Abstract Geothermal Energy (GE) is a non-carbon renewable source of sustainable energy with untapped potential for mitigating the threat of climate change. To achieve a sustainable pathway for development, evaluation of technical and economic constraints must be addressed within a framework of environmental governance and social and legal challenges that arise during implementing of geothermal projects. Key barriers to deployment of geothermal resources on a wide scale include high capital costs, location and quality of resource at different depths and opposition by local communities. Here we provide a detailed review of the barriers, identify credible solutions and highlight options for enhancing geothermal capacity and energy production on a global scale required to meet ‘net-zero’ carbon emission targets. Globally by 2050 as part of a strategy to reduce greenhouse gases. This study is a valid source for upcoming studies and implementations by analyzing the influential factors on the development and future of geothermal energy.