Geothermal could enhance US energy security, but only if it is prioritised, according to The Atlantic Council, a Washington DC-based thinktank established in 1961.
In a new report, it notes that geothermal energy offers reliable, 24/7 clean power with low supply-chain risks, thereby enhancing overall energy security in the US.
The Atlantic Council also argues that with policy support and new drilling technologies, geothermal could expand beyond limited regions, which characterises the sector currently.
High upfront costs and slow deployment remain challenges, but its firm, domestic power makes it strategically valuable, the paper, written by Paul Stahle, a senior energy advisor and government relations expert, notes.
It also comes at a time of rising electricity demand in the US.
After nearly a decade of flat growth, the US Energy Information Administration projects that annual demand across the country will grow 2.4% in 2025 and 2.6% in 2026.
“Meeting that demand affordably poses a formidable challenge,” The Atlantic Council notes.
“Oil and gas markets are volatile, while renewables have intermittency challenges and vulnerable supply chains. In this environment, accelerating the development of geothermal energy could help reduce exposure to these risks.”
Compared to solar, wind, or battery storage, geothermal power relies relatively less on critical minerals like cobalt and lithium, it adds, and, unlike oil and gas generation, geothermal requires no fuel.
As a result, geothermal can provide round-the-clock baseload power with lower exposure to disruptions in global supply chains, the paper adds.
“By prioritising the rapid development of geothermal, policymakers could help the United States build a unique path to energy security — one that delivers reliable power 24/7, insulated from global hydrocarbon markets and vulnerable supply chains,” it concludes.