Latest news with #XGSEnergy
Yahoo
17 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Meta and XGS Energy link to develop geothermal project in New Mexico
Meta Platforms has signed an agreement with XGS Energy to support the development of 150MW of geothermal energy project in the US state of New Mexico. Both its initial smaller first phase and its larger second phase will be operational by 2030. Both will be located on the site of the state's PNM public service electric grid. The agreement represents another step for Meta, one of the world's largest corporate purchasers of renewable energy. Meta global head of energy Urvi Parekh stated: 'Advances in AI require continued energy to support infrastructure development. 'With next-generation geothermal technologies like XGS ready for scale, geothermal can be a major player in supporting the advancement of technologies like AI as well as domestic data centre development. 'We're excited to partner with XGS to unlock a new category of energy supply for our operations in New Mexico.' The energy company's geothermal technology will be deployed to the PNM electric grid and will support the tech company's data centre operations, which are located in New Mexico. XGS's tech has separated geothermal energy production from traditional constraints by eliminating the need for specific geological conditions such as water availability or permeable rock formations. Currently, New Mexico has only one operational geothermal power plant despite having some of the most promising hot rock resources nationwide. The new project is expected to raise New Mexico's total output of geothermal electricity tenfold. XGS Energy CEO Josh Prueher stated: 'We're pleased to support Meta's ambitious AI objectives and accelerate access to new round-the-clock power supplies. 'More broadly, the state of New Mexico is a growing hub for data centre development. We are eager to feed clean, water-independent geothermal power into the New Mexico market at a scale uniquely possible with XGS technology.' Constellation and Meta recently signed a 20-year power purchase agreement (PPA) to use the output from the Clinton Clean Energy Center in Illinois, US. The deal supports Meta's clean energy objectives and regional operations by providing 1,121MW (1.12GW) of emissions-free nuclear energy. "Meta and XGS Energy link to develop geothermal project in New Mexico" was originally created and published by Power Technology, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Hans India
2 days ago
- Business
- Hans India
Meta Expands Geothermal Push with XGS Energy Deal to Power AI Growth
Meta is ramping up its renewable energy strategy with a new partnership aimed at meeting the ballooning electricity demands of artificial intelligence. The tech giant has inked a deal with XGS Energy, a next-generation geothermal startup, to supply 150 megawatts of carbon-free electricity to the power grid supporting Meta's Los Lunas data center in New Mexico. The agreement marks another significant step in Meta's broader clean energy journey, especially as AI technologies drive unprecedented power consumption across global data centers. Geothermal energy, once limited by geography, is gaining new momentum thanks to emerging technologies like those developed by XGS. 'Advances in AI require continued energy to support infrastructure development,' said Urvi Parekh, Meta's global head of energy, in a press release. 'With next-generation geothermal technologies like XGS ready for scale, geothermal can be a major player in supporting the advancement of technologies like AI as well as domestic data center development.' Traditional geothermal plants draw heat from naturally occurring underground steam or hot water reservoirs to generate electricity. However, such sources are geographically constrained, leaving geothermal with just a sliver—about 0.5%—of the U.S. energy mix. XGS and other innovators aim to break through those limits with engineered solutions. XGS Energy's method stands out by using a closed-loop system. Instead of relying on natural cracks and underground water sources, their technology circulates water within a steel casing, minimising the risk of leakage and conserving water—especially vital in arid regions like New Mexico. This initiative with XGS Energy will roll out in two phases, with the ultimate goal of becoming operational by 2030. Although Meta has not disclosed the financial details, the investment reinforces its commitment to its 2020 pledge of reaching net-zero emissions by the decade's end. Yet, the road to net-zero is complex. AI infrastructure is driving up power demands sharply, and without a strong push for clean energy solutions, tech giants like Meta risk veering off course from their climate goals. The company has been proactive, recently announcing efforts to bring an old nuclear plant back online and exploring other geothermal deals, such as a 150MW partnership with Sage Geosystems. Sage's technology taps into hot, dry rock formations by drilling and injecting water to simulate natural geothermal reservoirs. Google is also exploring this clean energy frontier, backing similar efforts through a collaboration with Fervo, another geothermal startup innovating in this space. Despite these advancements, Meta's carbon emissions have grown since its climate commitments were announced—largely driven by AI development and global data center expansion. In Louisiana, plans for three new gas-powered plants to support a new Meta data facility have raised questions about the balance between growth and sustainability. Still, projects like the XGS Energy deal offer a glimpse into a possible future where AI and environmental stewardship go hand in hand. By investing in scalable geothermal solutions, Meta is not just meeting its energy needs—it's helping to shape the next chapter in clean energy innovation.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Meta and energy company announce plans for geothermal plant in New Mexico
