GoogleGeothermal methodGenerates electricity to power its data centers and serves asNew headquarters campusAfter operating the power source, it earlier partnered with Fervo Energy, an energy company headquartered in Houston, Texas.Cooperation, using geothermal power to support Google's data center in Nevada.
According to the company, this collaboration will generate approximately 3.5MW of geothermal power, enough to power approximately 2600 homes. However, this represents only about 1/100th the output of a typical power plant and can only partially cover the data center's electricity needs. However, compared to solar and wind power, which are subject to numerous external factors, geothermal power generation is relatively stable.
Fervo Energy collects geothermal heat by digging wells up to 2.5 kilometers deep and using high-pressure water to shatter the rock formations deep inside the wells, thereby increasing the rock's permeability. A second well is then passed through the fractured rock formations. Cold water is then injected from the first well, which is heated by the underground temperature between the fractured rock formations to a vaporized state. This steam is then discharged to the surface to generate electricity.
If all goes well, Google and Fervo Energy are expected to further expand their cooperation.
Fervo Energy is currently building a 400MW power plant in Utah, USA, with a planned trial run in 2026. The plant will generate enough electricity to power 30 homes and reach full capacity within two years of operation. Google, in collaboration with the nonprofit Project InnerSpace, aims to expand geothermal applications and address barriers to their adoption.
