Alphabet Inc. has signed an agreement with geothermal developer Fervo Energy to supply up to 396 megawatts of power for a Utah data center starting in 2028. The deal marks a significant commitment by the tech giant to alternative energy sources.
Google's parent company Alphabet has contracted with Fervo Energy to deliver geothermal power to a prospective data center in Utah, with operations expected to begin in 2028.
The agreement calls for up to 396 megawatts of capacity, positioning geothermal as a cornerstone energy source for the facility. This represents one of the largest commercial commitments to geothermal power in the data center sector.
Geothermal energy produces electricity from heat beneath the Earth's surface, offering a renewable power source with minimal land footprint and stable output regardless of weather conditions. Unlike solar and wind, geothermal plants operate continuously at high capacity factors, making them attractive for energy-intensive operations like data centers.
Fervo Energy specializes in enhanced geothermal systems (EGS), a technology that creates artificial reservoirs in hot rock formations where conventional geothermal conditions don't exist. This approach expands the geographic range where geothermal power can be deployed.
The deal aligns with Alphabet's broader sustainability goals. The company has committed to operating on carbon-free energy around the clock by 2030 and has made significant investments in renewable energy infrastructure globally.
For Fervo, the contract demonstrates commercial viability of geothermal technology at scale. The company has received backing from venture capital and strategic investors recognizing geothermal's potential in meeting growing electricity demand from artificial intelligence and cloud computing services.
The 2028 timeline provides Fervo approximately four years to develop the geothermal system and connect it to the data center. This acceleration of geothermal deployment reflects industry confidence in the technology's readiness for commercial applications.
Other tech companies, including Microsoft and Amazon, have similarly pursued power purchase agreements with renewable energy developers to meet escalating energy demands from data center expansion and AI workloads.
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