1、 itif.org Advanced Geothermal Energy Is Widely Available,Clean,and Maybe Cheap Enough to Make a Big Impact ROBIN GASTER|MAY 2026 Three advanced geothermal technologiesEnhanced Geothermal Systems(EGS),Advanced Geothermal Systems(AGS),and Superhot Rock Geothermal(SHR)are poised to transform geothermal
2、 from a niche resource into a significant contributor to the U.S.energy mix.KEY TAKEAWAYS EGS produces energy at commercial scale by drilling deeper and applying techniques from oil and gas fracking to geothermal.It has enormous potential.Traditional geothermal faces limitations in identifying and e
3、xploiting underground water or brine reservoirs.EGS instead works with hot dry rocks much further underground.Fervo is the industry leader in EGS.It has generated energy at commercial scale and found commercial demand for its output.Its technology is advancing rapidly,and it is successfully funding
4、development with outside capital.However,EGS understandably still relies on clean energy mandates and federal subsidies.More cost reductions will come as the technology scales,and EGS appears to be on the path to price/performance parity with fossil fuels and cheap renewables.Federal financing shoul
5、d support rapid scaleup.DOEs Office of Energy Dominance Financing can help,but needs significant redirection from Congress.DOEs FORGE R&D project is highly successful and should be expanded.It also insists on open data dissemination,a model for other programs(e.g.,MARVEL for microreactors).Scaleup n
6、eeds improved access to federal lands.Bills currently before Congress will help,but much more will be needed.INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY&INNOVATION FOUNDATION|MAY 2026 PAGE 2 CONTENTS Key Takeaways.1 Introduction.3 Geothermal Modalities.4 Enhanced Geothermal Systems.5 Advanced Geothermal Systems.7 Superh