirements under the Resource Management Act (RMA), and includes case studies showing proven applications that have cut energy costs and improved operational efficiency.

In a foreword to the report, Kennie Tsui, Chief Executive of the New Zealand Geothermal Association, highlights how the country is “blessed” with an abundance of renewable geothermal energy.

The most familiar of these are the high-temperature geothermal resources (exceeding 150°C) that are located primarily within the Central North Island’s volcanic region and at Ngāwhā in Northland, which have been extensively used for electricity generation and industrial direct use for over 70 years.

The new business guide, Tsui notes, “focuses on the less familiar but equally beneficial” temperatures from 150°C down to 10°C that are present at the lower end of the geothermal spectrum.

“In fact, at the lower end of the geothermal spectrum, shallow ground temperatures are influenced by solar radiation and are about 2°C above average air temperature. This means that geothermal is available everywhere. Across the country this ranges from about 10°C in the south and alpine areas to 18°C in the far north. These temperatures can be used for heating and cooling with a geothermal or ground source heat pump.”

The report highlights how proven technologies can meet a wide range of temperature needs for a variety of industrial applications and related uses.

Case studies — including Christchurch Airport, which uses 13–14°C groundwater with heat pumps for efficient building heating and cooling — also demonstrate measurable operational cost reductions, improved efficiency and reliable heat supply.

“Unlike solar or wind, geoheat provides a round-the-clock, weather-independent heat source, critical for industries with baseload heating needs,” the EECA notes in its introduction to the report on its website.

“This reliability reduces exposure to energy supply volatility and peak electricity demand charges.”

• Region: North America
• Topics: Geothermal
• Date: 8 August, 2025

In a recent LinkedIn update, Ignis H2 Energy Inc. announced that Chugach Electric Association, Alaska’s largest electric utility, has issued a non-binding Letter of Interest (LOI) to pursue a potential Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) for up to 200 megawatts of baseload geothermal power.

• Region: Asia Pacific
• Topics: Geothermal
• Date: 7 August, 2025

Japan Oil, Gas and Metals National Corporation (JOGMEC) has embarked on its first overseas geothermal research project in partnership with PT Geo Dipa Energi (GDE), marking a significant milestone in its geothermal business activities.

• Region: North America
• Topics: Geothermal
• Date: 6 August, 2025

Next-generation geothermal energy may soon be a cost-competitive way to fill the need for clean, firm power in the USA, according to a new report by McKinsey & Company.

It estimates that around US$900mn in private capital has been channeled toward next-generation geothermal technologies and projects in the past five years.

However, anticipated cost decreases — coupled with the urgent and growing need for additional power supply — may draw even more attention to the sector in the coming years.

“Our analysis suggests that more than 780 megawatts of letters of intent and power purchase agreements (PPAs) have been signed over the past two years, and approximately one gigawatt of next-generation geothermal projects is in various stages of development,” McKinsey notes in the report.

The document also singles out two next-generation approaches closest to market: Enhanced geothermal systems (EGSs) and Advanced closed-loop systems (ACLs).

EGSs use hydraulic fracturing to create subsurface fractures through hot rock three to five km below the surface.

Water injected into a well absorbs heat while traveling through the fractures and exits through another well to the surface where the heat is converted to electricity.

ACLs create a radiator-like, closed-loop system of horizontal wells filled with fluid.

These loops are deeper in the ground — four to eight km — potentially increasing the cost relative to EGSs.However, having a closed loop reduces overall water demand, which could boost feasibility in arid regions.

Most importantly, McKinsey notes, industry costs could drop significantly in the next decade.

“Improvements in technology derived from unconventional oil and gas drilling have combined with growing energy demand to push next-generation geothermal from a niche option to a cost-competitive choice in some areas, with strong potential to become cheaper over the next decade,” the report states.

It estimates that levelised production costs for a first-of-a-kind, commercial-scale (more than 50 megawatts) next-generation geothermal facility in the US could range from US$75 to US$120 per megawatt-hour.

Exploration, drilling, and power plant capital expenditures make up more than 70% of costs.

But by 2035, costs of next-generation geothermal technology in the US could fall to about US$45 to US$65 per megawatt-hour, according to the report.

“Although other clean-energy sources will also experience cost decreases over the same period, we expect next-generation geothermal to outcompete other sources of clean, firm power,” McKinsey notes.

• Region: Asia Pacific
• Topics: Geothermal
• Date: 4 August, 2025

Earth Sciences New Zealand has signed an agreement with Beca to help unlock the large energy opportunity geothermal presents as well as expand New Zealand’s renewable impact within the Indo-Pacific region.

• Region: North America
• Topics: Geothermal
• Date: 4 August, 2025

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has successfully leased two geothermal parcels in Malheur County, Oregon, totaling 5,235 acres of public land.

• Region: Asia Pacific
• Topics: Geothermal
• Date: 4 August, 2025

The Philippines’ Department of Energy has formally inaugurated the Energy Development Corporation’s 22MW Tanawon Geothermal Power Plant in Sorsogon City, underscoring the DOE’s commitment to balancing sustainable energy development with economic growth. 

• Region: North America
• Topics: Geothermal
• Date: 1 August, 2025

Quaise Energy, a pioneer in grid-scale superhot geothermal technology, has reached a critical milestone by successfully drilling to a depth of 100 meters at its Central Texas field site using millimeter wave technology.

• Region: ASIA PACIFIC
• Topics: Geothermal
• Date: 29 July, 2025

Massey University scientists are leading a major new research project in partnership with NASA to monitor geothermal fields in New Zealand from space.

• Region: Europe
• Topics: Geothermal
• Date: 24th July 2025

The German Geothermal Association (BVG) has broadly welcomed updated plans put forward by Berlin to advance geothermal energy adoption in the country.

It called the new Geothermal Acceleration Act (GeoBG) a “milestone for geothermal energy in Germany” but also proposed various amendments and additions.

The proposals put forward by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy aim to introduce new laws that could simplify and accelerate geothermal projects in Germany and heighten investor security.

With GeoBG, Germany is finally set to create an independent ‘master law’ for geothermal energy, the Association noted in a statement.

It also praised the government for fast-tracking its geothermal plans ahead of the summer recess.

“The fact that the government is taking this issue into account by putting the law on the agenda before the summer break is an important commitment to the expansion of geothermal energy,” it added.

BVG Managing Director Gregor Dilger called the new rules of “paramount importance” in order to expand the role of geothermal energy in the country.

He also called for further measures to achieve equality for geothermal with other forms of renewable energy, such as wind energy.

"Geothermal energy can make a central contribution to climate protection, long-term stable energy prices and security of supply,” said Dilger.

“Geothermal energy is available anywhere and at any time," he added.

"No fuels have to be imported for their use and their supply routes have to be secured, and technologically, we in Germany have all the skills in our own hands.”

• Region: Europe
• Topics: Geothermal
• Date: 23 July, 2025

Arverne Group has received a €396,585 grant from the Nouvelle-Aquitaine Region, with support from the European Social Fund, to enhance geothermal drilling training.

• Region: North America
• Topics: Geothermal
• Date: 23 July, 2025

The Colorado Energy Office (CEO) has announced Adams County will receive funding for two projects to support geothermal heating initiatives.