North America

• 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: 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: 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: 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.”

• Region: North America
• Topics: Geothermal
• Date: 9th October 2026

Fervo Energy has launched Ground Truth, a six-part podcast tracing the company’s decade-long path from a pitch to a public service.

• Region: North America
• Topics: Geothermal
• Date: 8th October 2026

Dandelion Energy and Vermont Gas (VGS) have announced a collaboration to bring renewable geothermal heating and cooling to a new housing development in Hinesburg, Vermont.

• Region: North America
• Topics: Geothermal
• Date: 7th October 2026

One of America’s leading geothermal discovery company’s, Zanskar, secured two US Department of Energy awards last month, allowing for the advancement of geothermal discovery and production.

• Region: North America
• Topics: Geothermal
• Date: 5th October 2026

Hexagon Energy has received a US Department of Energy award to accelerate the development of geothermal energy in Washington’s Wind River Valley.

• Region: North America
• Topics: Geothermal
• Date: 1st October 2026

Just a week after achieving first power at its Cape Station in Beaver County, Utah, Fervo Energy has declared that the facility has reached commercial operation.

The company said it marked the first greenfield enhanced geothermal development in the world to achieve contractual commercial operations.

“Reaching commercial operations at Cape Station is both a huge milestone for Fervo, and a turning point for the entire energy industry,” said Tim Latimer, CEO and Co-Founder of Fervo Energy.

“No team has ever built a project like this anywhere in the world, and we did it ahead of schedule. We are excited to prove that Fervo Energy can bring a new track record of execution to the power sector, an industry where project delays are often the norm.”

The milestone marks a pivotal moment for the company and for the broader geothermal industry, demonstrating that enhanced geothermal systems (EGS) can deliver reliable, 24/7 carbon-free electricity at commercial scale on an industry-leading timeline.

Cape Station synchronised to the grid on 24th September and declared commercial operation just six days later on 30th September.

Revenue is now being generated under Fervo’s power purchase agreement.

“This is a defining moment at Fervo and it’s one we’re proud to deliver ahead of schedule,” said David Ulrey, CFO of Fervo Energy.

The company built and commissioned the power facility for its first GeoBlock in just 23 months.

As Fervo applies lessons learned across its growing pipeline, the company sees substantial opportunity to compress this timeline further and is confident in its ability to reach an 18-month construction timeline for future GeoBlocks.

“With over 1 gigawatt of binding PPAs signed across our portfolio, the commercial operation date (COD) of this first GeoBlock is the beginning of our build into a durable base of predictable, long-term revenue generation,” added Ulrey.

“We remain focused on disciplined capital execution as we bring the remaining Phase I GeoBlocks online and advance Phase II toward its 2028 COD.”

Cape Station’s Phase I comprises approximately 100MW across three 33MW GeoBlocks.

Commissioning continues at the remaining two Phase I GeoBlocks, which are expected to reach contractual COD by January 1, 2027.

The next phase, an additional 400 MW, is already under construction, with an expected COD in 2028.

“Getting our first GeoBlock to commercial operation reflects the strength of our execution and the discipline of our team on the ground,” said Dawn Owens, SVP, Head of Development & Commercial Markets at Fervo Energy.

“We are on track to bring the remaining Phase I GeoBlocks online by January 1, 2027. Every GeoBlock we bring online makes the next one faster and more predictable, and that repeatability is the foundation of how we scale and bring down costs.”

As Phase I comes online and Phase II advances toward its 2028 COD, Fervo expects Cape Station’s contracted capacity to translate into a growing, long-term revenue stream underpinned by multi-year offtake agreements.

• Date: 30th September 2026

Kyoto Fusioneering, a global fusion technology and integrated systems developer, has received an order from USA-based Quaise Energy for a gyrotron system for use in Quaise’s millimetre wave drilling technology for superhot geothermal development, marking the application of a tgytoechnology developed for fusion to advance next-generation geothermal.

What is a gyrotron?

Gyrotrons are fundamental to the operation of fusion energy devices. A gyrotron is an electron tube classified as a type of electron MASER (Microwave Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation). These high-power microwave systems generate millimetre-wave electromagnetic radiation, which is essential for heating and driving current in plasmas within Magnetic Confinement Fusion devices.

Why does geothermal drilling need fusion hardware?

