Latest news with #SageGeosystems
Engadget
12-06-2025
- Business
- Engadget
Meta is helping to fund geothermal energy projects in New Mexico
Meta has entered into an agreement with XGS Energy to develop "next-generation geothermal energy" projects in New Mexico. The plan is for these projects to connect directly into the electrical grid that Meta's data centers draw from, feeding the growing energy needs of the company's AI development. Both companies claim the new deal will add 150-megawatts of carbon-free energy to the grid "with zero operating water use." New Mexico is apparently uniquely suited for geothermal energy production because the state has "some of the best hot rock resources in the country," according to the deal announcement. XGS Energy's approach will allow "these hot, but typically dry, rock resources" to be used to produce electricity without having to worry about water accessibility. The agreement is split into two phases, an initial smaller one and a second larger one, both of which are "projected to be operational by 2030." Meta has previously explored geothermal energy through a partnership with Sage Geosystems, and like its past deals — including Meta's recent 20-year agreement to use a nuclear power plant in Illinois — the company is focused on finding more sources of energy for its AI data centers. "Advances in AI require continued energy to support infrastructure development," Urvi Parekh, Meta's Global Head of Energy, shared in the deal announcement. "With next-generation geothermal technologies like XGS ready for scale, geothermal can be a major player in supporting the advancement of technologies like AI as well as domestic data center development."
The Verge
12-06-2025
- Business
- The Verge
Meta inks a new geothermal energy deal to support AI
Meta's geothermal ambitions are growing with a new agreement to support projects in New Mexico. It announced the deal with XGS Energy today, a company developing next-generation geothermal technologies that make it possible to use this energy source in places where it was unfeasible before. The plan is to add 150 megawatts of carbon pollution-free electricity to the power grid that Meta's data center plugs into in the region. Meta desperately needs more electricity for AI. Power grids are trying to meet that growing demand from data centers. And those needs are buoying geothermal startups like XGS Energy. Those needs are buoying geothermal startups like XGS Energy 'Advances in AI require continued energy to support infrastructure development,' Urvi Parekh, global head of energy at Meta, said in a press release. 'With next-generation geothermal technologies like XGS ready for scale, geothermal can be a major player in supporting the advancement of technologies like AI as well as domestic data center development.' Geothermal plants generate electricity using Earth's heat; typically drawing up hot fluids or steam from natural reservoirs to turn turbines. That tactic is limited by natural geography, however, and the US gets around half a percent of its electricity from geothermal sources. Startups including XGS are trying to change that by making geothermal energy more accessible. Last year, Meta made a separate 150MW deal with Sage Geosystems to develop new geothermal power plants. Sage is developing technologies to harness energy from hot, dry rock formations by drilling and pumping water underground, essentially creating artificial reservoirs. Google has its own partnership with another startup called Fervo developing similar technology. XGS Energy is also seeking to exploit geothermal energy from dry rock resources. It tries to set itself apart by reusing water in a closed-loop process designed to prevent water from escaping into cracks in the rock. The water it uses to take advantage of underground heat circulates inside a steel casing. Conserving water is especially crucial in a drought-prone state like New Mexico, where Meta is expanding its Los Lunas data center. Meta declined to say how much it's spending on this deal with XGS Energy. The initiative will roll out in two phases with a goal of being operational by 2030. Meta committed to reaching net zero emissions by the end of the decade back in 2020. Energy-hungry data centers could push those goals further from reach, however, unless they can run on cleaner energy. Last week, Meta announced plans to get its hands on more carbon pollution-free electricity by helping revive an old nuclear reactor. But a utility in Louisiana has proposed building out three new gas-fired power plants to support a giant new Meta data center there. And Meta, like other tech giants, has seen its planet-heating pollution grow since setting its climate goal as it chases success in AI.
