"Geothermal breakthrough: 24/7 clean power without coal"

With growing demand for clean, baseload power, next-generation geothermal systems have emerged as promising solutions. Within this realm, superhot rock (SHR) geothermal has also received increased interest. Superhot rock is an energy-dense resource found at or above the supercritical temperature of water (374°C in de-ionized water or higher in brine); early SHR geothermal wells have demonstrated 5-10x the MW output of conventional geothermal wells. Unlocking this potential requires overcoming key engineering challenges including designing power plants that can operate reliably under high-temperature, high-pressure conditions. This is why I was intrigued by Daniel W. Dichter's paper presented at Stanford’s 2025 Geothermal Workshop, “Water-Based Geothermal Binary Cycles.” His research shows that water can outperform the hydrocarbons used in organic Rankine cycles (ORCs) at high temperatures, while also offering safety and cost advantages. Daniel and I sat down to discuss what this could mean for the future of geothermal. We explored: - How water-based binary cycles compare to ORCs, flash, and dry steam power plants - The barriers and opportunities for adopting water-based binary cycles - The synergies between SHR geothermal and pressurized water reactor fission The full Substack post is below!

Closed-loop geothermal is rewriting the playbook for clean energy. Unlike traditional geothermal that relies on underground water reservoirs, closed-loop systems circulate a working fluid through sealed pipes drilled deep into the earth. The result? Consistent, 24/7 renewable heat and power—without needing rare geologic conditions. It’s geothermal, but anywhere. The potential is massive. #Geothermal #CleanEnergy #RenewableEnergy #Innovation https://lnkd.in/gWfP_CJx

MOL Taps Into the Earth: Geothermal Energy Explored at Danube Refinery. MOL is exploring the potential for geothermal energy at its Danube Refinery site, conducting advanced 3D seismic surveys in and around the facility to assess whether the region holds viable geothermal resources. According to the company, the goal of the seismic survey is to determine whether the subsurface beneath and around the refinery could support geothermal energy extraction—offering a cleaner, more sustainable energy source for the refinery’s operations. If suitable geothermal reservoirs can be identified—meaning groundwater located at the right depth and temperature—they could contribute significantly to the facility’s energy needs, reducing reliance on conventional fuels. Results from the analysis are expected within six months. Should the findings prove promising, MOL plans to proceed with further feasibility studies. The technique used in the survey is a modern, well-established 3D seismic imaging method, often compared to medical ultrasound technology. Artificially generated vibration waves travel through the ground and reflect back from various geological layers, allowing experts to build a three-dimensional picture of underground structures. This enables researchers to effectively “look beneath the surface” for signs of geothermal viability. The company emphasized that while the use of geothermal energy in refining is still rare globally, this initiative could position the region as a pioneer in the field. Dávid Kapes, MOL Group’s Head of Green Energy Transition within the Exploration and Production Division, noted that the awarded geothermal exploration license includes both the city of Százhalombatta and the Danube Refinery itself. “It is a logical step to investigate the geothermal potential specifically around the refinery as part of the broader mapping process,” he stated. Krisztián Pulay, Executive Vice President of Downstream Production and Development, highlighted that the company’s green transition starts with decarbonizing its own operations. “Following the construction of a solar park and the inauguration of a green hydrogen facility at the refinery, we are now turning to the heat of the Earth as a next step,” he said. Related articleFirst MVM-MOL Oil Shipment Diversifies Regional Energy SupplyWith the arrival of the first shipment, a new supply chain has been established.Continue reading Via MTI; Featured image: MTI/Bruzák Noémi The post MOL Taps Into the Earth: Geothermal Energy Explored at Danube Refinery appeared first on Hungary Today. https://lnkd.in/dpK8ePWJ

Next-generation #geothermal technologies are well-positioned to play a transformative role in the global energy mix. CATF’s Angela Seligman explores the technology advancements needed to reach commercialization of superhot rock geothermal.  Despite its potential, high temperature next-generation geothermal projects remain in the early stages of development and have challenges to contend with - one of which is water consumption, due to the close connection between water use and energy production. The power conversion system (binary cycle versus steam generation) and the associated choice of cooling technology (air cooled versus wet cooled) in geothermal plants have a large impact on the amount of water consumed. The operating efficiency of binary cycle power plants can vary depending on the specific plant design, configuration, and secondary working fluid employed. Recent research by Daniel Dichter found that water-based binary cycles are preferable in terms of efficiency, cost, safety, and scalability in high-temperature geothermal systems (300-350 °C). With the growing interest in next-generation geothermal technologies, especially in water-restricted regions, Dichter’s findings offer valuable insight into how next-generation geothermal projects can be operated more efficiently while reducing water consumption at higher operating temperatures. Read the full blog here: https://lnkd.in/e9c4jQfV   Explore Dichter’s findings: https://lnkd.in/dFv4t4NY 

