Europe

• Region: Europe
• Topics: Geothermal
• Date: 6th November 2026

BEW Berliner Energie und Wärme GmbH (BEW) has officially launched a new deep geothermal exploration project in Berlin, bringing together industry, academic and government partners to assess the potential of geothermal energy as a future source of low-carbon heat.

• Region: Europe
• Topics: Geothermal
• Date: 3rd November 2026

UK AIM-listed Star Energy has completed the sale of its Croatian geothermal subsidiary IGeoPen to Enna Geo, a further step in the company's strategy to streamline its portfolio and concentrate investment on its UK oil and gas and geothermal operations.

The transaction sees Enna Geo take ownership of IGeoPen, which holds interests in three Croatian geothermal licences with the potential to support power generation projects.

The deal includes an initial cash payment of €1.5mn, alongside a further €500,000 for each licence if a geothermal power plant reaches commercial operation.

Star Energy owns 71% of IGeoPen's parent company, A14 Energy, giving it a share of the initial consideration of €1.3mn and potential additional earn-out payments of up to €1.5mn.

The divestment places the development of the three Croatian licences in the hands of Enna Geo, with the earn-out structure providing a financial incentive linked to the delivery of operational power generation capacity.

Shift in focus

The disposal represents a change in geographical focus for Star Energy, which has been developing geothermal opportunities in both Croatia and the UK.

Following the sale, the company intends to concentrate its geothermal activities on maintaining a capital-efficient UK development platform, alongside its existing oil and gas operations, according to its CEO Ross Glover.

He said the transaction would allow the group to direct its resources towards areas where it sees the clearest opportunities to generate returns.

The sale also releases €5.2mn of restricted cash and removes future capital commitments associated with the Croatian licences.

Star Energy plans to use €2.7mn to reduce its Kommunalkredit debt, a loan facility used to finance its operations.

The comany also said that it would continue to advocate for policy changes needed to support greater investment in geothermal development within the UK.

• Region: Europe
• Topics: Geothermal
• Date: 30th October 2026

The European Geothermal Energy Council (EGEC) is calling on policymakers to increase the utilisation of geothermal energy across the continent with a target of at least 250 GW total capacity (including heat, cooling and electricity) across the EU27 group of nations by 2040.

The not-for-profit group outlined its ambitious targets as EU Energy Ministers gathered in Luxembourg to discuss energy security in the continent.

EGEC believes that a geothermal-specific target “must be included” in the Action Plan for Geothermal for the upcoming European Geothermal Stakeholder Partnership, as announced in the framework of the European Commission’s Electrification Action Plan, published in July 2026.

Philippe Dumas, EGEC’s Secretary General, hopes firm targets and potential new rules and regulations can turbocharge investment in geothermal energy projects and facilitate more private capital leverage.

In an EGEC statement, he said the current energy crisis requires new responses that address the challenges of the 21st Century.

He called for geothermal to be at the heart of Europe’s energy security and sovereignty with clean electricity and heating and cooling from home-grown and renewable sources at an affordable price for all consumers.

As such, EGEC proposes that the European Union should aim to increase the utilisation of geothermal energy with a target of at least 250 GW total capacity by 2040.

This would enable geothermal energy to provide more than 1,000 TWh of energy per year, which represents around 20% of the EU’s projected Final Energy Consumption (not including transport) in 2040.

“If the EU wants to achieve energy independence, a strong economy with affordable energy prices, and end our dependence on fossil fuels, then we urgently need to accelerate the deployment of geothermal solutions for heating and cooling as well as electricity generation,” said Dumas.

“Our analysis shows how the member states can increase the combined capacity of installed geothermal systems from 41.4 GW currently to 250 GW by 2040, so that geothermal can cover 20% of the EU’s total energy needs for buildings, industry, agriculture and services. This will also deliver benefits in terms of enhancing Europe’s industrial competitiveness and reducing energy costs for consumers.”

• 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: 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: 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: 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.”

• 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.”

• Region: Europe
• Topics: Geothermal
• Date: 30th September 2026

Green Therma has successfully deployed its Heat4Ever technology under real geothermal operating conditions at the GFZ Helmholtz Centre for Geosciences’ geothermal research site in Groß Schönebeck, Germany.

The Danish geothermal technology company said in a statement that the demonstration marks an important step from installation to operation.