Meta and a California-based geothermal energy company announced plans on Thursday to build a geothermal power plant in Northwestern New Mexico, as Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham and other officials touted a report outlining how the state has the resources to produce substantial geothermal power. Meta, the parent company of Facebook, and XGS Energy aim to build a geothermal energy site capable of producing 150 megawatts at a location that has not yet been named. A recent report indicates the Santa Fe region, as well as portions of Sandoval and Tao counties, are particularly well positioned to produce geothermal energy. "We sit on, no kidding, one of the best dry hot rock energy resources not just in Western United States but in the entire world," said Josh Prueher, XGS Energy CEO, during a news conference at the state Capitol, flanked by Lujan Grisham. "The statistics are staggering." Meta in 2019 opened a sprawling data center in Los Lunas where the tech giant stores videos, photos and other media that its billions of users have posted to the social network. It is unclear whether the new geothermal power plant would support its existing footprint in New Mexico and the Southwest or a future expansion. Prueher said XGS is considering public, private and tribal lands to site the planned plant and is engaged with landowners in each of those categories. Asked whether Sandoval, Santa Fe and Taos counties might be potential locations, Prueher said they could be. The 200-page "The Future of Geothermal in New Mexico" report, published by Project InnerSpace in collaboration with New Mexico Tech and the New Mexico Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources, notes the potential for 163 gigawatts of geothermal power to be generated in the state. The Future of Geothermal in New Mexico The vast subsurface heat present in the state could help boost the Land of Enchantment's clean energy future, advocates of the project say. "It's a big damn deal," Lujan Grisham said, praising the economic and job creation impact the project could have. Geothermal resources, typically reservoirs of hot water that exist at various temperatures, generate renewable energy from hot water sources deep beneath Earth's surface. Most of the geothermal power plants in the U.S. are in western states and Hawaii, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, where geothermal energy resources are close to the earth's surface. California generates the most electricity from geothermal energy. Lujan Grisham said the project is not receiving state money at this time. The geothermal power plant in Northwestern New Mexico would be the second in the state, with one such power plant already in operation in Hidalgo County. This is a developing story and will be updated.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
NM Gov touts $1B partnership on new geothermal plant for Meta's data center power needs
From left, Urvi Parekh, Meta's head of enegery, joins Josh Prueher from XGS Energy, New Mexico Economic Development Department Secretary Rob Black and Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham announced a $1 billion dollar geothermal energy generation site anticipated within the next three years. (Screengrab from live stream ) Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham on Thursday announced what she described as a 'big damn deal' for green energy production in New Mexico, one that she said will provide Meta's New Mexico data centers with huge amounts of green energy they need without using much water or costing taxpayers a dime. At a news conference at the Roundhouse, surrounded by cabinet agency heads and leaders from the Silicon Valley giant and also XGS Energy, the governor said the deal means XGS Energy would produce 150 megawatts of energy for Meta through its 'advanced geothermal technology.' Geothermal energy taps into heat under the Earth's surface to generate electricity using steam turbines or further uses for heating and cooling. Leaders touted the 'advanced' version of that technology as a way to minimize water usage through a 'closed-loop' system and also by using a tiny surface footprint, claiming only 15 acres is needed on the surface for a project that produces enough energy to power 50,000 homes. Read the report here. In addition to the energy production, the new geothermal plant will mean a $1 billion private sector investment that will create 3,000 construction jobs and 100 'really good' jobs running the geothermal power plant, the governor said. It's not clear when the company will break ground on the plant or plants or where they will be located. Company leaders described at least a three-year permitting timeline. The governor and XGS Energy CEO Josh Prueher said New Mexico has the exact right geology to greatly expand geothermal projects. A 238-page academic report released Thursday claims the state has enough capacity to produce 163 gigawatts of geothermal power, which the report authors say is more than 15 times the amount of capacity the state had in 2023. Combine the right geology with what Prueher called an easy permitting process, and then add in an oil and gas workforce that could be trained to work in geothermal technology, and you've got an environment that's 'easy and inviting for developers and investors' he said. The governor said the state helped the deal come together through years of policy and legislative work, but stressed that no taxpayer money would be spent on it. She also said there isn't any state agency rulemaking required or legislation that will need to pass at the upcoming legislative session. 