XGS Energy has recently announced a high-profile contract with Meta Platforms, the parent company of Facebook, to build a 150-megawatt electricity-generating data center in New Mexico. This power plant will provide electricity to Meta’s sprawling new network of data centers, most recently announced in Waverly, Virginia. These centers are necessary for the tech giant’s business model to exist. This deal is a big leap forward for integrating renewable energy with technology infrastructure. For starters, it’s an indicator of a trend of corporations clamoring to invest in more sustainable energy sources.
This partnership with Meta speaks to XGS Energy’s mission of supporting the technical infrastructure of the future with clean energy innovations. The future demand for data centers is increasing by the day. This relatively simple initiative has the potential to dramatically scale up carbon emissions reductions in the technology and design sectors. The project will benefit from New Mexico’s superb environment for the generation of renewable energy. This progress will ensure the state continues to lead the way in sustainable energy production.
In other related news, in parallel Rodatherm Energy has come out of stealth mode with a terrific $38 million in funding. The company intends to build the world’s first such plant in Utah, using an advanced closed-loop, refrigerant-based geothermal system. This method is forecasted to be 50% more efficient than conventional water-based geothermal systems. The capacity of the pilot plant will be 1.8 megawatts. We hope to finish it by the end of 2026.
Rodatherm Energy’s technology holds great potential to make geothermal energy a more accessible, reliable, and economically sustainable source of energy. The startup has garnered a lot of headlines for its promise to revolutionize how we tap into advanced geothermal resources. This innovation has made it a strong competitor in the energy sector. The Utah Associated Municipal Power Systems has signed up to purchase electricity from Rodatherm’s project. Beyond the factual delocation completion, this speaks to their strong confidence in its operational capabilities.
Industry expert Tim De Chant, a senior climate reporter at TechCrunch, brings a wealth of knowledge to discussions about these developments. He received his PhD from the University of California, Berkeley in environmental science, policy, and management. He received a BA in environmental studies, English, and biology from St. Olaf College. In 2018, he was honored with the highly coveted Knight Science Journalism Fellowship at MIT. This award highlighted his fearless dedication to covering important climate stories.
Climate tech company Fervo Energy is one of the leading companies pushing the enhanced geothermal frontier. Appropriately, they have gone on to raise almost $1 billion successfully in funding. This funding support places Fervo in a leading group of companies pioneering the development of geothermal technologies. It has the potential to reshape future market competition and spark technological innovation.