Water is now circulating through the closed-loop system, vacuum integrity of Green Therma’s DualVac insulation technology has been established, and geothermal heat is being brought from more than three kilometres underground to the surface at temperatures suitable for direct use, according to Jørgen Peter Rasmussen, the company’s founder and CEO.

“The heat is already there, right beneath our feet. We need to get better at using this enormous natural resource and bringing it to where people and industries need it,” he said.

“What we have demonstrated at Groß Schönebeck shows that we can access deep geothermal heat and bring it to the surface at temperatures that can be used directly without heat pumps. We are turning the heat beneath our feet into a new source of baseload heat – available around the clock and with very little electricity use.”

Deep geothermal heat has extensive potential as a stable, local source of renewable energy, but its deployment has traditionally been limited by the availability of suitable underground hot-water reservoirs.

Green Therma’s Heat4Ever system takes closed-loop geothermal technology one step further by delivering more heat to the surface at higher temperatures.

The company believes this could significantly expand where geothermal heat can be produced, bringing it closer to cities and industrial sites without relying on underground hot-water reservoirs.

With its system now operating, continued testing at Groß Schönebeck will generate further data on long-term performance, stability, and heat-extraction potential under different operating conditions.

The project is being carried out in collaboration with GFZ at its Groß Schönebeck geothermal research site north of Berlin.

“Groß Schönebeck provides a unique opportunity to investigate this technology under real-world subsurface and operating conditions,” said Prof. Dr. Hannes Hofmann, Leader of the Helmholtz Young Investigator Group Advanced Reservoir Engineering at the GFZ Helmholtz Centre for Geosciences.

“The operational test will now generate valuable scientific data on long-term performance and help us evaluate the potential and integrity of closed-loop geothermal systems.”

Prof. Dr. Ingo Sass, Head of the Geoenergy Section at the GFZ Helmholtz Centre for Geosciences added that data from full-scale operations will be essential to turning promising geothermal concepts into proven solutions.

“Groß Schönebeck helps bridge the gap between research and application by generating the data that will allow us to challenge assumptions, improve our models and advance the next generation of closed-loop geothermal systems.”

Green Therma is already taking its technology to full scale in Denmark with a project developed in partnership with Aalborg Forsyning.

This project will bring Heat4Ever from demonstration to commercial-scale operation, delivering geothermal heat directly into the local district heating network under a 30-year heat offtake agreement.

Preparation is underway, and drilling will begin in early 2027.

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

A new mine in Cornwall is set to open as the UK seeks to ramp up efforts to boost industrial resilience and secure vital supply chains backing the automotive, clean energy and advanced manufacturing sectors.

The project will see Geothermal Engineering Limited (GEL) invest around £43mn in a cutting-edge lithium extraction facility in the south-west of England.

The investment will create nearly 50 direct jobs and support around 80 more across the supply chain, after receiving an Offer in Principle worth nearly £10mn through the UK government’s DRIVE35 Automotive Transformation Fund.

“We believe the UK has an important opportunity to develop the resources, technology and expertise needed to establish a domestic lithium supply, giving the country greater control over an increasingly important raw material and we are proud to be building that capability here in Cornwall, bringing jobs and new investment to the local area,” said Dr Ryan Law, CEO of GEL.

He added that lithium is fundamental to the technologies underpinning the automotive sector’s transition to zero-emission vehicles.

“At GEL, we are proud to be at the forefront of establishing a new UK lithium industry, demonstrating how Cornwall’s geothermal brine can provide a reliable and sustainable source of this critical mineral.”

Commercial production at GEL’s Cornwall project is set for 2029 and the facility is expected to produce around 1,500 tonnes of technical-grade lithium carbonate from geothermal brine underground each year – enough to power more than 180,000 typical EV car batteries.

The facility has the potential to scale to producing tens of thousands of tonnes in the future.

The latest investment builds on a wider pipeline of government-backed lithium projects and feasibility studies across the UK.

Recent support through DRIVE35 has included R&D projects led by Cornish Lithium, Watercycle Technologies, Weardale Lithium and Northern Lithium, helping to develop new extraction technologies, scale up domestic production and accelerate commercial deployment.

DRIVE35 is the UK government’s flagship automotive programme, providing £4bn to 2035 in capital and R&D grant funding to unlock transformational private investment and support the sector’s transition to zero-emission vehicles.

The Cornwall facility also builds on Tees Valley Lithium’s £185mn investment to establish one of Europe’s largest lithium refineries in Teesside, on the UK’s eastern coast.

