Google has a new way to power its data centers. According to a blog post from Google, a "first-of-its-kind" geothermal project in Arizona that uses modern oil and gas industry drilling techniques to optimize geothermal power generation is operational, as of today. Google says this "enhanced geothermal energy" is capable of producing round-the-clock clean energy cheaper than any other currently available method.
Power is a big expense for most tech companies, and is an increasingly precious resource in general. So it tracks that companies are pursuing ambitious clean energy and renewable energy targets. Until now, geothermal energy production has been geographically limited because it relied on the Earth's heat sources being concentrated and very near the surface. But Google has been working closely for the last two years with a company called Fervo, and the pair have managed to set up a power plant that will fulfill data centers with clean energy 24/7.
