Next-generation geothermal is moving rapidly from technology demonstration toward commercial deployment. The Next-Generation Geothermal Commercialization & Investment Forum is seeking experienced industry leaders who can provide practical insight into the technologies, business models, financing strategies, customer requirements, and policy frameworks shaping the sector’s next stage of growth.

We welcome proposals from geothermal developers, technology companies, oil and gas firms, drilling and service providers, utilities, data center operators, corporate energy buyers, investors, project financiers, engineering firms, government agencies, national laboratories, and other organizations actively involved in advancing next-generation geothermal.

Priority will be given to speakers who can share real-world project experience, original data, lessons learned, commercial insights, or candid perspectives on the barriers to large-scale deployment.

Programming Priorities

We are particularly interested in presentations and panel proposals addressing:

* Technology Pathways to Commercial Scale: Advances in EGS, closed-loop geothermal, superhot rock, drilling technologies, reservoir engineering, subsurface characterization, monitoring, and surface systems.

* Project Economics & the Cost Curve: Drilling and development costs, LCOE, repeatability, learning curves, risk reduction, standardization, and pathways toward commercially competitive deployment.

* Financing & Bankability: First-of-a-kind project risk, venture and growth capital, infrastructure investment, project finance, risk allocation, insurance, public-private financing, and the transition from technology investment to financeable assets.

* Oil & Gas Crossover: Case studies and strategies for applying oil and gas drilling expertise, subsurface capabilities, equipment, service infrastructure, supply chains, and workforce experience to geothermal development.

* Customers, PPAs & Offtake: What utilities, hyperscalers, data center operators, industrial companies, and other large energy users require from geothermal projects, including procurement structures, PPAs, and emerging offtake models.

* From Demonstration to Repeatable Deployment: Lessons from first-of-a-kind and early commercial projects, portfolio development, supply-chain readiness, project execution, and the requirements for scaling next-generation geothermal into a major infrastructure industry.

* Permitting, Interconnection & Policy: Federal and state permitting, public lands and leasing, interconnection and transmission, incentives, regulatory reform, community engagement, and other factors affecting project timelines and economics.

* Investment & Market Outlook: The geothermal investment thesis, market size and deployment outlook, competitive positioning relative to other firm-power resources, and the milestones investors and customers need to see over the next five to ten years.

Submission Guidelines

The Forum is designed to encourage substantive, commercially relevant discussion. Preference will be given to data-driven case studies, project results, original market analysis, lessons learned, and forward-looking perspectives rather than general corporate or product presentations.

Proposals may be submitted for:

* Individual presentations of approximately 20–25 minutes
* Participation in moderated panel discussions
* Executive fireside chats
* Investor, developer, utility, or energy-buyer roundtables

Commercial or promotional presentations will not be accepted.

Speaker Benefits

Accepted speakers receive a complimentary full-access pass to the Forum and are featured as part of the event’s speaker faculty across the Forum website and selected marketing communications.

Submit a Proposal

Please send a brief presentation title, approximately 150–200 word abstract, and speaker biography outlining relevant experience and recent work in the geothermal sector.

Proposals should be sent to speak@smartgridobserver.com

Speaking Opportunities