[ Geothermal ]
[ Geothermal ]
From brine to energy: stainless steel enables geothermal’ s future growth
With capacity set to double by 2040, geothermal depends on stainless steel to overcome its biggest challenges.
By Cauê Corrêa da Silva & Daniel Svedberg, Outokumpu
In the global race toward a cleaner, more secure energy future, geothermal energy is quietly gaining momentum. While solar panels and wind turbines often steal the spotlight, geothermal power – energy drawn from the Earth’ s internal heat – is emerging as a reliable, low-emission, and increasingly scalable solution. And thanks to new drilling technologies, shifting geopolitical priorities, and smarter material choices like stainless steel, geothermal is no longer just a niche player – it’ s becoming a cornerstone of the green transition. With our combined decades of working with stainless steel and research and development, we’ re now focused on identifying how advanced materials can support emerging technologies. Geothermal energy is one of the most promising frontiers today – and here’ s why.
The untapped potential of geothermal energy Geothermal energy harnesses the natural heat stored beneath the Earth’ s surface. This heat can be used to generate electricity or provide direct heating for homes, buildings, and industrial processes. There are three main types of geothermal power plants: dry steam plants, which use steam directly from underground to drive turbines; flash steam plants, which extract high pressure hot water which flashes into steam when the pressure drops; and binary cycle plants, which use geothermal water to heat a secondary liquid with a lower boiling point, which then in turn drives a turbine. Binary cycle plants are particularly exciting because they can operate at lower temperatures, making geothermal viable in more locations than ever before. According to the International Energy Agency( IEA), global geothermal capacity is expected to grow rapidly from the current level of 16 GW. Based on current policies, geothermal capacity will surpass 22 GW by 2030, increasing to more than 40GW by 2040. That’ s a significant leap, driven by both technological innovation and the urgent need to decarbonise our energy systems.
What’ s driving the momentum? Several recent developments are accelerating the rise of geothermal. Innovations in advanced drilling in the oil and gas sector are reducing the cost of new geothermal wells, and new technologies like plasma drilling are set to revolutionise the industry. Also, Enhanced Geothermal Systems( EGS) create artificial reservoirs in hot dry rock, unlocking geothermal potential in regions previously considered unsuitable. One of the most powerful accelerators of geothermal energy’ s growth is the increasing support from governments and international institutions. Around the world, policymakers are recognising geothermal as a strategic asset in the transition to clean, secure, and resilient energy systems. In the European Union, the Net Zero Industry Act has identified geothermal energy as a key technology for achieving green transition goals. This legislation aims to streamline permitting processes, reduce administrative burdens, and channel funding toward clean energy infrastructure – including geothermal. Combined, the governments of France, Germany and the Netherlands plan to launch more than 200 geothermal heating plants by 2030. Additionally, several projects are being planned and started across Europe.