A Canada-based energy firm is restarting construction of a first-of-its-kind waterless geothermal project in Utah. (Utah News Dispatch)
After losing funding two years ago, Rodatherm Energy revived the 100 MW project thanks to new federal incentives for geothermal and investor interest in decarbonization. Construction could begin as soon as January 2026.
The plant uses a closed-loop design that circulates a heat-transfer fluid underground instead of water, eliminating the need to fracture rock or tap aquifers. Rodatherm says its system is 50% more efficient than conventional geothermal and can operate for decades with minimal maintenance.
The project will drill two miles down and two miles horizontally, with a pilot phase generating 3.6 MW on nearby federal land.