Meta Turns to Geothermal Energy
Meta to Invest in Geothermal Energy with Sage Geosystems
Meta, the American tech conglomerate behind platforms like Facebook, has announced a partnership with the startup Sage Geosystems to purchase geothermal energy to power its expanding data centers. The first phase of a 150-megawatt geothermal power plant is expected to be operational by 2027.
Sage’s Innovative Approach
Sage has already conducted a test drill in southern Texas to demonstrate its technology. The company now plans to build its first large-scale geothermal power plant at an undisclosed location east of the Rocky Mountains. This project, commissioned by Meta, marks Sage’s largest undertaking to date, following its successful field validation of the technology just two years ago.
Sage intends to employ hydraulic fracturing techniques similar to those used in extracting oil and gas from shale. However, instead of drilling for fossil fuels, the company plans to create fractures thousands of feet underground and pump water into them. The earth’s heat and pressure will warm the water to levels suitable for generating electricity through a turbine—all without greenhouse gas emissions.
“This is essentially the same fracking technology,” said Cindy Taff, a former Shell executive with 36 years of experience in the oil industry, now CEO of Sage. “The difference is that we are seeking clean heat rather than hydrocarbons like oil and natural gas,” she added.
Big Tech’s Role in Combating Climate Change
Meta’s announcement, made during a U.S. Department of Energy event on geothermal development, comes as President Joe Biden’s administration urges tech giants to invest in clean energy sources to meet their rising electricity demands. The surge in energy consumption is partly driven by advancements in technologies like generative AI, which requires significant power for data centers. This increased demand could hinder the goal of decarbonizing the U.S. energy sector by 2035.
Other tech leaders are taking similar steps. Google, for instance, partnered with Fervo Energy, a startup that recently built a 5 MW pilot geothermal plant in Nevada.
This move signals Meta’s commitment to sustainability while addressing the challenges of its growing energy footprint.
Source: nytimes.com