Last month, our CEO, Naomi Vouillamoz, had the privilege of participating in the World Geothermal Congress (WGC) 2026—the world’s leading event dedicated to advancing geothermal energy. Bringing together researchers, policymakers, technology developers, investors, and industry leaders from around the globe, WGC2026 highlighted both the remarkable progress being made and the collaborative efforts still needed to accelerate the energy transition.

For Naomi, the congress was an opportunity not only to share our expertise but also to strengthen partnerships, exchange knowledge, and contribute to shaping the future of deep geothermal energy.

Driving the Conversation on Energy Return on Investment and System Benefits

One of the highlights of the congress was participating in the Theory of Change Workshop, organized by the IEA Geothermal Taskforce on Wider System Benefits. During the workshop, Naomi presented on the importance of Energy Return on Investment (EROI), energy feedback, and the critical role the mining industry can play in supporting the global energy transition.

These discussions reinforced the need to evaluate geothermal projects not only through their direct energy production but also through their broader contribution to resilient and sustainable energy systems.

Strengthening International Collaboration

Knowledge sharing and international cooperation were recurring themes throughout the congress. An inspiring presentation by Stephanie Vetsch (EAPOSYS) during the Canadian Geothermal Industry Alliance session highlighted the importance of collaboration between countries, particularly during the Geothermal-Hydrogen roundtable with the Taiwan delegation.

As the geothermal sector continues to grow, international partnerships will remain essential to accelerating innovation and deployment.

Exploring the Future of Superhot Rock and Advanced Geothermal Systems

Another standout moment was the closing Superhot Rock (SHR) panel, expertly moderated by Stephanie Vetsch. The discussion explored both the tremendous opportunities and the technical challenges associated with developing superhot rock resources—one of the most promising frontiers in geothermal energy.

Beyond the conference sessions, Naomi had the opportunity to engage with fellow pioneers in deep closed-loop geothermal, including teams from QHeat, Rodatherm Energy Corporation, and Eavor Technologies Inc. These conversations focused on the future deployment of Advanced Geothermal Systems (AGS) and the role they can play in delivering reliable, low-carbon energy worldwide.

Building Canada’s Deep Geothermal Future

A particularly exciting milestone was the kickoff workshop for the Canadian Deep Geothermal Coalition. This initiative officially launched work toward developing Canada’s first deep geothermal roadmap, scheduled for delivery within the next 18 months and supported by CAD 468,000 in approved funding.

The roadmap represents an important step toward unlocking Canada’s significant geothermal potential while creating a framework for long-term industry growth and investment.

Meaningful Conversations Beyond the Sessions

Some of the most valuable moments happened outside the conference rooms.

Naomi enjoyed insightful discussions with Sam Abraham, Global Advisor at Halliburton, along with many long-standing collaborators and new connections from across the international geothermal community. These conversations continue to strengthen the partnerships needed to move innovative geothermal technologies from concept to large-scale deployment.

The networking events were equally memorable, including the Deep Heat WGC Mixer, hosted by GA Drilling, ProPipe, TerraFerno Geothermal Solutions, and Underground Ventures, where meaningful conversations led to promising new opportunities for collaboration.

A Community Driving the Energy Transition

The World Geothermal Congress 2026 once again demonstrated that geothermal’s greatest strength is not only its technology, but its people.

Researchers, innovators, policymakers, investors, developers, and industry advocates from around the world came together with a shared goal: accelerating the deployment of geothermal energy as a cornerstone of the global clean energy transition.

We are proud to have contributed to these discussions and to be part of a growing international community working to deliver sustainable, resilient, and reliable energy solutions.

We look forward to continuing these collaborations and turning the ideas, partnerships, and momentum from WGC2026 into meaningful progress for the geothermal industry.