GeoAlaska LLC, established in 2020, focuses on harnessing geothermal energy in Alaska to provide carbon-free, baseload electricity. In March 2023, Ignis Energy Inc., a partner company of Geolog International B.V., joined forces with GeoAlaska to offer technical and project management expertise. Since 2021, GeoAlaska has identified two promising geothermal sites on state-owned land near Alaska’s South Central Railbelt Region: 10,830 acres on Augustine Island and 6,376 acres on Mt. Spurr. Here we highlight the geothermal potential of the Mount Spurr site, which lies within the seismically active Pacific Ring of Fire.
Southcentral Alaska (picture 1) is strategically positioned for geothermal development, with its proximity to volcanic activity close to the electricity market and increasingly emphasizes renewable energy, House Bill 50, passed in May 2024, has created favorable conditions for geothermal exploration. Despite high energy consumption and some of the highest electricity costs in the U.S., Alaska has no significant geothermal power plants. The Railbelt region, serving about 75% of Alaska’s population, is vital for the state’s economic growth. In 2020, 82% of the Railbelt’s electricity came from fossil fuels. However, Alaska’s Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard (RPS), established in 2022, aims to shift the state to 30% renewable power by 2030 and 80% by 2040.
With concerns over the long-term reliability of natural gas supplies in the Cook Inlet region, geothermal power from Mount Spurr could replace coal-fired plants, reducing carbon emissions by 1.7 million tonnes annually. A 2023 survey showed that 82% of Alaskans support geothermal as a future carbon-neutral energy solution. The geothermal license on Mt. Spurr area (picture 2) has positive indicators of a geothermal resource (picture 3 and 4) that can be developed for up to 70 MWe in 2 phases. Potential temperature gradient (TG) sites have been identified for drilling. Additional surface studies will be carried out to confirm exploration area.
