Google-backed energy outfit brings 33 MW of 4 GW geothermal potential online in Utah

Google-backed energy company Fervo Energy has successfully brought a 33 MW geothermal power plant online in Utah, marking a significant step in the company's expansion of geothermal capacity. The Cape Station power plant in Beaver County, Utah, is the first of three 33 MW GeoBlocks, which is expected to reach commercial operation by the following week.

With the potential to scale up to more than 4 GW of capacity, the company is currently working to fulfill 900 MW of contracted capacity. This development is built on years of research and development into Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS) technologies, which utilize heat from the Earth's crust to generate steam and electricity. To address the challenge of reaching deep enough water sources, Fervo utilized technologies originally developed by the oil and gas industry, drilling two parallel wells to around 8,000 feet below the surface and fracturing the rock to allow water to pass through and heat up to 190 degrees Celsius.

Google, a long-time advocate for geothermal energy, stands to benefit from this project, having signed a deal with Fervo and also purchasing power from Ormat Technologies’ geothermal operations. While geothermal energy presents obstacles compared to conventional energy generation, such as a premium price, it still holds the potential to meet a significant portion of datacenter demand in the coming years.