The partnership continues the momentum of Big Tech turning to renewables, including geothermal energy, to power operations amid ambitions to reach net zero emissions. (Source: Shutterstock)
Meta Platforms, formerly known as Facebook, has partnered with Houston-based Sage Geosystems to deliver up to 150 megawatts (MW) of geothermal energy to help meet the tech company’s growing data center electricity needs.
The agreement was announced Aug. 26 during the U.S. Department of Energy’s next-generation geothermal development workshop, Sage said in a news release. The company said it will use its geopressured geothermal system to provide carbon-free power to Meta’s data centers.
The partnership continues the momentum of Big Tech turning to renewables, including geothermal energy, to power operations amid ambitions to reach net zero emissions. It also takes shape as the U.S. aims to bolster the geothermal sector, having laid out a roadmap to grow output with next-gen technology and doling out funding to advance projects.
“As energy demand continues to grow, the need for reliable, resilient and sustainable power is paramount and our partnership with Meta underscores the critical need for innovative and sustainable energy solutions like ours,” Sage Geosystems CEO Cindy Taff said.
Sage’s geopressured geothermal system technology, which was field tested in 2022, will provide carbon-free power for Meta. Its technology involves pumping large volumes of water into an artificial reservoir created by a fracture to harvest heat from hot dry rock. Pressure causes it to balloon open and hold the water under pressure. When electricity is needed, the water is brought back to the surface, where a turbine converts the heat to electricity.
“We are excited to partner with such an innovative company like Sage Geosystems that is a proven leader in geothermal development on this project and beyond,” said Urvi Parekh, head of renewable energy at Meta.
Earlier this month, Sage said it plans to locate a 3-MW geopressured geothermal system energy storage facility in Christine, Texas. The location was announced after the company reach a land use agreement with the San Miguel Electric Cooperative Inc. The energy storage system will be paired with renewable energy to provide baseload and dispatchable power to the Electric Reliability Council of Texas grid.
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