Meta to Use Geothermal Energy for Its US Data Centres

Meta Platforms has announced a new partnership with Sage Geosystems to significantly expand the use of geothermal power in the US. The announcement was made at the US Department of Energy’s geothermal workshop which was held on Monday.

Meta said that the need for reliable, affordable and carbon-free power has been need of the hour and the company was committed to pioneering clean energy initiatives to support its work.

“We are excited to partner with Sage on a first-of-its-kind project exploring the use of new, advanced geothermal energy in parts of the country where it has not been possible before. And we appreciate the Department of Energy’s leadership in recognising the opportunity geothermal technology offers going forward,” Meta Platforms said.

Geothermal energy is a viable renewable energy source across the US and Sage will utilise its proprietary Geo pressured Geothermal System (GGS) to provide carbon-free power for Meta’s data centres.

Advanced geothermal energy is currently mainly used in Nevada, Utah and California. Sage’s technology marks a significant advancement for the clean energy sector, showcasing the ability to harness geothermal energy virtually anywhere and promising a new era of reliable, sustainable baseload power and enhanced grid stability.

Hot Rock Abundant Source

Hot dry rock is a vastly abundant resource compared to traditional hydrothermal formations, making Sage’s GGS technology a highly scalable approach with the potential for rapid expansion across the US and globally. 

The first phase of this project will aim to be online and operating in 2027. As part of this partnership with Sage, Meta is planning to deliver up to 150 MW of new geothermal baseload power to support its data centre growth.

“This builds on our work towards a zero-carbon economy with solutions that create a healthier planet for all. To date, Meta has contracted more than 12,000 MW in renewable energy projects, making us one of the largest corporate buyers of renewable energy globally,” the company added.

Largest RE Buyer

Meta is one of the largest corporate buyers of renewable energy and supports its global operations with 100% renewable energy. Meta achieved this by adding new wind and solar projects to the same local grids as its data centres, which also helps drive the transition to renewable energy.

By 2025, 86 Meta-supported wind and solar projects in the US will add 9.8 GW of renewable energy to local grids across 24 states and 74 counties and support more than $8 billion in GDP throughout the US economy in addition to jobs, business for local suppliers and new tax revenue.