The city of Calgary, Canada, hosted the World Geothermal Congress (WGC 2026), the world’s leading international event for the geothermal sector, held every three years. The conference, which took place from 8–11 June 2026, brought together approximately 1,900 participants from 88 countries, representing the world’s leading geothermal companies, research institutions, investors, technology providers, and government organizations.
Hungary was represented at the event by the Hungarian Geothermal Cluster, which exhibited with its own booth. The Cluster has 40 members, including the Faculty of Science of Eötvös Loránd University (ELTE TTK), thus the research of our Hydrogeology Chair on the Buda Thermal Karst was also represented in the brochure of the Cluster.
Visitors gained a comprehensive overview of Hungary’s geological and geothermal potential, the current status of geothermal developments, as well as the country’s regulatory and support framework. Another key objective of the participation was to invite the international geothermal community to the European Geothermal Congress 2028 (EGC 2028), which will be held in Budapest. Europe’s largest geothermal event, attracting more than 1,200 participants, will return to Hungary after 25 years. The strong international interest generated at WGC 2026 provides a solid foundation for the successful preparation of EGC 2028 and for encouraging participation from beyond Europe.
The scientific programme of the congress provided a comprehensive overview of the latest trends in geothermal energy utilization, enabling Hungarian experts to gain first-hand insight into the newest research findings, technological innovations, and market developments. Particular attention was given to emerging technologies such as Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS) and Advanced Geothermal Systems (AGS) based on deep closed-loop heat exchanger technology.
Ábel Markó, a researcher at the Tóth Hydrogeology Chair and employee of the Supervisory Authority for Regulatory Affairs Hungary, delivered a presentation addressing one of the key challenges of geothermal energy utilization in Hungary: the preliminary assessment of geothermal reinjection opportunities and the methodology for estimating the country’s geothermal reinjection potential. His presentation focused on a multi-scale scientific assessment integrating hydraulic conditions, aquifer properties, and clogging processes. The proposed workflow enables the quantification of risks affecting the success of geothermal reinjection and supports the optimal placement of production and reinjection wells. The key message of the presentation was that understanding and managing the risks associated with geothermal reinjection requires continuous research and development efforts, which are essential for the successful implementation of geothermal projects.
