United States: New contracts for geothermal projects

The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) recently expanded its program ofgeothermal initiatives to include Fervo Energy, GreenFire Energy, and Sage Geosystems to conduct feasibility studies at military installations in California, Nevada and Texas. These efforts are part of the DoD’s strategy to reduce the US military’s carbon footprint while improving energy self-sufficiency.

Fervo Energy and geothermal innovation

Fervo Energy will explore the feasibility of drilling and completing Enhanced Geothermal System (EGS) wells at Fallon Naval Air Station, Nevada. The company recently raised around $138.5 million to finance its innovative projects, including halving the cost of drilling at its Cape project in Utah.

Innovative projects from Sage Geosystems and GreenFire Energy

Sage Geosystems will be carrying out a feasibility study at Fort Bliss Army Base in Texas, targeting hot, dry, shallower rock formations. They have secured $17 million in Series A financing to develop a 3 MW underground energy storage system. GreenFire Energy will also be evaluating the implementation of its closed-loop geothermal technology at the El Centro Naval Air Station in California, with the support of Baker Hughes.

Ongoing commitment and new developments

These companies join Eavor, Teverra, Zanskar Geothermal and Minerals Inc. who are already engaged in evaluation projects for the DoD in Alaska, California, Idaho, and Texas. Meanwhile, GA Drilling announced that it had raised $15 million following successful testing of its geothermal drilling technology, with a project underway to develop a 12 MW geothermal power plant in Lower Saxony, Germany.

The significant expansion of DoD geothermal projects with new partnerships and investments underscores a major step towards a more sustainable defense that is less dependent on fossil fuels.