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.
"The geothermal sector is one of the most innovative sectors in Europe's 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."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 Erdwärme GmbH - Advanced Injection Testing and Stimulation (Graben-Neudorf, Germany)
Deutsche Erdwärme GmbH's geothermal project in Graben-Neudorf, southwest Germany (Baden-Württemberg), 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's 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°C and setting a new benchmark for the industry in the region.
Hephae Energy Technology - Beyond the Thermal Limit: Ultra-High Temperature Measurement-While-Drilling for Next-Generation Geothermal (UK)
Hephae Energy Technology is developing ultra-high temperature measurement-while-drilling technology to support next-generation geothermal wells, including enhanced and advanced geothermal systems (EGS and AGS), which require accurate directional drilling techniques adapted from the oil and gas industry. To optimise economics, these wells may need to be drilled in formation temperatures as high as 400°C. Despite decades of incremental efforts, advanced steerable drilling systems in oil and gas have struggled to move beyond a 200°C threshold, meaning current drilling technologies typically fail at or below 200°C and cannot reliably access deeper, hotter rock.
By breaking the long-standing thermal limit and reaching 210°C, Hephae positions its ultra-high temperature drilling capability as a step-change rather than an incremental improvement. The technology aims to enable accurate directional drilling and measurement in deeper, hotter reservoirs that have been unreachable with commercially viable tools, supporting higher power output per well, improved scalability, and reduced levelized cost of electricity (LCOE).
Originality is also presented through the expected economic impact: by reducing temperature-driven tool failures and non-productive time, the project targets $1 to $2 million in savings per well, aiming to improve both technical feasibility and project bankability.
Herrenknecht AG - Urban Vibro Truck (Germany)
Herrenknecht AG has developed the Urban Vibro Truck as a seismic survey vehicle designed specifically for urban environments. While many vehicles currently on the market originate from the oil and gas industry and are built for remote deployment, the Urban Vibro Truck was created for use in cities. Its transparent design is intended to foster public acceptance, and its noise emissions have been significantly reduced, making night-time measurements more feasible and lowering impacts on residents. With EU approval as a tractor, the vehicle can also reduce permitting requirements for seismic survey activities.
OLI Systems - Geothermal Asset Integrity Modelling: Integrated Corrosion and Scaling Prediction Software (OLI Platform v12.5) (UK)
OLI Systems' Geothermal Asset Integrity Modelling project is positioned as original in the way it integrates predictive geothermal fluid chemistry, corrosion, and mineral scaling into a single workflow that directly supports design and operational decision-making. Rather than treating chemistry, deposits, and corrosion as separate screening steps, the approach models how geothermal fluid composition changes from downhole to the wellhead and through the geothermal plant, and then uses this evolving chemistry to quantify integrity and operability risks.
A distinguishing capability is the calculation of corrosion rates and corrosion susceptibility as salinity, acidity, and concentrations of CO , H S, and O vary across operating scenarios and equipment locations. This provides a defensible basis for materials selection and risk-mitigation planning across a library of more than 30 corrosion-resistant alloys, including alloys commonly considered for high-salinity geothermal systems such as duplex stainless steels (for example 2205 and 2507), nickel alloys (for example 625), and other options such as 17 chromium martensitic stainless steels, as well as additional CRA choices used in high-chloride environments.
Using the same underlying chemistry modelling, the platform also predicts mineral scaling tendencies under geothermal operating conditions, helping engineers identify where deposit formation can reduce heat-transfer performance and plant availability. By combining corrosion and scale prediction within one consistent workflow, the project supports practical engineering trade-offs in geothermal development, including reliability versus cost, alloy selection versus operating envelope, and mitigation intensity versus lifecycle performance
QHeat - Unlocking Scalable Geothermal in Crystalline Rock Through Cost-Efficient and Collaborative Drilling (Finland)
Between 2019 and 2025, QHeat drilled 18 boreholes and, across these deliveries, improved drilling efficiency by more than 50%. The skills, expertise, and partnerships developed during this period are positioned as central to scaling geothermal solutions across Europe and supporting the development of a more self-sufficient future energy system. QHeat presents its originality as addressing two major barriers to geothermal uptake in Europe: high drilling costs and challenging geology. Rather than applying costly oil and gas standards, the company developed a purpose-built drilling methodology for crystalline basement rock, enabling geothermal development in areas previously considered unfeasible
The approach is based on a specific adaptation for crystalline basement rock, combining air drilling with down-the-hole (DTH) hammers at depths up to 2 km to achieve higher penetration rates; de-risking of the supply chain by integrating local services and manufacturing to avoid reliance on expensive oil and gas drilling services; and standardized, simplified equipment and processes that allow operation with a small, cost-effective crew and minimal environmental impact. Together, this is presented as making medium-depth geothermal wells economically viable and scalable, where conventional methods do not deliver.
About the Ruggero Bertani European Geothermal Innovation Award
The Ruggero Bertani European Geothermal Innovation Award is an initiative developed by EGEC, the European Geothermal Energy Council, in collaboration with Messe Offenburg, organiser of the GeoTHERM Congress & Expo.
This award is given to companies which have made an outstanding contribution towards the field of geothermal energy in the form of innovative products, scientific research or project initiatives. Applications are assessed on grounds of originality, innovation, reliability, reduction of emissions, and improvements in energy output. Endorsed nominations and the award winner are recognised for their outstanding work and impact on a growing and dynamic industry. The award provides an opportunity for the geothermal industry to celebrate excellence, and for the most exciting innovations to be widely publicised.
