| Title | Geothermal for Mega Projects: A Use-Case Strategy for Scalable, Low-Risk Deployment |
|---|---|
| Authors | Luca G. Xodo, Thomas W. Thompson, Jón Ö. Jónsson |
| Year | 2026 |
| Conference | World Geothermal Congress |
| Keywords | |
| Abstract | Mega infrastructure projects demand energy systems that are not only sustainable, but also rapidly deployable and low-risk. This presentation explores how geothermal energy can meet that challenge, using NEOM’s pioneering geothermal program in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as a case study. As the geothermal Owner’s Engineering firm for NEOM, Steam S.r.l., in collaboration with NEOM’s geothermal office, is implementing a geothermal development strategy grounded in a comprehensive assessment of the project’s long-term energy needs. These are mapped to specific geothermal use cases—power, cooling, desalination, industrial heat, and agriculture/aquaculture—and then vetted against available subsurface data and alternative energy options to assess feasibility. The process enables definition of optimal exploration methods and helps balance CAPEX and OPEX against the expected impact and timeline of each use case. Strategic recommendations prioritize limited-scope, high-impact pilot projects that offer scalability, serve as proof-of-concept, and unlock further investment. The session will outline how this structured, use-case driven approach not only supports NEOM’s sustainability goals but also offers a replicable model for integrating geothermal into other large-scale developments worldwide |