New Mexico is eyeing 24/7 green energy production after a next-generation geothermal project hit major drilling milestones in the state. Eavor Technologies Inc. announced the completion of a revolutionary demonstration project on January 31, called Eavor-Deep™. Touted as the hottest, deepest, directional geothermal well in history, Eavor-Deep reached depths of 18,000 feet and temperatures of around 250℃ – breaking through hard granite deposits and hot-rock geothermal barriers simultaneously. The project was covered by local news outlet the Albuquerque Journal, in which staff writer Kevin Robinson-Avila dubbed the green-tech company a major player in “what could soon become a global renaissance in geothermal development.”

The term ‘geothermal energy’ is appearing in news headlines and press releases with greater and greater frequency as nations around the world race to open doors for renewable resources. The good news: the geothermal industry is rife with innovation and real-time developments. The bad news? Conversations about the industry don’t often reach beyond the borders of the energy world. But entrepreneurial writer Yasmeen Naseer is trying to change that. With a multi-part series in the works, Naseer has used her first four articles in the series to break those niche barriers and inform the general public about the exciting and promising new developments in the world of next-generation geothermal.

A recent report released by the University of Houston Hobby School of Public Affairs reveals how Texan poll respondents feel about renewable and traditional energy sources in the state. The poll included questions about conventional oil and gas, as well as the emerging industries of solar, wind, nuclear, and geothermal, and aimed to gauge how Texan’s see their role in the evolving energy sector following more than 20 years of grid instability. Well-known for being a ‘red’ republican state, the polls showed – what some may consider surprisingly – positive attitudes toward expanding renewable energy sources, with 64% in favour of solar expansion, 57% supporting wind farm and hydroelectric dam growth, 42% in favour of increasing nuclear plants, and 59% supporting geothermal expansion.

2022 proved to be a fruitful year for European venture capital funds, according to an article by Amy Lewin and Sadia Nowshin of Sifted.eu. Last year, more than €23.3 billion was raised by both established and up-and-coming venture capitalists. Unsurprisingly (but nonetheless encouraging), funds and firms are eyeing climate tech projects and start-ups as promising and politically prioritized investments. The European Union has committed to reducing emissions by 55% from 1990 levels by the end of the decade, and becoming the world’s first net-zero continent by 2050. Other European nations outside the EU have their own climate goals, including the United Kingdom, Turkey, Switzerland, and Norway. These commitments spell more than just positive change for the environment. For venture capitalists, they signal the start of a new global industry in need of financing now, with the potential for exponential returns in the future.

Non-profit green energy think-tank Geothermal Rising appointed Bryant Jones as the new Executive Director on Tuesday, February 14th in a press release published on their website. Jones has studied the intersection of science and technology, policy, and energy transition over the last 5 years. His fifteen years of political experience gave him special insight into how advocacy groups influence the creation of industry narratives and boundaries, and subsequently, shape emerging relevant policies and regulations, a topic he explored during his 7 years at Boise State University. “I am excited to be part of a community that has the solutions we need to avert and drawdown the climate crisis while simultaneously transitioning the hydrocarbon workforce, skills and knowledge into the clean energy economy,” said Bryant.

An early January article from German international news outlet Deutsche Welle (DW) theorizes the Golden Age of Geothermal may be upon us. Journalist Gero Rueter’s take on the topic is a well-versed one. Rueter has worked for DW for over 20 years, during which he developed and published a magazine focused on European Environmental reporting and news. With a spotlight on the potential for deep geothermal energy, Rueter notes that China is by far the largest producer of deep geothermal, with an output of 14 GW. Turkey, Japan, and Iceland follow, with 3, 2, and 2 GW of output respectively.