National Interest
Summary
For decades, geothermal energy has been viewed as a promising but niche source of clean, reliable energy. Today, increased electricity demand from artificial intelligence (AI) and data centers, advances in technology, demand for clean energy, and growing public and private investment have reignited interest in the sector. But while many see geothermal as an emerging pillar of the energy transition, others argue that expectations have run ahead of commercial reality. This debate explores whether geothermal is finally ready to scale or whether its greatest near-term value lies elsewhere.
Geothermal power for electricity still faces high drilling costs, uncertain reservoir performance, and unproven repeatability at commercial scale. These problems suggest the electricity pathway remains a demonstration technology, while geothermal heat, already proven at scale in district heating and industrial applications, is the stronger and more deployable case today.
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