Fervo Energy, a geothermal energy company, has made a significant breakthrough in geothermal technology. The company recently conducted a 30-day well test at its site in northern Nevada, achieving a “flowrate of 63 liters per second at high temperature that enables 3.5 megawatts of electric production.” This test set new records for flow and power output in an enhanced geothermal system (EGS) and was completed without any issues.
The ability to produce 3.5 megawatts of electricity is significant, as it can power approximately 750 homes simultaneously. Fervo Energy plans to connect its Project Red site to the grid later this year, using the energy generated to power its own infrastructure in Nevada, including facilities used by Google, who has partnered with Fervo Energy to develop a “next-generation geothermal power project.”
This breakthrough by Fervo Energy marks the first time that an EGS has been successfully proven to work on a commercial scale. Scientists have been striving to make EGS a reality since the 1970s, making this achievement a significant milestone in the field of geothermal energy.
In natural geothermal systems, a combination of heat, fluid, and rock permeability is required to produce electricity. While many areas have sufficient heat in the rock, they often lack the necessary permeability for fluid to flow through. EGS overcomes this limitation by artificially creating permeability through deep underground drilling and injecting fluid to create fractures in the rock. This technique expands the number of potential sites for geothermal power plants.
Fervo Energy states that it is the first company to successfully drill a horizontal well pair for commercial geothermal production. They achieved lateral lengths of 3,250 feet, reaching a temperature of 191°C, and verifying controlled flow through rigorous tracer testing.
One of the key advantages of geothermal power plants is that they are entirely carbon-free. This aligns with Google’s goal to run all of its offices and data centers on carbon-free energy by 2030. Geothermal plants can operate at any time, unlike solar and wind, making them a reliable and compelling source of renewable power. However, cost reductions and regulatory hurdles still need to be addressed to make EGS more widespread, according to Fervo CEO Tim Latimer.
Fervo Energy aims to replicate its success at a site in Utah. If the company achieves similar results there and implements design upgrades to maximize output, the Utah site has the potential to generate enough electricity to power 300,000 homes simultaneously, which is roughly a quarter of all homes in the state.
Google, which has partnered with Fervo Energy since 2021, sees significant potential in geothermal technology to provide 24/7 carbon-free energy at scale. Michael Terrell, Google’s senior director for energy and climate, emphasized the need for additional sources of firm, clean power alongside variable renewables like wind and solar in order to achieve their goal of operating on 24/7 carbon-free energy.
In conclusion, Fervo Energy’s groundbreaking achievement in geothermal technology paves the way for the commercial viability of enhanced geothermal systems. With the ability to produce 3.5 megawatts of electricity and the potential to power hundreds of thousands of homes, geothermal energy has become an increasingly attractive and reliable source of renewable power.
