Superhot Rock Geothermal in Guatemala

The document highlights that just 1% of Guatemala's estimated superhot rock geothermal resource could provide 31 GW of energy capacity, far exceeding the country's 2021 electricity consumption of 13,896 GWh. This resource could theoretically replace all coal, oil, and gas used for electricity production, reducing emissions by approximately 4 megatonnes of CO2eq, which represents 7% of Guatemala's 2030 NDC goal. Additionally, the technology is noted for its low land footprint, requiring roughly 12 km² per 1 GW, and its ability to provide 24/7 firm power, potentially reducing the need for extensive new transmission infrastructure.

• Preliminary modeling indicates that Guatemala possesses significant superhot rock resources; specifically, 1% of this resource could provide 31 GW of energy capacity and generate over 260,195 GWh of electricity.
• The potential energy from 1% of Guatemala's superhot rock resource is estimated to be 19 times the country's electricity consumption in 2021, which was 13,896 GWh.
• Superhot rock geothermal is characterized as an energy-dense resource with a significantly lower land requirement than other energy sources, estimated at 12 km² per 1 GW, compared to 180 km² for solar and 520 km² for offshore wind.
• The technology could enhance Guatemala's energy security by replacing all coal imports used for electricity and reducing the 8% of electricity currently imported.

APA

Clean Air Task Force (n.d.). Superhot Rock Geothermal in Guatemala. https://cdn.catf.us/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/22144757/Guatemala-SHR-Regional-Assessment.pdf

Chicago

Clean Air Task Force. Superhot Rock Geothermal in Guatemala. n.d. https://cdn.catf.us/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/22144757/Guatemala-SHR-Regional-Assessment.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Clean Air Task Force |title=Superhot Rock Geothermal in Guatemala |url=https://cdn.catf.us/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/22144757/Guatemala-SHR-Regional-Assessment.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{cleanairtaskforcendsuperhot, author = {{Clean Air Task Force}}, title = {{Superhot Rock Geothermal in Guatemala}}, institution = {Clean Air Task Force}, url = {https://cdn.catf.us/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/22144757/Guatemala-SHR-Regional-Assessment.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }