The United States is doubling down on geothermal power as a cornerstone of its energy future. On February 27, 2026, the Department of Energy (DOE) announced a major $171.5 million funding opportunity to accelerate next-generation geothermal technologies through field-scale tests and exploration drilling. This initiative will support both electricity generation projects and critical resource characterization work, directly advancing President Trump’s Executive Order on Unleashing American Energy.
The funding targets six specific topics, with the first application round focusing on enhanced geothermal systems (EGS) and drilling programs for next-generation and hydrothermal resource confirmation. These investments aim to de-risk innovative approaches, attract private capital, and unlock the vast untapped potential of geothermal energy — a clean, reliable, 24/7 baseload power source that can power homes, businesses, and data centers without intermittency issues.
“Work under this opportunity will directly support our commitments to advance energy addition, reduce energy costs for American families and businesses, and unleash American energy dominance and innovation,” said DOE Assistant Secretary of the Hydrocarbons and Geothermal Energy Office, Kyle Haustveit. He emphasized that thanks to President Trump’s America First Energy Agenda, these demonstrations will spur domestic manufacturing, enable data center growth, and deliver affordable, secure energy nationwide.
The United States already leads the world with approximately 4 gigawatts of installed geothermal capacity. However, DOE analyses project a staggering potential of at least 300 gigawatts of reliable geothermal power on the U.S. grid by 2050. By proving commercial viability at scale, this funding round is expected to catalyze widespread private investment and industry expansion.
Letters of Intent are due March 27, 2026, with full applications due April 30, 2026. This rapid timeline underscores the urgency and momentum behind America’s push to dominate in geothermal innovation.
Geothermal energy stands out because it offers firm, dispatchable power — the missing piece in a renewables-heavy grid dominated by variable solar and wind. With this investment, the U.S. is positioning itself not just to meet domestic demand but to export technology and expertise globally, strengthening energy security and economic competitiveness.
Key Information on Geothermal Sources in the Republic of Croatia
Croatia possesses significant geothermal potential, especially in the northern and eastern Pannonian Basin region, where the geothermal gradient is about 60% higher than the European average (roughly 0.049 °C/m compared to Europe’s 0.03 °C/m). This makes the area highly prospective for both heat and electricity production.
Known resources: 28 geothermal fields identified, of which 18 are in active use, primarily for direct applications such as spa tourism (balneotherapy), recreation, and space heating. Installed thermal capacity includes approximately 36.7 MW for space heating and 77.3 MW for bathing/swimming pools.
Electricity production: Croatia currently has one geothermal power plant — Velika Ciglena (Velika 1) near Bjelovar — with a gross capacity of around 17.5 MW (net ~10 MW). The plant has been offline in recent years due to ownership disputes, though new investors are showing interest. A new 15 MW electricity project is under development in Babina Greda (drilling of an exploratory well to ~3,850 m began in 2025, targeting 170 °C water).
Recent breakthroughs (2025–2026): The Croatian Hydrocarbon Agency (AZU) achieved a perfect 100% success rate in four exploration sites funded by the National Recovery and Resilience Plan:
– Velika Gorica (>100 °C) — could cover nearly 60% of the city’s district heating needs
– Osijek (>100 °C, ~5 MW heating potential)
– Vinkovci (record 131 °C at 2,700 m)
– Zaprešić (near Zagreb, >95 °C at >1,600 m)
Additional drilling is underway in Virovitica and other locations.
Overall potential:
Conservative estimates suggest up to 1 GW of geothermal power plant capacity is feasible at identified sites. There are currently six active exploration projects focused on both electricity and district heating. Geothermal is viewed as a key pillar for energy independence and is fully integrated into Croatia’s National Energy Strategy, which targets 42.5% renewables in gross final energy consumption by 2030 and 65.6% by 2050.
Croatia’s geothermal resources are already powering tourism and local heating, and with continued exploration success and international interest, the country is well-positioned to expand into large-scale district heating networks and electricity generation — complementing the global momentum highlighted by the latest U.S. funding announcement.
The future of geothermal looks bright on both sides of the Atlantic. Zeljko Serdar, CCRES
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