Revolutionary geothermal technology could replace 42% of eu’s fossil fuel power at same cost

A groundbreaking new report reveals that geothermal energy could theoretically replace nearly half of the European Union’s coal and natural gas electricity generation—at comparable costs to current fossil fuel infrastructure. The analysis by energy think tank Ember highlights how advanced drilling techniques borrowed from the oil and gas industry are unlocking vast underground energy reserves previously considered inaccessible.

Traditional geothermal power has been limited to geologically active regions with natural hot springs and volcanic activity. However, next-generation “enhanced geothermal” technologies are changing the game by drilling several miles deep to tap into Earth’s constant heat and artificially fracturing rock to create the permeability needed for water circulation. While more expensive and technically challenging than conventional geothermal, these innovations could open vast new territories across Europe to clean energy development.

The technology works by pumping water through heated underground rock formations, where it absorbs geothermal energy before returning to the surface to power turbines. Unlike solar and wind power, geothermal provides constant, reliable energy regardless of weather conditions. Beyond electricity generation, shallow geothermal systems can directly heat and cool buildings through underground pipe networks, addressing the fact that EU households use over three-quarters of their energy for heating.

Perhaps most intriguingly, geothermal installations can function as massive underground batteries, storing excess renewable energy by heating water during peak solar and wind production, then releasing that stored energy when other renewables aren’t available. As deployment increases, costs are expected to decrease significantly, making this Earth-powered technology increasingly competitive with fossil fuels.