Could #SuperHotRock #Geothermal be our answer to Taiwan Clean #Energy development? #Advance Exploration will be one of the keys from the beginning to the end. 😎😎😎😎 #Surfaces Equipment technology👷♂️👷♀️👷 #Drilling Deepening 👷♂️👷♀️👷 #WellEngineering & Management 👷👷♀️👷♂️ #Permeability Creation 👷👷♀️👷♂️

𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗸 (𝟯𝟴) 𝗶𝗻 𝗦𝘂𝗯𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗳𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗜𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: 𝟭𝟰 𝗖𝗖𝗨𝗦, 𝟵 𝗴𝗲𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗹, 𝟮 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗶𝘂𝗺, 𝟮 𝗻𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗵𝘆𝗱𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗲𝗻, 𝟭 𝗗𝗟𝗘, 𝟭 𝗽𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗰𝘆 Sorry, I've been slacking on these weekly summaries. I was getting a little burnt out formatting the previous version, so I'm trying to find something that works. 𝗟𝗶𝗻𝗸𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 PDF. 𝗧𝗼𝗽 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 • EPA proposes ending the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program for large emitters, a major rollback of emissions transparency 𝗖𝗖𝗨𝗦 • CNOOC’s Enping project surpasses 100 million m³ of CO₂ stored, plans a 10 mtpa cluster in Huizhou • Petrobras tenders its first Brazil CCS pilot targeting 100,000 tpa • Arizona gains primacy for Class VI wells, positioning the Southwest for faster storage timelines • Canada commits $5.8 million to BC capture and utilization pilots • Saipem reports more than €2 billion of CCUS in backlog, aiming for 30% low-carbon portfolio • Community coalition in Solano County organizes against a proposed CO₂ pipeline and storage plan • Yinson and Carbon Circle partner on Carbon Capture as a Service for European industry • ABS grants approval in principle for an offshore floating storage and injection unit concept at up to 10 mtpa • NGK Insulators unveils a low-energy DAC approach using honeycomb ceramics • India signals a national CCUS incentive plan tied to coal transition • CCC enters India to co-develop multi-mtpa CCUS for heavy industry • Canada links future pipeline approvals to large-scale CCUS investment under federal strategy • Octavia Carbon signs a 10-year CO₂ removal offtake to scale DAC in Kenya • California bill SB 840 seeks to extend Cap-and-Trade to 2045 with multibillion annual funding 𝗚𝗲𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗹 • CTR and Baker Hughes to build up to 500 MW at Hell’s Kitchen for AI and data centers • Philippines prepares a $250 million exploration derisking facility • New Zealand selects Rotokawa for its first supercritical well • BLM advances leasing across three Idaho counties • UK launches a national geothermal platform to guide siting and planning • El Salvador approves 10-year tax incentives for geothermal • Dig Energy raises $5 million for compact urban drilling • Winnipeg studies a downtown geothermal district system • Pertamina Geothermal Energy starts a pilot green hydrogen plant at Ulubelu 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗵𝘆𝗱𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗲𝗻 • Koloma to drill two vertical test wells in Idaho basalts, backed by $400 million • Protium moves to acquire the Lake Timiskaming project with 3,800 ha of claims 𝗗𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘂𝗺 𝗲𝘅𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 • E3 Lithium secures the first Phase 2 permits under Alberta’s brine-hosted minerals rules for its Clearwater demo 𝗛𝗲𝗹𝗶𝘂𝗺 • Pulsar initiates engineering for a helium recovery and CO₂ capture facility in Minnesota • Mendell updates Kansas and Nebraska operations with an off-taker in place for a 5.1% He stream

