A collaborative investigation between Clean Air Task Force, geo-data modelling company Seequent, and the University of Twente have mapped depths up to 450°C temperature in Canadian subsurfaces. An in-depth research paper presented at Geoconvention 2023 showed new models about “Earth’s lithosphere and the geodynamic environment thermal anomalies occur.” The intent behind these investigations is to harness a better understanding of where future next-generation geothermal operations could be most promising. According to the abstract, “…geothermal energy has seen an intensification of interest because it may provide cost-competitive, carbon-free, always available renewable energy, while requiring significantly less land than other energy sources. Increased exploration of geothermal resources is occurring along with a boom in technological innovations, with an eye towards exploration of deeper and hotter geothermal resources.”

An opinion piece written by Andrew Howell and Karine Kleinhaus urges oil and gas companies, who have cut back on their reduction ambitions in the last year, to leverage their drilling expertise and expand into Geoenergy. “Large oil and gas operators can also play an important role in Geoenergy development, bringing technological expertise, a skilled workforce, and access to capital. There are signs that the industry is starting to wake up to the opportunity,” said Howell and Kleinhaus. The article highlights that venture capital leaders bp and Chevron have a combined investment of $40 million in Eavor, which is helping to expand a renewable energy source that is “always on” and occupies up to 88 percent less land per KWh than other sources of clean energy.

To provide clean energy for future generations, CEO and founder of supermarket chain Kobe Bussan, Shoji Numata is building a geothermal power plant on the island of Kyushu in southern Japan. The plant is scheduled to be completed within a year, and has potential to provide electricity to approximately 8,000 homes. “It’s a stable power source 24 hours a day, and it has the lowest carbon dioxide emissions among renewable energies,” Numata said in an interview with ABC News Australia. “I am determined to spend all the money I have for the sake of the next generation.”

A site near the Sembawang hot spring in Singapore has recently been discovered to harbour water temperatures of 60°C to 90°C at a depth of 1.1km. This is hotter than water found at similar depths in many European countries. Furthermore, the geological landscape under Singapore contains suitable conditions for rock to retain a substantial amount of heat. This site and the Sembawang hot spring are located in the geological region called the Simpang Granite Pluton, where granite is found. Granite is rich in elements like uranium, thorium, and potassium, making it highly effective in both heat transfer and storage. Singapore’s demand for geothermal extraction from hot rock, for example, can be met with Eavor-Loop™ technology, as it harnesses underground heat through a closed-loop system. Furthermore, the very low land footprint makes these systems exceptionally compatible with high-density populated areas.

Eavor’s proprietary closed-loop technology will be deployed in an exploratory district heating project in the Estonian city of Narva. Carlos Cariaga, reporter for energy news outlet ThinkGeoEnergy, covered the announcement of an agreement between Geothermal Baltic OÜ and Eesti Energia, otherwise known as Enefit, to develop a next-generation geothermal project using Eavor-Loop™ technology. Published on February 15, Cariaga’s article cites sustainability and energy affordability as major motivating factors driving the project.

GT Energy, a UK-based geothermal heat developer, has been selected by the Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust, in collaboration with the Carbon and Energy Fund (CEF), to provide direct heating for the Salisbury District Hospital NHS Trust in Wiltshire, England. According to ThinkGeo, the main objective of this project is to meet the hospital’s complete heat requirements (which currently exceed 20GWhth per year) through a long-term energy supply agreement. Additionally, while the project aims to seek funding from the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme (PSDS) in the future, its progress is not dependent on receiving a grant from the PSDS. GT Energy will undertake the responsibility of de-risking and developing the geothermal project, such as initial geological feasibility studies to obtain necessary consents and overseeing the construction of wells and the energy centre. It’s anticipated that heat supply will begin as early as 2026, which is subject to regular planning processes, regulatory permits, and procurement cycles. Upon completion, GT Energy is expected to assume ownership and operation of the facility.