'This is born from all the groundwork all of us have been laying in the state, which is why, frankly, it's a great announcement jointly, and it should be a bit of a celebration,' she said. The governor's proposal is the latest she's offered that seeks to enable continued growth while confronting the state's arid climate, diminishing water supply and reliance on the oil and gas industry. In 2024, she announced a push for a so-called Strategic Water Supply that sought to create a market for wastewater produced by oil and gas drilling, along with brackish water. The state's 50-year water plan released last year says the state can expect a 25% reduction in its water supply over the next 50 years, thanks to climate change-caused aridification. While leaders were tight-lipped about where the projects could go, they said the public is welcome to weigh in via the permitting process. In a presentation elsewhere in Santa Fe as part of the release of the academic report, Melanie Kenderdine, secretary of the Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department, showed a map that suggested the sites could be in Sandoval, San Miguel, Doña Ana, Catron and Hidalgo counties, and listed an additional 13 other counties that have 'most favorable potential for other sites.' The state aims to move forward with further projects, Kenderdine told attendees at a conference hosted by Project InnerSpace, a nonprofit pushing for further geothermal projects. The state has competing needs for the space underground beyond geothermal, Kenderdine said, such as sequestering carbon underground or developing geologic hydrogen as another fuel source. 'We need to do very, very detailed mapping of the New Mexico subsurface and we need to do it quickly,' she said.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Meta and energy company announce plans for geothermal plant in New Mexico
Meta and a California-based geothermal energy company announced plans on Thursday to build a geothermal power plant in Northwestern New Mexico, as Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham and other officials touted a report outlining how the state has the resources to produce substantial geothermal power. Meta, the parent company of Facebook, and XGS Energy aim to build a geothermal energy site capable of producing 150 megawatts at a location that has not yet been named. A recent report indicates the Santa Fe region, as well as portions of Sandoval and Tao counties, are particularly well positioned to produce geothermal energy. "We sit on, no kidding, one of the best dry hot rock energy resources not just in Western United States but in the entire world," said Josh Prueher, XGS Energy CEO, during a news conference at the state Capitol, flanked by Lujan Grisham. "The statistics are staggering." Meta in 2019 opened a sprawling data center in Los Lunas where the tech giant stores videos, photos and other media that its billions of users have posted to the social network. It is unclear whether the new geothermal power plant would support its existing footprint in New Mexico and the Southwest or a future expansion. Prueher said XGS is considering public, private and tribal lands to site the planned plant and is engaged with landowners in each of those categories. Asked whether Sandoval, Santa Fe and Taos counties might be potential locations, Prueher said they could be. The 200-page "The Future of Geothermal in New Mexico" report, published by Project InnerSpace in collaboration with New Mexico Tech and the New Mexico Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources, notes the potential for 163 gigawatts of geothermal power to be generated in the state. The Future of Geothermal in New Mexico The vast subsurface heat present in the state could help boost the Land of Enchantment's clean energy future, advocates of the project say. "It's a big damn deal," Lujan Grisham said, praising the economic and job creation impact the project could have. Geothermal resources, typically reservoirs of hot water that exist at various temperatures, generate renewable energy from hot water sources deep beneath Earth's surface. Most of the geothermal power plants in the U.S. are in western states and Hawaii, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, where geothermal energy resources are close to the earth's surface. California generates the most electricity from geothermal energy. Lujan Grisham said the project is not receiving state money at this time. The geothermal power plant in Northwestern New Mexico would be the second in the state, with one such power plant already in operation in Hidalgo County. This is a developing story and will be updated.
