Israel Explores Geothermal Energy Potential to Boost Energy Security
Israel is exploring geothermal energy to diversify its power sources and boost security. The Ministry of Energy is evaluating advanced drilling techniques for commercial viability within a decade.
In recent decades, many countries have promoted solar and wind power as part of the fight against global warming and efforts to reduce dependence on polluting fossil fuels. The conflict with Iran and disruptions in oil and gas transit through the Strait of Hormuz have also underscored the price of reliance on vulnerable supply routes. Amid soaring energy prices and supply security concerns, diversifying energy sources has become a pressing economic and security issue.
One of the options on the table in Israel lies right beneath our feet: geothermal energy, which utilizes heat stored deep within the earth to generate electricity. The Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure announced back in April that it is examining the promotion of the sector, including the possibility of a first pilot project in Israel. The main advantage is the ability to generate electricity continuously around the clock, independent of sunshine hours. However, the initiative currently involves examining the possibility of integrating the technology into the economy, and no commercial power plant has yet been announced.
International Experience and Technological Innovation
Israel is not the first to discover this potential. Geothermal energy is already used by countries including the United States, Iceland, Indonesia, Turkey, and Kenya. In Kenya, for example, geothermal plants provided about 43% of the country's electricity in 2024, according to the International Energy Agency. The innovation drawing Israel's interest is the development of drilling technologies, which may make it possible to reach heat at greater depths at a cost-effective price. This would expand usage even to regions where production is currently unfeasible.
"We aim to diversify Israel's energy sources and strengthen energy security by leveraging Israeli know-how and technology," stated Minister of Energy and Infrastructure Eli Cohen.
Chief Scientist at the Ministry, Prof. Brian Rosen, emphasized the need to advance the field every step of the way: from research and mapping suitable sites to developing drilling technologies. Alongside these efforts, the ministry announced collaborations with Germany and the United States in the field.
Economic Challenges and Future Outlook
As recalled, Israel's geothermal potential was already examined in a mapping project conducted by the Geological Survey of Israel in 2008. According to data presented by the Ministry of Energy, in the southern Golan Heights, temperatures of about 150 degrees Celsius can be reached at a depth of about 2.5 kilometers, while in many other extensive areas, descending to depths of over five kilometers is required. Herein lies the challenge: making deep drilling economically viable. According to the ministry's review, advanced technologies in the field may reach commercial maturity within five to ten years.
