Geothermal to Scale

Geothermal to Scale

Geothermal to Scale: Corporate PPAs + Drilling Gains; Policy Shifts Make Clean, Firm Power Bankable

Deep beneath the Earth’s surface, geothermal energy is emerging as a major force in the clean energy transition. Once considered a niche segment, it is now gaining widespread attention, supported by advances in drilling technology, large-scale corporate investments, and government policies that align ambition with implementation. The geothermal sector is no longer just developing, it is expanding rapidly, demonstrating its potential as a scalable and sustainable source of clean heat and power.

With insights from Energy Considered’s network of 5,000 Key Opinion Leaders (KOLs), the once-niche world of geothermal is shifting from quiet promise to headline momentum. Momentum is also political and financial. “Germany’s geothermal grants to Vulcan Energy prove that policy is catching up to potential,” said Will Owen (Senior Editor, Global Mining Review, UK), while Amy Harder (Editor, Cipher News, USA) observed, “Even Bill Gates sees geothermal as part of the firm-power backbone for AI and industrial loads where innovation meets infrastructure.” Colin Smith (Portfolio Manager, Clean The Sky Fund, UK) added, “Institutional investors now view geothermal as the reliable middle ground between renewables and baseload gas.” From India’s Dirang well to California’s Salton Sea, Energy Considered’s data show a convergence of drilling innovation, corporate demand, and policy resolve fueling a new narrative of clean, scalable heat beneath our feet.


At the core of this transformation lies next-generation drilling. “Geothermal is renewable not because it’s endless, but because it can be responsibly managed,” said Matt Gallagher (Former President, Parsley Energy, USA) in GreenPacks, noting that millimetre-wave and closed-loop systems “turn heat extraction into precision engineering rather than brute force.” His view mirrors Quaise Energy’s 100-metre MMW milestone in Texas, a field record that, according to Energy Considered metrics, triggered the sharpest KOL engagement spike of Q3. “We’re witnessing geothermal’s oil-and-gas moment,” Gallagher added later, highlighting how legacy drilling expertise is being recast as a climate solution.

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Geothermal to Scale: Corporate PPAs + Drilling Gains; Policy Shifts Make Clean, Firm Power Bankable - Quarter 3 2025

Case for tracking:

Earlier, geothermal was gaining credibility through U.S. funding and EGS pilots, though progress was slowed by long permitting cycles and uncertain early economics. Lithium co-production from geothermal brines was also emerging as a potential revenue stream at pilot scale. By Q3 2025, momentum has accelerated: Germany moved to classify geothermal as a project of “overriding public interest,” and bipartisan U.S. proposals aim to cut permitting delays. Corporate demand is rising, with Google and Meta signing PPAs to power AI-driven data centres.

On the tech side, drilling innovations like millimetre-wave and closed-loop systems are being touted as cost-breakers, while new markets are stepping in India’s first well in Dirang signals geographic diversification. Geothermal is now shifting from viability testing to being positioned as scalable, bankable, and central to clean firm power.

Volume of Mentions from Energy Considered’s Key Opinion Leaders:

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To continue reading this briefing and explore deeper insights, register for access to our Energy Insights Portal. Inside, you’ll find:

  • Extended editorial briefings with in-depth analysis and empirical data drawn from 5,000 of the world’s most influential commentators on the energy industry on key issues shaping the energy sector.
  • Monthly and quarterly data identifying and tracking how energy industry leaders are engaging with critical topics.
  • In depth research explaining why energy industry leaders are engaging with these key issues and providing the context and framework for further exploration.
  • Quantitative primary research conducted with responses from energy industry leaders on our panel, providing unique answers to the issues affecting the global energy industry.
  • Power BI dashboards offering dynamic exploration of 5,000 energy key opinion leaders, social and digital narrative analysed against 14 strategic and tactical energy industry metrics.
  • Expert interpretation of what these issues really mean to the industry and what decisions can be taken on the back of unprecedented empirical evidence.
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