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Opinion - Trump can put geothermal in a position to power America's future
The Trump administration is getting it right when it comes to the importance of American energy dominance and bolstering domestic energy production. And, with its National Energy Emergency executive order, geothermal energy is getting the attention it deserves. That's why we, as conservatives, are united behind an 'all-of-the-above-and-below' energy approach. Utilizing the full range of energy options we have here at home will bolster American energy manufacturing, creating economic boosts in communities across the country and strengthening our national security. Geothermal energy is a small but mighty part of our nation's energy mix. In 2023, this unique energy source generated only 3.9 gigawatts (GW) of electricity onto America's electric grid — just 0.4 percent of our total electricity. This underutilized technology taps into heat stored in the earth to generate electricity or provide heating and cooling for a variety of applications. Geothermal energy is reliable, resilient and affordable nearly 100 percent of the time. Traditionally, these technologies are only useful in areas with easily accessible heat resources, such as those in the American West or in Iceland. However, by adopting innovations from the oil and gas industry — such as hydraulic fracturing and horizontal drilling — geothermal hot spots are much more accessible. Some estimates suggest that these innovations could eventually unlock up to 5,000 GW of energy right here in the U.S. That's more than four times the capacity of all current U.S. power plants combined. Today, geothermal energy's benefits are already making a difference for many Americans, especially in Texas. Since 2010, almost every school in Denton Independent School District has used geothermal cooling systems to improve air conditioning efficiency, lowering energy costs in the hot Texas summer. That's making high-quality education more of a reality for students. The military also sees value in geothermal energy. Last September, the U.S. Air Force signed a deal with Sage Geosystems, a Houston-based startup company, to construct a demonstration project that utilizes geothermal energy for energy storage in Starr County, Texas. If successful, the Air Force may develop a full-scale project at Ellington Field Joint Air Reserve Base in Houston, providing the reliable energy needed for America's military installations. Although geothermal energy is on the cusp of significant growth, it is not widely known by the public. That makes our mission simple: educating Americans about the untapped potential of this critical resource, promoting policies that unlock American resources and combatting policies that reduce investments into domestic energy research, development and deployment. Last month, CRES Forum and Project Innerspace co-hosted an event on Capitol Hill to do just that. The event, which was open to the public, brought together industry leaders, policymakers, advocates and academics to highlight the opportunity presented by advanced geothermal technologies. During the event, we shared our strong support for geothermal energy and provided a conservative case for the technology. We were also joined by Energy Secretary Chris Wright, Rep. August Pfluger (another Texan) and Sen. John Curtis (R-Utah), who all voiced strong support as well. But talk is cheap, and securing federal support that incentivizes private investment is not an easy task. That's why we pledge to work with the president and Congress to enact meaningful policies that lower energy prices, promote domestic energy production and achieve energy dominance. And with new, private investments into geothermal projects exceeding $1 billion since September 2022, we have a leg up to advance President Trump's robust energy agenda. Not to mention, this will benefit Americans nationwide, from our hometowns of Virginia Beach, Va., to Friendswood, Texas, and beyond. Now, with renewed conservative leadership in the White House, American energy dominance isn't just possible, it's inevitable. But we must play our cards right. Advancing federal energy policy using an 'all-of-the-above-and-below' approach will allow us to bolster domestic energy production, curb our reliance on foreign entities, lower energy costs and create good paying jobs nationwide. And a kicker for those skeptical? We can utilize geothermal with essentially no emissions. Sounds like a win-win. Heather Reams is president of CRES, a nonprofit that seeks conservative solutions to address America's energy, economic and environmental security. Randy Weber represents the 14th District in Texas. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
The Hill
07-05-2025
- Business
- The Hill
Trump can put geothermal in a position to power America's future
The Trump administration is getting it right when it comes to the importance of American energy dominance and bolstering domestic energy production. And, with its National Energy Emergency executive order, geothermal energy is getting the attention it deserves. That's why we, as conservatives, are united behind an 'all-of-the-above-and-below' energy approach. Utilizing the full range of energy options we have here at home will bolster American energy manufacturing, creating economic boosts in communities across the country and strengthening our national security. Geothermal energy is a small but mighty part of our nation's energy mix. In 2023, this unique energy source generated only 3.9 gigawatts (GW) of electricity onto America's electric grid — just 0.4 percent of our total electricity. This underutilized technology taps into heat stored in the earth to generate electricity or provide heating and cooling for a variety of applications. Geothermal energy is reliable, resilient and affordable nearly 100 percent of the time. Traditionally, these technologies are only useful in areas with easily accessible heat resources, such as those in the American