Can Geothermal Finally Deliver Always-On Clean Energy?

Enhanced geothermal pilots hint at a future of steady, round-the-clock clean electricity

12 Dec 2025

Something important is happening beneath the United States energy system, mostly out of sight. Long treated as a niche resource, geothermal power is beginning to shake off that label. New pilot projects suggest it could deliver what many clean grids still lack: dependable electricity, day and night.

The shift is being driven by enhanced geothermal systems. These projects apply drilling and reservoir techniques borrowed from oil and gas, allowing developers to tap underground heat in places once considered off-limits. The appeal is simple. Unlike solar or wind, geothermal does not depend on the weather. When it works, it works all the time.

That promise is now being tested at scale. Fervo Energy has emerged as a front-runner, advancing large projects across the western United States with backing from major investors and industry partners. Its progress marks a turning point, signaling that geothermal is moving beyond experimentation toward a role as firm power on the grid.

Demand from electricity users is adding momentum. Google has expanded its geothermal investments as it looks for reliable clean energy to support data centers, where downtime is not an option. As electrification accelerates and power demand climbs, that need for constant supply is becoming more common across industries.

Suppliers are responding as well. Baker Hughes is rolling out equipment designed specifically for geothermal plants, improving efficiency and allowing projects to be built in stages. That flexibility helps developers manage risk and connect new capacity more smoothly to existing grids.

All of this comes as utilities and policymakers search for clean resources that can balance solar and wind. Geothermal’s ability to run continuously makes it an increasingly attractive complement, especially as grid operations grow more complex. High upfront costs and permitting hurdles remain, but performance data from early projects is beginning to ease doubts.

The story taking shape is a quiet one, but a consequential one. Enhanced geothermal is no longer just an intriguing idea. As capital flows in and projects advance, heat from deep underground is starting to claim a larger role in the future of reliable clean power.