First-of-its-kind geothermal energy facility goes into operation for Google’s servers

Two years ago, Fervo Energy signed an agreement with Google to develop a “new generation geothermal energy project”. In the news we conveyed to you in the past months, we mentioned that this project could be a major turning point in geothermal energy. Now, in the statement made by Google, it has been announced that the facility, described as Enhanced Geothermal System (EGS), has become operational and connected to the local network serving two data centers.

One of a kind geothermal energy facility

Google wants to be completely carbon neutral by 2030. This project is a stepping stone towards this goal. On the other hand, the project with Fervo Energy has been continuing since 2021, when Google announced “the world’s first corporate agreement to develop a new generation geothermal energy project.” In traditional geothermal energy facilities, heat that will naturally come from the Earth’s interior is used. However, Fervo Energy carries out this process artificially with the help of drilling.

In order for a natural geothermal system to produce electricity, heat, fluid and rock permeability must exist together. In many parts of the world, although the rock has the required temperature level, it is not permeable enough for fluid to flow through it. In the EGS method, this permeability is artificially achieved by drilling deep underground and injecting liquid to create fractures in the rock. This technique was also used in the facility established for Google’s data centers. Although the facility is relatively small with a production capacity of 3.5 MW (1 MW = 750 homes needed), it can pave the way for similar ones.

In addition to this agreement with Google, Fervo is also supported by Bill Gates’ climate investment company Breakthrough Energy Ventures and the US Department of Energy. Unlike wind and solar farms, which are sensitive to weather and time of day, geothermal projects can produce electricity more consistently. Thanks to Fervo’s technique, access to geothermal energy can be provided even in areas where it was not possible before, which can greatly increase the number of potential sites.