West or in Iceland. However, by adopting innovations from the oil and gas industry — such as hydraulic fracturing and horizontal drilling — geothermal hot spots are much more accessible. Some estimates suggest that these innovations could eventually unlock up to 5,000 GW of energy right here in the U.S. That's more than four times the capacity of all current U.S. power plants combined. Today, geothermal energy's benefits are already making a difference for many Americans, especially in Texas. Since 2010, almost every school in Denton Independent School District has used geothermal cooling systems to improve air conditioning efficiency, lowering energy costs in the hot Texas summer. That's making high-quality education more of a reality for students. The military also sees value in geothermal energy. Last September, the U.S. Air Force signed a deal with Sage Geosystems, a Houston-based startup company, to construct a demonstration project that utilizes geothermal energy for energy storage in Starr County, Texas. If successful, the Air Force may develop a full-scale project at Ellington Field Joint Air Reserve Base in Houston, providing the reliable energy needed for America's military installations. Although geothermal energy is on the cusp of significant growth, it is not widely known by the public. That makes our mission simple: educating Americans about the untapped potential of this critical resource, promoting policies that unlock American resources and combatting policies that reduce investments into domestic energy research, development and deployment. Last month, CRES Forum and Project Innerspace co-hosted an event on Capitol Hill to do just that. The event, which was open to the public, brought together industry leaders, policymakers, advocates and academics to highlight the opportunity presented by advanced geothermal technologies. During the event, we shared our strong support for geothermal energy and provided a conservative case for the technology. We were also joined by Energy Secretary Chris Wright, Rep. August Pfluger (another Texan) and Sen. John Curtis (R-Utah), who all voiced strong support as well. But talk is cheap, and securing federal support that incentivizes private investment is not an easy task. That's why we pledge to work with the president and Congress to enact meaningful policies that lower energy prices, promote domestic energy production and achieve energy dominance. And with new, private investments into geothermal projects exceeding $1 billion since September 2022, we have a leg up to advance President Trump's robust energy agenda. Not to mention, this will benefit Americans nationwide, from our hometowns of Virginia Beach, Va., to Friendswood, Texas, and beyond. Now, with renewed conservative leadership in the White House, American energy dominance isn't just possible, it's inevitable. But we must play our cards right. Advancing federal energy policy using an 'all-of-the-above-and-below' approach will allow us to bolster domestic energy production, curb our reliance on foreign entities, lower energy costs and create good paying jobs nationwide. And a kicker for those skeptical? We can utilize geothermal with essentially no emissions. Sounds like a win-win.
Yahoo
04-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
A Clean-Energy Boom Could Be Built on Oil and Gas Technology
The United States is in the midst of an energy revolution. Under the Biden administration, the country shoveled unprecedented sums of federal dollars into clean-energy projects—battery factories, solar farms, nuclear plants—while also producing and exporting record volumes of oil and gas. President Donald Trump has vowed to ramp up energy production further, but takes a skeptical view of solar and wind power. But Trump's 'Drill, baby, drill' mantra extends beyond fossil fuels. His administration is embracing geothermal energy, which is primed for a very American boom. In the United States, geothermal energy, which uses the Earth's heat to create electricity, supplies less than half of 1 percent of the country's electricity, but few other clean-energy sources offer as much promise right now. Many climate activists support geothermal energy as a renewable power source that generates zero-carbon electricity. A recent report from the Rhodium Group, an energy-research firm, projected that geothermal could meet as much as 64 percent of new electricity demand from data centers by the early 2030s. America is far behind rivals such as China and Russia in manufacturing solar panels or building nuclear plants. But geothermal makes use of an area of the U.S. industrial base that has grown in recent years—oil and gas production. Cindy Taff, whose company, Sage Geosystems, is anticipating geothermal's potential growth, told me about a recent drive she took through southern Texas that illustrated that overlap. 'The same drilling rig that drilled our well in September was on a lease right off the highway drilling an oil-and-gas well,' she said, laughing. 'It's just the same.' Taff came from the oil industry: She was once a vice president at Royal Dutch Shell who commanded a team of 350 employees using hydraulic fracturing (better known as fracking) to drill their way through five countries' bedrock. Fracking had driven an oil-and-gas boom starting in the mid-2000s, and her team had looked at using the same technique to tap the Earth's underground heat. At Shell, 'we never actually drilled wells' to try it on geothermal energy, she told me. 