Google Secures 400 MW Geothermal Deal with Fervo, Expandable to 1 GW for AI Data Centers
Google has entered into a power purchase agreement with geothermal energy company Fervo for 400 megawatts of enhanced geothermal power, according to a report by TechCrunch. The deal includes provisions to expand the agreement up to 1 gigawatt, sufficient to power a very large AI data center in Utah.
Enhanced geothermal systems represent a next-generation approach to extracting heat energy from the Earth. Unlike traditional geothermal operations that rely on naturally occurring hot springs or volcanic regions, enhanced geothermal technology can be deployed in a wider range of geological settings by creating artificial heat exchangers deep underground.
The agreement underscores the growing appetite for clean, reliable power among technology companies building energy-intensive AI infrastructure. Data centers supporting artificial intelligence workloads require substantial and consistent electricity supplies, and geothermal energy offers a low-carbon alternative to fossil fuels while providing baseload power that doesn't depend on weather conditions like solar or wind.
Fervo has positioned itself as a leader in developing enhanced geothermal resources, with this Google deal representing one of the largest corporate commitments to the technology to date. The Utah location is significant given the region's geological characteristics that are favorable for geothermal extraction.
The expandable nature of the agreement—from 400 MW to 1 GW—suggests both parties anticipate significant growth in AI compute demand and confidence in Fervo's ability to scale geothermal output. This trend reflects a broader movement among major technology firms to secure long-term clean energy contracts to power their expanding data center footprints.