Geothermal Tests Advance US Power Ambitions

Federal research and private pilots show gains in engineered reservoirs, raising hopes for scalable, firm clean energy

11 Feb 2026

A technical hurdle in US geothermal power is beginning to ease as new field tests show improved control over underground reservoirs.

At Utah FORGE, the Department of Energy’s flagship geothermal research site, multi-stage stimulation trials reported in May 2024 demonstrated that segmented treatments along horizontal wells can create inter-well connectivity and measurable fluid circulation. Analysis is continuing, but researchers say the results represent progress in improving flow performance in engineered geothermal systems.

Enhanced Geothermal Systems, or EGS, seek to generate electricity by injecting fluid into hot rock formations and recovering heated water or steam through production wells. Historically, inconsistent flow rates between wells have limited commercial viability. At Utah FORGE, engineers divided horizontal wells into several stages and stimulated each section separately, a method adapted from oil and gas drilling. The approach is intended to create a wider and better-connected fracture network, allowing heat to be extracted more efficiently.

Private developers are beginning to apply similar methods. Fervo Energy’s Project Red in Nevada has produced roughly 3 to 3.5 megawatts of grid-connected electricity using multi-stage stimulation. Although still at pilot scale, the project has delivered stable output, offering early evidence that engineered reservoirs can support continuous power generation.

The industry’s broader objective is to make geothermal development repeatable. Variability in subsurface conditions has long deterred investors and complicated financing. More standardised stimulation techniques, combined with real-time monitoring of underground performance, could improve predictability and strengthen project economics.

The timing is significant. As US power demand rises, driven in part by data centres and industrial electrification, grid operators are seeking firm, carbon-free generation to complement intermittent wind and solar capacity. Geothermal plants can operate around the clock, providing so-called baseload electricity without direct emissions.

Challenges remain. Regulators continue to examine the risk of induced seismicity linked to underground stimulation, while water use and permitting require coordination with state and local authorities. Moving from research sites and pilot plants to larger commercial fleets will test both engineering systems and regulatory frameworks.

If sustained circulation and cost reductions can be demonstrated at scale, EGS could move closer to commercial deployment, adding a new source of dependable, zero-carbon power to the US energy mix.