What if geothermal could decarbonize ERCOT in just four years? That’s the vision of Tim Lines, a energy engineering expert turned geothermal advocate whose career spans multiple decades and 40+ countries across oil & gas, district heating, and now geothermal. In this episode, Tim walks us through his journey from oil and gas to co-authoring the Future of Geothermal in Texas report with Project InnerSpace—and the bottom-up calculations that convinced him geothermal is going to skyrocket through to 2050. We cover: 🌍 How oil & gas technology translates directly into geothermal drilling and fracking 📊 Why geothermal could beat our current expectations ⚡ The race to push yields from 3–4 MW per well to 25+ MW, and what that means for powering hyperscale data centers 🏭 Cascaded uses of heat: from industrial steam to district networks and greenhouses 🛠 The biggest technical hurdles—electronics at 200°C+, high-temperature cements, and proppant degradation—and the innovations tackling them 🤝 Lessons from engaging municipalities in the UK, from free heat networks to unexpected biodiversity benefits Tim makes the case that geothermal is not just “another renewable”—it’s the foundation for reliable, scalable, baseload clean power. 🎧 Episode out now. Listen and subscribe here: Substack: https://lnkd.in/ehjB5ygq Spotify: https://lnkd.in/eD4-KsDj Amazon: https://lnkd.in/e3p4f_BM Apple: https://lnkd.in/eFZTkP2E #Geothermal #CleanEnergy #EnergyTransition #RenewableEnergy #Decarbonization #NetZero #BaseloadPower #DataCenters #Utilities #FeedInTariffs #GeothermalWells #Fracking #TexasEnergy #ERCOT #UKEnergy #GlobalEnergy #SPE

AI’s soaring energy appetite is pushing the U.S. to tap overlooked sources. Geothermal—just 0.4% of the mix today—could provide 90 GW by 2050, powering 65M homes. “It’s going to be the decade of geothermal,” says Sage Geosystems. #Energy #AI #Geothermal https://lnkd.in/gDWiPdBW

Thrilled to share a new report published by CSIS! Next Generation Geothermal: Leveraging a Strategic Opportunity for U.S. Energy Leadership When I began this project, I had only a surface-level understanding of geothermal energy and no familiarity with enhanced geothermal systems. Through the research process, I gained a much deeper appreciation for both the technical potential and the policy challenges of scaling this resource. A few key takeaways from the report: • Enhanced geothermal could provide reliable, 24/7 clean power almost anywhere in the U.S. if supported by the right policies and investments. • Strategic public finance and pilot projects are critical to proving out the technology at scale. • The U.S. has an opportunity to lead globally if it fosters innovation, harmonizes regulations, and builds international partnerships. I’m grateful to Ray Cai for being such a thoughtful coauthor, and to CSIS Energy Security and Climate Change Program for the chance to dive deep into a technology I knew nothing about just months ago. Excited to see where the geothermal conversation goes from here. Check out the full report here: https://lnkd.in/gDracz4A

🌋 𝐆𝐞𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐥 𝐄𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐲: 𝐇𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐭 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐄𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐡  Geothermal energy is a clean and renewable resource that uses the natural heat stored beneath the Earth's surface to generate electricity and provide heating. 🔹 𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐈𝐭 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐬: Wells are drilled into geothermal reservoirs. Hot water or steam is brought to the surface. The heat is used to drive turbines and produce electricity or for direct heating applications. 🔹 𝐓𝐲𝐩𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐆𝐞𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐬: 𝐃𝐫𝐲 𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐦: Uses steam directly from the reservoir. 𝐅𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐡 𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐦: Converts high-pressure hot water into steam. 𝐁𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐂𝐲𝐜𝐥𝐞: Transfers heat to a secondary fluid with a lower boiling point to drive turbines. 🔹 𝐀𝐝𝐯𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐬: Constant and reliable renewable energy source. Low greenhouse gas emissions. Long lifespan of geothermal plants. 🔹 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐬: High initial drilling and exploration costs. Limited to geologically suitable areas. Potential for induced seismicity. 👉 Geothermal energy offers a sustainable way to meet future energy demands while reducing environmental impact. #GeothermalEnergy #RenewableEnergy #SustainableEnergy #EnergyTransition #CleanEnergy 📩 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐜𝐭 𝐔𝐬: 𝐌𝐚𝐢𝐥:res@reservoirsolutions-res.com / Reservoir.Solutions.Egypt@gmail.com 🌐𝐖𝐞𝐛𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐞: reservoirsolutions-res.com 📱 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭𝐬𝐀𝐩𝐩: +201093323215 𝐈𝐦𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐬𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐜𝐞 : https://lnkd.in/eddBM2zm