Quaise’s drilling system uses millimetre waves generated by a gyrotron to vaporise rock, to reach the depths and temperatures associated with superhot geothermal resources that it is uneconomical to reach with conventional mechanical drilling. Enabling faster drilling than using conventional methods, millimetre wave drilling allows drilling as far down as 20 km to reach temperatures of up to 500 degrees celsius. Unlike conventional drilling, the method requires no downhole hardware. The approach was developed over more than a decade of research at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

KF’s gyrotron expertise

KF designs and builds gyrotrons across frequencies from 28 GHz to 236 GHz, including multi-frequency tubes. Its fusion projects include two dual-frequency units for the UK Atomic Energy Authority’s MAST Upgrade and a 1-megawatt system for Tokamak Energy’s ST40. The company has also supplied the first of two gyrotrons for the U.S. Department of Energy’s DIII-D National Fusion Facility. It has completed the design of a 1.5- to 2-megawatt-class system for Germany’s Wendelstein 7-X stellarator and ASDEX Upgrade.

In September 2024, KF was selected for NEDO’s Deep-Tech Startups Support Program in the Green Transformation (GX) field — NEDO is Japan’s national energy and industrial technology R&D funding agency — to develop high-power, continuous-operation gyrotrons and power supplies for superhot geothermal development. The Quaise order is the first commercial outcome of that work.

Most of the fusion machines operating today are experimental devices that heat plasma in pulses lasting only seconds. With geothermal drilling, on the other hand, the millimetre wave source has to run continuously for as long as the borehole is being advanced. The unit KF is supplying to Quaise is specified and designed for that purpose.

Building a gyrotron for continuous operation for a geothermal customer is work directly relevant to fusion.

"The gyrotron supply chain has to grow well beyond its current size to meet what fusion will need, and it has to grow before that demand arrives, not after. KF is investing in that capability now and taking commercial work that builds it. This work with Quaise is an important part of that," said Takashi Imai, Group CEO, Plasma Heating Group, Kyoto Fusioneering.

Japan holds one of the world’s largest geothermal resource bases, and its deep, high-temperature resources remain largely undeveloped because of economic considerations around conventional drilling. Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry and NEDO are supporting superhot geothermal, closed-loop systems, and Enhanced Geothermal Systems under the Green Innovation Fund. KF intends to apply its learnings from this project to next-generation geothermal development in Japan.

• Region: North America
• Topics: Geothermal
• Date: 24th September 2026

The US Department of Energy (DoE) has announced more than US$99mn in funding for 21 projects selected to advance geothermal energy across the country.

The list includes five projects for enhanced geothermal systems (EGS) field tests that will evaluate and validate EGS reservoir development technologies and methods, and 16 projects for exploration drilling to characterise and confirm promising next-generation and hydrothermal resources.

The five companies and organisations selected in the ESG segment include Fervo Energy, Quaise Energy, Zanskar Geothermal and Minerals, AlterG Resources and the University of Utah.

The DoE said in a statement that the projects will receive a total of up to US$99mn for the first budget period of work, with additional funding subject to Congressional appropriations and successful completion of agreed-upon milestones and performance criteria.

“These projects will empower American innovators to unlock the tremendous geothermal resources beneath our feet,” said DoE Under Secretary of Energy Kyle Haustveit.

“Under President Trump’s leadership, we’re advancing next-generation geothermal technologies that can lower costs, strengthen American energy dominance, and turn more of our vast domestic geothermal resources into reliable and affordable power.”

Fervo Energy, Zanskar Geothermal and Minerals and the University of Utah were also selected among the other 16 additional projects.

Others selected in this segment include Davinci EP, San Ildefonso Services, GeoAlaska, Hexagon Energy, GreenFire Energy, TLS Geothermics Corp, LiPower Geothermal, INTEK Inc, Oriah Geothermal, XGS Energy, Raser Power Systems, 400C Energy and Invenergy Geothermal Development.

Data generated by the projects will made available through DoE’s Geothermal Data Repository (GDR).Making these data available can extend the value of the projects beyond individual sites by helping inform future technology development and geothermal exploration across the industry, the DoE statement noted.

“Thanks to President Trump’s leadership, the Energy Department is advancing American geothermal innovation to unlock the nation’s abundant domestic energy resources,” it added.

“Geothermal can provide reliable, around-the-clock power to help meet growing demand while strengthening US energy security.”