• Region: Europe
• Topics: Geothermal
• Date: 23rd September 2026

Echo Seismic Ltd., a geophysical business with offices in the UK and North America, has launched a new dedicated unit expanding seismic imaging and project services for geothermal developers and geotechnical teams worldwide.

The launch of the new division, named EchoVision, responds to growing demand as more developers and engineering teams recognise the value of seismic data in reducing subsurface uncertainty before drilling or construction, an Echo Seismic statement read posted to its website.

“We’re seeing increasing interest in what seismic imaging can offer these markets, alongside a clear need for faster answers and simpler project delivery,” said Quinten Bailey, Managing Director – International Operations of Echo Seismic Ltd.

“Our experts have already demonstrated what is possible, and we have the technology and proven processes in place. EchoVision builds on that foundation, expanding our service to help more customers access high-quality subsurface insight with less disruption.”

Expert teams

Led by experienced geophysicist Rob Kendall, EchoVision combines deep domain expertise with decades of experience in survey planning, acquisition and imaging.

Its specialists address common causes of project delays, including permitting, land access and stakeholder engagement, before fieldwork begins.

Compact seismic source and receiver technology enables rapid operations, reduces operational demands and supports dense receiver coverage for detailed subsurface imaging.

UK experience

The experts now delivering EchoVision projects have demonstrated this capability internationally.

In the UK, for the University of York, following detailed advance planning led by Echo, the team acquired and delivered a 3D seismic image beneath a 30 sq km area of the city in less than 60 days.

The survey revealed geothermal targets more than 4,000 metres below the surface, helping inform where to drill and refine well design.

“We’ve seen the value of getting useful information into customers’ hands sooner, from helping identify where to drill a geothermal well to giving developers greater confidence in ground conditions before building,” said Kendall, EchoVision Director of Geothermal and Geotechnical.

“These results reflect years of refining our approach, from early planning through to the final image. We’re excited to bring what we’ve learned to more geothermal and geotechnical teams, helping them get the information they need faster.”

Geothermal services

Geothermal clients can engage the division from early exploration planning through to target definition and well monitoring.

EchoVision offers complete seismic programmes, delivering subsurface data, interpretation and recommendations, alongside specialist support at individual project stages.

Services include feasibility assessments, GIS planning, advisory support, project management, permitting, survey design, specialist equipment, acquisition, processing and imaging.

Survey capabilities include full-cycle project management, 2D, 3D and 4D reflection seismic, seismic refraction, Multichannel Analysis of Surface Waves (MASW), Induced Seismicity Monitoring (ISM) and Ambient Noise Tomography (ANT), supporting investigations from the shallow subsurface to deep geothermal targets.

• Region: Europe
• Topics: Geothermal
• Date: 21st September 2026

The UK’s Renewable Energy Association (REA) is to host a major geothermal conference in London next month as it seeks to raise awareness of the industry’s potential for meeting the nation’s heating and energy needs.

Galvanising Geothermal: Delivering Demand will take place in the UK capital on 13th October, 2026.

Among the companies listed to take part are Octopus Energy, CeraPhi Energy, Quantum Energy, Eden Geothermal, Star Energy and TownRock Energy.

“The UK is entering a new era for energy – one where clean power, low-carbon heating and cooling, energy security and regional growth must work together,” an REA statement read.

“Geothermal has a unique opportunity to help deliver this future, providing reliable renewable energy for applications ranging from heat networks and power generation to industry, agriculture and community-scale solutions.”

The REA’s UK Geothermal Conference will bring together developers, investors, policymakers, technology providers, local authorities and energy users to explore how geothermal can scale across the UK and meet growing demand for clean energy solutions.

The October conference follows the ‘Geothermal in the UK – What’s Next?’ event hosted by the Geothermal Energy Association (GEAA) in 2025.

Following the integration of GEAA into the REA, the 2026 event aims to build on that momentum by bringing together an even wider community of stakeholders working to establish geothermal as a key part of the UK’s energy transition.

Key topics to be addressed include: UK energy demand, the UK government’s perspective on geothermal, devolved and regional heating and energy policy, the country’s competitive advantage, financing and a look at potential large off takers such as airports, universities and National Health Service (NHS) sites.

“From creating new regional investment opportunities and supporting local economies, to decarbonising buildings, industry and infrastructure, geothermal can play a vital role in the UK’s clean energy transition,” the REA statement added.