ROI for Geothermal Projects: Aligning Geothermal Risks and Financial Expectations and Maintaining Energy Independence

DID YOU KNOW?
Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS) and Advanced Geothermal Systems (AGS) have the potential to harness geothermal energies in regions where Conventional Hydrothermal Systems (CHS) would be impossible.

Panel Description: This panel session tackles the common investor myth that geothermal projects take too long to deliver returns by reframing geothermal as a high-stability, multi-billion-dollar opportunity—similar to offshore ventures—with unlevered returns on investment typically ranging between 8% and 16%. Panelists will address the misconceptions shaped by shale-era quick-payback mindsets and highlight the differing risk-return profiles of EGS, closed-loop, and hydrothermal systems. Critical topics include overcoming early-stage risks via robust feasibility studies, financial modeling (including IRR, NPV, and hurdle rate adjustments), and case studies showcasing how long-term investor alignment enables geothermal’s strategic stability.  

Simultaneously, the panel explores how co-located geothermal applications—such as those powering data centers and other energy-intensive industries—can deliver pure, baseload energy and on-site cooling, unlocking energy independence while providing compelling commercial value. By integrating engineering expertise from oil & gas, innovative subsurface approaches, and evolving economic models, these on-site geothermal systems are proving viable investment vehicles that reduce grid dependency and enhance sustainability, even in high-demand markets.

 

Moderators and panelists to be announced. 

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