Background
Next-generation geothermal (NGG) technology has advanced significantly in recent years, resulting in cost reductions and a strong cohort of startup companies seeking to develop projects that produce electricity at grid scale. The potential amount of power that could be generated by a mature geothermal industry, and the geographic flexibility of the technology, could significantly alter the generation mix across the United States. As a carbon-free power option drawn from an inexhaustible energy source with a small land use footprint, commercialization and wide adoption would help meet many energy sector objectives, such as domestic supply diversity, emissions reductions, and round-the-clock power generation for reliability needs. These attributes have earned NGG bipartisan support. Nonetheless, continued advancement and scaling are far from inevitable.
