The European Geothermal Energy Council is delighted to announce the names of the five companies who have been selected as finalists for the Ruggero Bertani European Geothermal Innovation Award 2026. The winner will be announced at the GeoTHERM Expo & Congress, taking place on 26 and 27 February in Offenburg, Germany.
锟絋he geothermal sector is one of the most innovative sectors in Europe锟絪 economy. Every year, new research and innovation, in terms of technology but also business models, enable companies to provide better solutions to decarbonize our economy. Geothermal also supports local economic development by supplying electrical power, heating, cooling, thermal storage and valuable minerals to industry and communities.
To accelerate the market development of geothermal energy technologies, research and innovation allow these technologies to be less costly, more efficient, and easier to install anywhere.锟�
Philippe Dumas, EGEC Secretary-General.
From a total of 16 nominations received, the EGIA Jury, whose members include experts from across Europe, has selected the five finalists. Below are short descriptions of the finalists, with the companies listed in alphabetical order.
Deutsche Erdw锟絩me GmbH 锟� Advanced Injection Testing and Stimulation (Graben-Neudorf, Germany)
Deutsche Erdw锟絩me GmbH锟絪 geothermal project in Graben-Neudorf, southwest Germany (Baden-W锟絩ttemberg), has demonstrated, for the first time in the Upper Rhine Graben, the innovative application of multiple reservoir stimulation techniques combined with highly sophisticated monitoring systems.
The injection testing carried out in 2025 was pioneering in its use of thermal stimulation together with soft cycling hydraulic stimulation, specifically tailored to the geological conditions of the Upper Rhine Graben. This approach integrated advanced seismic monitoring systems to enable precise supervision and real-time analysis of the reservoir锟絪 response to stimulation. Overall, the project represents a significant advancement in geothermal exploration, enabling the successful and safe enhancement of fractured reservoirs at temperatures exceeding 200锟紺 and setting a new benchmark for the industry in the region.