SEPTEMBER 2025
Next-Generation Geothermal
Leveraging a Strategic Opportunity
for U.S. Enery Leadership
By Ray Cai and Rebecca Reiss
Introduction
In a shifting global geostrategic landscape, the dual challenges of rising electricity demand and
intensifying enery security imperatives highlight the need for ecient, resilient, and aordable
enery innovations to underpin long-term technological and economic competitiveness. In this context,
next-generation geothermal enery—engineered to harness the Earth’s heat as a replenishable,
reliable, and exible power source—oers a unique opportunity for renewing U.S. enery leadership in
a strategic industry at a potential inection point.
As a pioneer in developing and commercializing next-generation geothermal systems, the United States
possesses distinct comparative advantages across the value chain. If the industry successfully scales
up, the United States is well-positioned to capture commercial opportunities, advance diplomatic
objectives, and rearm its innovation leadership—all while enabling broader global development needs
and enery objectives. To capitalize on its rst-mover advantage and the strategic opening, the United
States should proactively spearhead the international deployment of next-generation geothermal
systems through sector-level engagement and pilot projects.
