"Dream, Dream, Dream! Conduct these dreams into thoughts, and then transform them into action."
- Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam
5 Dec 2023
Google is making significant strides in the clean energy sector with its pioneering geothermal electricity project, which has the potential to be a game-changer for renewable energy. The project, funded and developed by Google, is aimed at harnessing the Earth's heat to generate carbon-free electricity.
Partnering with Fervo Energy, a Utah-based company that utilizes drilling techniques from the oil and gas industry, Google's advanced geothermal technology has successfully begun supplying carbon-free electricity to its data centers in Nevada. By drilling deep into the Earth's crust, the project taps into the planet's heat to create steam, which drives turbines and generates electricity around the clock.
Initial tests conducted in July confirmed the project's success, with the hypothesized 3.5 megawatts of power being delivered. The innovative process involves drilling a borehole 8,000 feet into the desert plains, followed by a horizontal extension of 3,000 feet. The injection of cold water into the lower shaft causes it to rise through cracks in the rock, heated by the Earth's core, into an upper shaft where it reaches supercritical temperatures. The superheated fluid is then used to produce steam, which powers a turbine and supplies Google's data center with clean energy.
Google's commitment to geothermal energy has not stopped at this project. The company has also partnered with Project InnerSpace, a non-profit organization dedicated to global geothermal energy development, to further accelerate the adoption of this sustainable power source.
With Google leading the way, the geothermal energy sector holds immense potential in the quest for a cleaner and greener future.