Latest News

• Region: North America
• Topics: Geothermal
• Date: 21 May, 2025

GreenFire Energy has launched its first commercial next-gen geothermal demonstration project at The Geysers.

• Region: North America
• Topics: Geothermal
• Date: 20 May 2025

Oil & gas and geothermal energy sectors both require skills, data, technology and supply chain elements that show a significant overlap, indicating that these skills are indeed transferable between sectors. 

Considering the large scale innovations taking place in the geothermal energy sector, it has been observed that techniques such as subsurface evaluation, modelling, drilling and surface operations that are involved in the development of new geothermal projects, are very similar processes to those used in many upstream oil and gas projects. 

This means that the expertise offered by oil & gas professionals as well as the resources from the industry, can be used in the development of next-generation geothermal technologies. One notable example as mentioned in a report by the International Energy Agency (IEA), is the reliance of enhanced geothermal systems (EGSs) on well stimulation, including hydraulic fracturing and directional drilling techniques that were refined for shale gas and tight oil operations in the US.

The report concluded that findings obtained through the examination of investment components revealed that around two-thirds of every dollar invested in conventional geothermal operations has a significant overlap with the oil and gas industry. This further confirms the close relationship between the required investments and the expertise and skills involved in the two sectors. 

• Region: Asia Pacific
• Topics: Geothermal
• Date: 19th May 2025

Taiwan’s Vice Minister of Economic Affairs, Lai Chien-Hsin, has reiterated the critical role geothermal will play in the island’s energy transition.

A 14th May press release issued by the Ministry of Economic Affairs’ Energy Administration flagged recent comments by the Vice Minister from the 2025 Taiwan International Geothermal Conference.

The event, hosted by the Ministry, took place in Taipei in April.In his opening remarks, Vice Minister Lai said promoting renewable energy is critical to achieving sustainability and energy transition goals in Taiwan.

“With Taiwan's favourable geological conditions, it has completed the construction of six geothermal power plants,” the statement read. “This year, more geothermal power plants will be connected to the grid.”

The Vice Minister also welcomed geothermal scholars, developers and experts to the conference, stating that collaboration between international enterprises and local Taiwanese firms can contribute to the island’s net-zero emission goals and address climate challenges.

The Taipei conference brings together leading geothermal experts, government representatives and industry leaders from the United States, New Zealand, Canada, the Philippines, and other countries to explore cutting-edge technologies and the future development of geothermal energy.

Held in a hybrid format with both in-person sessions and online streaming, the conference attracted more than 700 participants from around the world, including representatives from academia, industry, government and research institutions.

This year’s agenda featured a broad range of topics, including the status of geothermal energy development in Taiwan, industry trends, advanced technologies and innovative application, and the role of local governments in promoting geothermal power.

The Energy Administration and the Geological Survey and Mining Management Agency presented Taiwan's geothermal policies and exploration progress.

CPC Corporation and Taiwan Power Company also delivered updates on development strategies and technical breakthroughs, which have attracted investment and interest from both domestic and international companies.

On the second day of the conference, there was also a site visit for to CPC Corporation's Yuanshan No.1 Well, Taiwan's first deep geothermal exploratory well.

“Jointly developed by Academia Sinica and CPC, and currently drilled to a depth of 1,820 metres, this well marks a key milestone for Taiwan's deep geothermal progress,” the Ministry statement noted.

It added that Taiwan aims to strengthen global partnerships, foster innovation and accelerate the growth of its geothermal sector as part of moves to build a long-term and sustainable energy sector.

• Region: Europe
• Topics: Geothermal
• Date: 16th May 2025

Energy services group SPIE has taken on the operational management of a geothermal power plant in Bavaria, Germany, believed to be the first of its kind worldwide.

The facility is thought to be the world’s first commercial geothermal power plant that uses deep geothermal rock, rather than thermal water, to generate district heating and electricity.

“This makes SPIE part of a major project in the renewable energy market segment,” the company noted in a statement.

The project, commissioned by Eavor Erdwärme Geretsried GmbH & Co KG, will supply the town of Geretsried in southern Germany and the surrounding region.

SPIE will advise the customer on the legally compliant marketing and commissioning of individual plant components and will subsequently assume responsibility for the technical operation and maintenance of the geothermal power plant’s above-ground systems.

This also includes maintenance of parts of the ORC (Organic Rankine Cycle) system, which uses surplus heat to produce CO2-low electricity.

The intention is to ensure maximum plant availability and operational reliability with a 24/7 on-call service.

“To meet the complexity of this highly innovative plant, we offer our customer a flexible service model that adapts to changing needs throughout the entire contract term,” said Aaron Eißner, Sales Manager in the Efficient Facilities operational division at SPIE Germany Switzerland Austria.

The power generation process will start operations in the autumn, while district heating production is currently in the planning stage.

Once the district heating station has been completed, SPIE will also take over its operational management and ensure plant availability.

The Eavor-Loop is a geothermal power plant with a closed-loop system, comparable to a giant underground radiator.

Two drilling rigs bore vertically to a depth of 4,500 metres, where the wells are then deflected horizontally to create 12 parallel branches, each between 3,000 and 3,500 metres long.

Each loop thus comprises around 80 kilometres of borehole.

The fluid injected from above is naturally heated in the lower section of the system as it passes through the deep rock before rising to the surface without the need for additional pumps, thanks to the thermosiphon effect.

The heat is then extracted via a heat exchanger and can be used directly for district heating networks or electricity generation.

“Geothermal energy is a natural, stable and reliable source of renewable energy,” said Stefan Schusterschitz, General Manager of the Efficient Facilities operational division at SPIE Germany Switzerland Austria.

“With our technical expertise, we are helping to drive this innovation forward in Germany and to establish a key technology for the renewable energy mix of the future.”

The plant in Geretsried is already the third geothermal facility in Bavaria managed by SPIE, following those in Dürrnhaar and Kirchstockach.

• Region: Asia Pacific
• Topics: Geothermal
• Date: 14 May, 2025

Enhanced geothermal systems (EGSs) are one among the two reservoir-independent approaches currently being explored by geothermal developers to tap into geothermal energy without relying on natural hydrothermal reservoirs.

• Region: Europe
• Topics: Geothermal
• Date: 13 May, 2025

Veolia, Europe’s decarbonizing energy leader, has entered into a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Star Energy to jointly develop large-scale geothermal heating solutions in the UK.

• Region: North America
• Topics: Geothermal
• Date: 02 May, 2025

Enhanced geothermal systems (EGS) see a great future in the US, given their potential to generate around 90 GW of flexible power by 2050.

• Region: Asia Pacific
• Topics: Geothermal
• Date: 1 May, 2025

National Taiwan Ocean University (NTOU) and the University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin) signed an MOU to collaborate on geothermal research and accelerate the development of Taiwan's geothermal resources.

• Region: North America
• Topics: Geothermal
• Date: 25 April, 2025

The Bureau of Land Management is seeking input for the proposed geothermal leasing of eight parcels totalling 20,000 acres in Elmore and Washington counties.

• Region: North America
• Topics: Geothermal
• Date: 24 April, 2025

The US Department of the Interior will implement emergency permitting procedures to accelerate the development of domestic energy in response to President Trump’s declaration of a National Energy Emergency.

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

According to a new report from Rhodium Group, next-generation geothermal energy carries immense potential in powering data centre growth in the US over the next decade.

• Region: Europe
• Topics: Geothermal
• Date: 22 April, 2025

Arverne Group will begin construction of the geothermal Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE) demonstrator for its Alsatian project.