Geothermal Projects Around the World

Introduction:

While solar and wind often take the spotlight, geothermal energy is quietly powering millions of homes across the globe — cleanly, efficiently, and 24/7. From volcanic islands to African plains, countries are tapping into Earth’s heat to generate electricity and provide heating. In this article, we’ll explore some of the most important geothermal projects worldwide, showing how this hidden force is reshaping the global energy landscape.

1. Hellisheiði Power Station – Iceland

• Location: Hengill, Iceland
• Capacity: ~303 MW (electricity and thermal)
• Type: Combined heat and power (CHP) plant

• Uses Iceland’s volcanic activity to power homes and provide district heating for Reykjavík.
• Iceland gets over 25% of its electricity and 90% of its heating from geothermal!

2. The Geysers – California, USA

• Location: Northern California
• Capacity: ~725 MW (largest geothermal complex in the world)
• Features: 18 power plants over a large area

Produces enough electricity to power over 700,000 homes. Operational since the 1960s — a proven model of long-term success.

3. Olkaria Geothermal Project – Kenya

• Location: Rift Valley, Kenya
• Capacity: Over 850 MW and growing
• Impact: Supplies 40% of Kenya’s electricity

Kenya is the top geothermal producer in Africa, using its geological advantage in the Great Rift Valley.

4. Sarulla Geothermal Power Plant – Indonesia

• Location: North Sumatra
• Capacity: 330 MW
• Technology: Combined-cycle system using two different types of geothermal steam

Indonesia is located on the Pacific Ring of Fire, which is full of geothermal potential. It plans to expand to over 7,000 MW in the next decade.

5. Geothermal Projects in Turkey

• Current Capacity: Over 1,600 MW
• Focus: Private sector investment in western Turkey
• Notable Plant: Kızıldere III — integrated plant with electricity + agricultural greenhouse heating

Geothermal heat is being used for fruit drying, greenhouses, and fish farming, creating new agricultural opportunities.

6. Pilot Projects in Morocco and Tunisia

• Morocco: Exploration underway in Midelt, Agadir, and the Atlas Mountains for both electricity and agricultural heating
• Tunisia: Using geothermal for oasis farming and greenhouse irrigation.

These North African countries are exploring low-to-medium temperature geothermal, perfect for heating and farming needs.

7. Geothermal in the Philippines

• Ranking: 3rd largest producer globally
• Capacity: ~1,900 MW
• Major Projects: Makban and Tiwi Geothermal Complexes

Provides over 15% of the nation’s power, making the Philippines a world leader in clean, base-load energy.

Conclusion:

From volcanic islands to rural deserts, geothermal energy is quietly empowering the world, with zero emissions, low cost, and limitless potential. As more countries invest in clean infrastructure, geothermal will play a much larger role in the global green transition.

Want to explore how North Africa can join the geothermal movement? Head to ta9ati-net.preview-domain.com for insights and case studies.