The GEOTHERMICA Initiative and IEA Geothermal organized a Symposium on Geothermal Storage (Underground Thermal Energy Storage) ahead of the World Geothermal Congress 2026 in Calgary, Canada. The event was the last in a series of workshops organized in Europe to explore the potential of geothermal storage, also known as underground thermal energy storage (UTES) to support the energy transition. This time the focus was on geothermal storage potential in other parts of the world.
With speakers from the United States, Canada, Korea, the Netherlands, and Germany, the event gave a comprehensive overview of the latest developments in geothermal storage around the world. More than a hundred participants attended the symposium.
The first session focused on policies and strategies from North America, Asia, and Europe, while the second session introduced successful geothermal storage projects. You can find the presentations from the symposium on the right.
GEOTHERMICA Initiative - Paul Ramsak, Co-Chair
IEA Geothermal - Christian Minnig, Co-Chair
Geothermal Storage in Europe: Overview - Robin Horsmans, Advisor Energy Innovation, Netherlands Enterprise Agency
Geothermal Storage in Canada: Overview - Andrew Wigston, Senior Geoscientist, NRCan Natural Resources Canada
Geothermal Storage in the United States: Overview - Erik Witter, Geoscience Researcher, NLR National Laboratory of the Rockies
Geothermal Storage in South Korea & Regions in Asia: Overview - Byoung Ohan Shim, KIGAM Korea Institute of Geoscience & Mineral Resources
Geothermal Storage: Hot│Cool ! - Sarah Kantrowitz, Process Architect, Karstov Izvor Cooperative
Drake Landing, Next Generation Borehole Thermal Energy Storage, Canada - James Bererton, Chief Innovation Officer, Therma City Energy
Delft Large Scale Aquifer Thermal Energy Storage, Netherlands - Martin Bloemendal, Associate Professor Underground Thermal Energy Storage, TU Delft
Bochum Mine Thermal Energy Storage, Germany - Florian Hahn, Fraunhofer Research Institution for Energy Infrastructures IEC
Reservoir Thermal Energy Storage for Datacentres - Randal Wichuk, CEO & Daniel Alonso, Principal Geoscientist, Teverra
