Permit granted for high-temperature geothermal exploration in Madrid, Spain
Madrid, Spain. Photo by Jorge Fernandez Salas under Unsplash License.
Carlo Cariaga
6 May 2026
Permits have been granted to Technology Metals Europe for a high-temperature geothermal exploration campaign in the Community of Madrid in Spain.
The regional government of the Community of Madrid in Spain has signed two of the five permits needed to evaluate the technical and economic viability of deep geothermal for the Cibeles project site. The authorization has been granted to Technology Metals Europe, the Spanish subsidiary of the Australian mining company Energy Transition Minerals.
The Cibeles project encompasses the five municipalities of Madrid, Alcobendas, San Sebastián de los Reyes, Colmenar Viejo, Tres Cantos, and San Agustín del Guadalix.
The project also represents the first time that high-temperature geothermal resources will be explored in the Iberian peninsula. Until now, high-temperature geothermal had only been considered in the Canary Islands, with early work ongoing in Tenerife and Gran Canaria. The potential of geothermal for heating and cooling in Madrid had already been well-documented, with operational projects in Alcala de Henares, at the Moncloa Transport Hub, and at the headquarters of MITECO.
The potential high-temperate geothermal resource in Madrid would have a decidedly different geological context compared to those in the Canary Islands. Instead of volcanic-hosted system, geothermal resources in Madrid could be hosted in a deep, sedimentary basin. If the research confirms the viability of the resource, the study can have far-reaching implications on other sedimentary basin systems in the region.
The regional government clarifies that the permits granted for the Cibeles project are in accordance with mining legislation and comply with safety, environmental protection, and land use planning requirements. The exploration activities will be subject to the appropriate controls and authorizations at each stage. The activities’ compatibility with the natural and urban values of the surrounding area will be considered.
Source: Comunidad de Madrid
