GA Drilling, Heatlinq form joint venture for industrial heat

Heatlinq and GA Drilling signing JV (source: GA Drilling)

Alexander Richter 21 Jan 2026

GA Drilling and Heatlinq have announced a joint venture focused on developing deep geothermal projects to supply clean, baseload heat to industrial customers, with a first demonstration project planned in the Netherlands.

Turning deep geothermal into industrial heat projects

According to statements shared by both companies on LinkedIn, the joint venture aims to move beyond conceptual work and focus on the preparation and development of concrete geothermal heat projects for industry. The partnership targets industrial heat demand where electrification alone may not be sufficient, positioning geothermal as a local and stable heat source.

The Netherlands has been identified as the location for the first pilot project, which is expected to launch later this year. While technical and commercial details have not yet been disclosed, the companies describe the project as a demonstration intended to validate the approach and create a reference case for broader industrial deployment.

Combining drilling technology and local project expertise

The joint venture brings together GA Drilling’s drilling technology portfolio with Heatlinq’s experience in developing geothermal heat projects. GA Drilling is known for its work on advanced drilling systems designed for deep and high-temperature geothermal applications, including its NexTitan technology. Heatlinq focuses on project development, integration, and delivery of geothermal heat solutions for industrial and district heating customers.

In a LinkedIn post announcing the venture, GA Drilling stated that the objective is to “deliver clean, baseload geothermal heat for industry” and to make deep geothermal energy a scalable solution rather than a niche application.

A pilot-first approach

Representatives from GA Drilling have emphasized that the joint venture will focus on execution rather than long-term promises. The initial pilot project is positioned as a practical step to demonstrate technical feasibility, delivery timelines, and industrial relevance.

“Europe needs visible successes that create jobs and deliver real industrial value,” one GA Drilling executive wrote, adding that the partnership is intended to produce operational projects rather than conceptual studies.

Context: industrial heat and geothermal’s role

Industrial heat remains one of the more challenging segments of the energy transition, particularly for processes requiring medium- to high-temperature heat with high availability. Deep geothermal energy has long been discussed as a potential solution, but deployment has been slow due to subsurface risk, project complexity, and financing challenges.

The GA Drilling–Heatlinq joint venture reflects a broader trend of technology providers and project developers forming integrated teams to reduce execution risk and accelerate deployment, particularly in markets such as the Netherlands where geothermal heat already plays a role in district and industrial applications.

Next steps

If successful, the planned pilot project could serve as a reference for similar industrial heat applications elsewhere in Europe. Further details on capacity, depth, temperature targets, and off-takers are expected once the project moves into execution.

For more information on the companies involved, see GA Drilling’s website and Heatlinq’s company profile.