When Next-Generation Geothermal Meets First-of-a-Kind Reality - CleanTechnica

The article discusses Eavor, a next-generation geothermal energy company aiming to overcome traditional geothermal limitations by using a closed-loop system. Unlike conventional geothermal power, which depends on naturally permeable, water-bearing hot rock near the surface, Eavor drills deep sealed loops of pipe through hot rock, circulating a working fluid to extract heat by conduction. This heat is then used for electricity generation or industrial and district heating. Eavor’s flagship project in Geretsried, Bavaria, began feeding about 0.5 MW of electricity into the German grid in late 2025, which is significantly below the Phase 1 target of 8.2 MW from four loops. Despite exceeding initial project costs (€200-350 million), the early output represents roughly 25% of the expected capacity per loop and only 6% of the overall Phase 1 goal. Eavor’s closed-loop approach aims to address three major challenges limiting geothermal expansion: the scarcity of high-quality hydrothermal reservoirs, regulatory and seismic issues associated