Will geothermal power exceed 3% of global electricity generation by 2030?

Geothermal energy’s race toward global significance

Geothermal energy sits beneath nearly every population on Earth, an untapped furnace humming quietly while nations scramble for low-carbon solutions. Its promise is immense: constant baseline power, no dependency on weather, and extremely small land footprints. Yet despite this elegant potential, geothermal remains a fraction of the global grid.

Scaling geothermal requires drilling innovation, reduced exploration risks, and supportive policy frameworks. Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS) have captured scientific attention, offering methods to activate geothermal resources in regions previously considered unsuitable. If these systems mature quickly, geothermal could leap from niche to essential.

My prediction: geothermal energy will grow meaningfully, but surpassing 3% of global electricity generation by 2030 remains a steep climb without rapid deployment of EGS and aggressive national backing.