WORLD GEOTHERMAL CONGRESS 2026

At a Glance Programme

Below is our “At a Glance” Programme. Please click here for more information on each track.

Multiple topics, one goal: Forge geothermal innovation

TRACKS DESCRIPTION

Track 1: Markets
This track will accommodate the country updates and is not open for general submissions. Our Country Update authors will be contacted directly.

Track 2: Advances in Technology and Innovation
Content including but not limited to AI, & Machine Learning, automation, Big Data, Data Analytics, Sub-Surface Tech e.g., Closed Loop Technology, EGS, AGS, Reservoir Engineering, Reinjection Technology, Drilling (general), Advanced Technologies (Magma, Geopressure, etc.); Surface Tech e.g. Power Stations (Binary-ORC, Kalina-ORC, etc.), Engineering (surface and sub-surface), Corrosion & Scaling (surface and sub-surface), Super-Hot Rock (Temperature Management, PDC Technology, High Tempertaure Tools, Cementing Technologies, Drilling Fluids, Completion design for Extreme Hot Hole), Case Studies, etc.

Track 3: Synergies Between Geothermal and Oil & Gas
Content including but not limited to on-shore, off-shore technologies and innovation that began life in the O&G sector but is now being reimagined or repurposed for geothermal. This could be O&G assets (assets = infrastructure, data, tech, skills), energy systems transformation, drilling technology (O&G technology), industry decarbonisation, Case Studies, etc.

Track 4: Synergies Between Geothermal and Mining
This track will explore the aspects of district and industrial heating & cooling and CHP’s from abandoned mine workings, Mine water heating and cooling from active mines, mine water heating as part of mine closure, water circularity, improving mining legacy with geothermal, Net Zero Mines, licensing for minerals/gases from brines – brine mining, extraction, and production, Case Studies, etc.

Track 5: Heating & Cooling
Content including but not limited to geothermal heating & cooling technologies and methods such as ATES (< 30 °C), HT-UTES (> 30 °C), GeoTES, Hot Sedimentary Aquifers, Applications, Case Studies, etc.

Track 6: Geothermal for Sustainable Development
Submissions are invited on “What is the role of geothermal in addressing the priority targets of the Human Development (SDG 1 – 7) UN Sustainable Development Goals?” How can geothermal contribute to improved food security, better health, gender equality and equity, improved education, and water quality, access, and availability, leading to poverty reduction. Submissions that focus on the FEW (Food-Energy-Water) Nexus also welcome. This track will also look to explore the role of geothermal for sustainable resilience of SIDS and sovereign states with islands. This track can also explore environmental sustainability, GSAP, climate change, ESG, employment and skills opportunities, Case studies, etc.

Track 7: Geothermal for the Built Environment
This track encourages submissions on Large-Scale District Heating, Industry & Resource Parks, Infrastructure, Energy Efficiency, Data Centres, Design & Architecture that incorporates geothermal into urban development, Case Studies, etc.  

Track 8: Challenges in Geothermal
This track aims to explore how we monitor, mitigate, and protect our infrastructure and resources from natural hazards such as volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, floods/droughts, other natural hazards. This track will also explore induced events such as seismics, gas release, risks to surface water and groundwater, etc., lessons learned, management, monitoring, mitigation, and response, finance and risk.

Track 9: Exploration and Characterization
Submissions are invited to this track on discoveries and updates from early stage geothermal sites around the world, with a focus on advancements in field exploration and resource characterization techniques including geology, geophysics, geochemistry, hydrogeology, geomicrobiology, exploratory drilling, remote sensing, drones. Updates to geothermal play analysis, and resource estimation methods for power, heating, cooling, and storage, Case Studies, etc.

Track 10: Economics of Geothermal
Submissions are invited from stakeholders working in the following areas: Development Banks, Insurance and Risk Mitigation, Business Strategies and Models, LCOE, LCOH, PPA’s, PPPP’s IFC, Overseas Assistance funds, Venture Capital funding, economics of different geothermal types (power, heating, cooling, shallow, deep, storage, project scale), Customers, Market Research & Development, what works, what does not how do we change or improve, etc.

Track 11: Policy, Regulatory Frameworks, and Standards
Can some policies and regulations be developed that are standardized. Roadmaps to policies that will support action and rapid deployment of geothermal for tripling up. Update regulatory framework that are specific to the needs and requirements of geothermal moving away from an industry regulated by oil and gas and mining without excluding or alienating these sectors as they are needed for our success. Standards on drilling, project development, and delivery, power, heating cooling, co-production. Can key steps in active and passive, site and community ESG be standardised? ESIA and Environmental Standards and Baselines

Track 12: Communication & Public Perception
How we communicate geothermal to non-technical stakeholders and the public can influence public perception, acceptance and progress of a project. Yet this is a subject area we do not focus on as much as we should. Content including but not limited to ESG, Education, Indigenous communities, RAP, managing expectations, Community engagement, changes in land use, land rights, and compensation, social economics, and the language we use, Case Studies.