GeoAlaska extends geothermal exploration on Augustine Island

GeoAlaska obtains an extended geothermal prospecting permit, increasing its presence on Augustine Island by 240%, marking a significant step forward in its geothermal energy development efforts.

Share:

GeoAlaska géothermie île Augustine

Comprehensive energy news coverage, updated nonstop

Annual subscription

8.25$/month*

*billed annually at 99$/year for the first year then 149,00$/year ​

Unlimited access • Archives included • Professional invoice

OTHER ACCESS OPTIONS

Monthly subscription

Unlimited access • Archives included

5.2$/month*
then 14.90$ per month thereafter

FREE ACCOUNT

3 articles offered per month

FREE

*Prices are excluding VAT, which may vary depending on your location or professional status

Since 2021: 35,000 articles • 150+ analyses per week

On April 1, the Alaska Department of Natural Resources granted GeoAlaska a substantial geothermal prospecting permit covering 7,299 acres, increasing their Augustine Island operation by 240%. This expansion encompasses the entire southern half of the island, complementing their existing 3,031-acre permit.

Planning strategic geophysical surveys

Following the recommendations of an independent geothermal reservoir study carried out in 2023, GeoAlaska, in partnership with Ignis Energy Inc. plans to carry out a new magnetotelluric (MT) study on these vast tracts in mid-2024. This study aims to map resistivity at much greater depths to better define the potential of geothermal resources.

Background and future prospects

Founded in May 2020 by Paul L. Craig, GeoAlaska is dedicated to the development of sustainable, carbon-free geothermal energy in Alaska. The company operates under permits at Mount Spurr and Augustine Island, with plans to drill their first geothermal well at Augustine in 2025, followed by other production and injection wells.

Technological advances in surveying

The upcoming MT survey aims to significantly improve the resolution of subsurface data compared with the 2023 magnetotelluric audio (AMT) survey. This high-resolution survey should improve the identification and modelling of geothermal resources, helping to accurately place the first exploratory well.

The GeoAlaska initiative is part of a broader effort to meet Alaska’s energy needs with clean, sustainable sources. This project enjoys legislative support, including the Federal Inflation Reduction Act, which reinforces the continuation of such projects.

State-owned PT SMI financed 65% of the Ijen geothermal plant, recently inaugurated, while continuing social responsibility programmes in East Java province.
The new GeoMap tool identifies vast geothermal potential in the Middle East, notably for urban cooling, long-duration storage, and large-scale power generation.
Clean Energy Technologies and RPG Energy Group completed the installation of an Organic Rankine Cycle heat recovery system at a major industrial site in Tennessee.
German start-up Factor2 Energy has raised $9.1mn in venture capital to develop a geothermal system based on CO₂ injected into porous geological formations, with the goal of building a pilot power plant in Germany.
Start-up Dig Energy has secured $5mn to launch its first pilot projects for compact geothermal drilling, aiming to cut thermal energy production costs in buildings without relying on conventional oilfield rigs.
Baker Hughes joins the development of the second phase of the Hell’s Kitchen project in California, targeting 500 megawatts of geothermal energy to power energy-intensive data centres.
Baker Hughes will supply Fervo Energy with key equipment for five geothermal ORC plants as part of the Cape Station Phase II project in Utah, United States.
A long-term extension secures continuous baseload geothermal power supply to California’s main utilities while strengthening financial visibility in the energy sector.
The inauguration of the Tanawon geothermal site, with a capacity of 22 megawatts, marks a milestone in the expansion of the Philippines’ energy park with local solutions of low carbon footprint.
The rise in investments and the boom in binary cycle technologies are placing geothermal energy at the heart of global energy strategies, driven by heat pump demand and Asian ambitions.
Daldrup & Söhne AG has won an EU-wide tender for drilling geothermal wells in Pullach, a large-scale project that could enhance the economic appeal of geothermal energy in Germany.
The Bureau of Land Management removes rules deemed obsolete to facilitate the development of geothermal projects, announcing new geothermal lease auctions in California and Idaho.
Geothermal Radar unveils an interactive mapping tool and global thermal model designed to support governments and companies in identifying and developing new geothermal sites internationally.
North America registers record funding of $1.7 billion in the first quarter of 2025, driven by emerging innovative techniques exploiting previously inaccessible geothermal resources, according to recent analysis by Wood Mackenzie.
Globeleq and African Trade & Investment Development Insurance finalise a payment guarantee for the Menengai geothermal project (35 MW), securing financing ahead of its planned operational launch in Kenya.
Ignis Energy closes its $13.6mn Series A funding round, gathering international players to finance geothermal projects in the United States and Türkiye, now entering the technical maturity phase.
Austrian oil group OMV announces a seismic campaign starting in December 2025 in the Graz region, aiming to identify potential deep geothermal reservoirs suitable for local energy production.
Saint-Nazaire Agglo and Dalkia officially sign a Public Service Delegation contract for a 37-kilometre urban heating network, primarily fuelled by thermal recovery and local biomass, operational from 2030.
Ormat Technologies acquires the Blue Mountain geothermal power plant in Nevada from Cyrq Energy, enhancing its energy generation capacity to 1,268 MW, with potential expansion through technical upgrades planned in the short term.
Unit 2 of the Lumut Balai geothermal plant, with a capacity of 55 MW, has successfully synchronized to the Indonesian national grid, paving the way for full commercial operation scheduled by the end of June 2025.

All the latest energy news, all the time

Annual subscription

8.25$/month*

*billed annually at 99$/year for the first year then 149,00$/year ​

Unlimited access - Archives included - Pro invoice

Monthly subscription

Unlimited access • Archives included

5.2$/month*
then 14.90$ per month thereafter

*Prices shown are exclusive of VAT, which may vary according to your location or professional status.

Since 2021: 30,000 articles - +150 analyses/week.