Meta and XGS agree on a partnership to run data centers using geothermal power energy
Meta, the parent company of Facebook, has entered into a groundbreaking partnership with XGS Energy to unlock a new category of energy supply for its operations in New Mexico. This partnership aims to support the advancement of technologies like AI and accelerate access to new round-the-clock power supplies in the region.
Josh Prueher, CEO of XGS Energy, expressed his enthusiasm about supporting Meta's AI objectives and the potential to increase geothermal electricity production in New Mexico by a factor of ten. XGS Energy provides heat-harvesting technology that enables access to affordable and carbon-free geothermal energy.
The new project will utilize XGS Energy's next-generation geothermal technologies, which are an advanced, closed-loop system that does not rely on hydraulic fracturing ("fracking"). This technology operates with zero consumptive water use, addressing water-energy security challenges and significantly reducing environmental risks.
Urvi Parekh, Global Head of Energy at Meta, expressed excitement about the partnership with XGS Energy. The agreement will see Meta and XGS Energy collaborate on the development of 150 MW of geothermal energy in New Mexico to power Meta’s data centers with clean, reliable geothermal energy, supporting their 24/7 carbon-free energy goals in the AI and hyperscale computing era.
The innovative geothermal technology developed by XGS Energy offers several key benefits:
- A closed-loop advanced geothermal system, eliminating the need for hydraulic fracturing and ensuring a fully contained fluid circuit.
- Zero operating water consumption, addressing water-energy security challenges.
- A smaller footprint, as advanced geothermal plants can generate large amounts of power on minimal land.
- Carbon-free, firm power, compatible with high-demand applications like data centers needing continuous clean energy.
- Integration with hyperscale data centers, demonstrating industry confidence in geothermal as a scalable solution for carbon-free data center power.
This partnership represents a significant innovation in geothermal energy, increasing environmental sustainability and providing reliable, carbon-free power critical to energy-intensive data center operations.
The initial phase of the project is set to begin, with the second larger phase projected to be operational by 2030. Meta anticipates adding 9.8 GW of renewable energy to local grids in the U.S. by the end of 2025 as it strives to reach net-zero emissions across its value chain by 2030, a goal it achieved for its operational energy needs in 2020.
Moreover, the geothermal energy produced will be deployed to the PNM grid, supporting domestic data center development in New Mexico. This partnership underscores Meta's commitment to sustainable and carbon-free energy solutions for its operations.
[1] XGS Energy's website: https://xgsenergy.com/ [2] Meta's Sustainability Report: https://sustainability.fb.com/ [3] XGS Energy's press release: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/xgs-energy-raises-13-million-to-expand-geothermal-technology-and-finance-new-projects-301335752.html [4] XGS Energy's whitepaper: https://xgsenergy.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/XGS-Energy-White-Paper.pdf
- The collaboration between Meta and XGS Energy involves developing 150 MW of geothermal energy in New Mexico to power Meta's data centers, leveraging XGS Energy's advanced geothermal technology that offers carbon-free, firm power and integration with hyperscale data centers.
- By partnering with XGS Energy, Meta aims to increase environmental sustainability and provide reliable, carbon-free power for its energy-intensive data center operations, aligning with its goal of reaching net-zero emissions across its value chain by 2030.
- The geothermal energy produced from this partnership will be deployed to the PNM grid, contributing to domestic data center development in New Mexico and demonstrating Meta's commitment to sustainable and carbon-free energy solutions for its operations.
