Geothermal energy

Advancements Bring Geothermal Power to the Surface

From its origins running just a few light bulbs in Tuscany in 1904 to supporting baseloads on national power grids today, geothermal power generation has been driven by technological advancements. Many of these advancements stem from oil and gas exploration and production efforts.

A geothermal power plant in Larderello, Italy, runs near the site of the first harnessing of geothermal power for electricity generation in 1904. Source: Getty Images.
A geothermal power plant in Larderello, Italy, runs near the site of the first harnessing of geothermal power for electricity generation in 1904.
Source: Getty Images.

he first geothermal power plant powered just a handful of light bulbs. That was more than 120 years ago. Since then, geothermal energy has advanced to become a major player in power generation.

“Geothermal is actually a rather unique energy source,” said Henning Bjørvik, head of renewables research at Rystad Energy, during the 2025 Offshore Technology Conference (OTC). “It is a clean and firm source. If you look at solar and wind, these are clean sources, but they are not firm.

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