'It was frustrating.' The opportunity looked big enough to her that she started Sage. Much like oil and gas, geothermal energy, which harnesses the planet's molten core to make steam, had long been confined to the places where access came easy—the American West, where Yellowstone's famous geysers hint at the heat below, or volcanic Iceland. In those places—generally volcanic hot spots where magma flows at shallow depths in the Earth's crust and underground water reservoirs—geothermal energy can be a substantial source of power. Currently, it provides roughly 10 percent of Nevada's electricity generation and as much as 5 percent of the power California produces; Iceland generates 30 percent of its electricity, and Kenya nearly half, from geothermal. Traditional coal or nuclear plants generate heat to turn water into steam, which spins turbines to make electricity. Geothermal power stations do the same using hot water from underground reservoirs. Sage uses fracking technology to crack open hot rocks even deeper underground, enabling access to heat in more locations. The company's drillers then inject water into the well, prying open the stone fissures and creating an artificial reservoir. When Sage releases that water, the pressure from underground shoots it upward, and the heat creates vapors that spin turbines and crank out electricity. This system can also serve as storage for weather-dependent wind and solar: Extra electricity from turbines and panels can pump water into Sage's wells that can be released later to produce electricity. Sage expects to have its first energy-storage facility up and running in Texas in the coming weeks, but already has a deal to sell power to Meta's data centers. And a similar start-up, Fervo Energy, demonstrated that it could use fracking technology to successfully produce 24/7 carbon-free energy back in 2023, at a pilot project in Nevada. Geothermal does have certain advantages compared with other sources of renewable energy. Solar and wind need large areas of land, huge volumes of minerals, and a massive new network of transmission lines. (Plus, China dominates those industries' supply chains.) Hydroelectric dams are less dependable in a world where water is growing scarcer and precipitation harder to forecast. Nuclear reactors cost billions of dollars and take years to build; the U.S. depends heavily on counties such as Canada, Kazakhstan, and Russia for uranium fuel, and has yet to establish the infrastructure to either permanently store or recycle nuclear waste. For now, most of the efforts to debut next-generation geothermal technology are still in the American West, where drilling is relatively cheap and easy because the rocks they're targeting are closer to the surface. But if the industry can prove to investors that its power plants work as described—which experts expect to happen by the end of the decade—geothermal could expand quickly, just like oil-and-gas fracking did. That the 'enhanced' geothermal industry piggybacks on technology from the fossil-fuel industry also puts it in a position to grow. 'In the U.S., our manufacturing base is falling apart. But we have a ridiculously good industrial base in oil and gas,' Charles Gertler, who until recently worked at the Energy Department's Loan Programs Office and co-authored a report outlining a pathway for the industry's growth, told me. 'The fact that you can just rely on many of the same tools and people and technologies and supply chains is the reason a lot of folks are so excited.' Investors have been cool on the industry since a handful of conventional geothermal projects went under two decades ago. But Gertler estimated that, if five to 10 new geothermal projects prove successful, banks will open their wallets again. Unlike other renewable-energy sources, the emerging geothermal sector has received little direct support from the federal government. By the time Fervo had demonstrated it could frack for geothermal energy, the Biden administration had already passed two monumental climate-spending laws, which directed billions of dollars toward technologies such as solar, wind, and nuclear power, but just $84 million for early-stage geothermal. Companies such Fervo and Sage could still benefit, though, from tax credits for producing zero-carbon electricity, if Republicans in Congress don't repeal key parts of Biden's Inflation Reduction Act. 'I don't know where that's going,' Representative Celeste Maloy, the Utah Republican in whose district Fervo is building its first large-scale plant, told me. But she said slashing the requirements for obtaining federal permits—which her party is eager to do—could give the industry enough of a boost that 'it almost doesn't matter what happens to the IRA incentives.' (No company has made that case to her, she allowed.) Like any energy industry, geothermal has external costs that could become bigger issues as it grows. In 2017, an early experiment in enhanced geothermal energy in South Korea triggered a serious earthquake. (Earthquakes doubled in Texas in 2021 thanks to oil and gas companies injecting sludgy wastewater into underground wells.) Locations with particularly good hot-rock resources could end up overlapping with threatened species, just as one of the nation's biggest lithium projects ran up against an endangered wildflower or one of California's largest solar farms put tortoises at risk. Environmentalists primed to see anything with Big Oil's fingerprints on it as suspicious will find plenty of connections between this industry and fossil-fuel companies. And, as the industry scales up, it will use larger volumes of water. Fervo, for one, has been pushing to use water too brackish for agricultural or municipal purposes, Tim Latimer, Fervo's chief executive, told me: 'So we're not really fighting with people over water even though we're in the western desert.' Other companies, such as XGS Energy, are boring more conventional wells and keeping water contained in closed-loop pipes, eliminating the risk of losing any water at all in the process. Electricity has to come from somewhere, though, and as demand surges, the Trump administration is winning over support even from some Democrats to keep coal plants open longer. Meanwhile, gas power plants are expanding. To keep the lights on—while keeping utility bills and global temperatures down as much as possible—the country will need to employ all available resources of clean power, and perhaps especially those the current administration is willing to support. Article originally published at The Atlantic
