World's first enhanced geothermal plant goes live in Utah
Fervo Energy has switched on the world's first enhanced geothermal power plant, its Cape Station facility in Utah reaching commercial operation a day ahead of schedule. Built in just 23 months, the plant offers a glimpse of 24/7 carbon-free power almost anywhere.
The first GeoBlock at Cape Station, in Beaver County, Utah, began selling electricity to the grid on September 30, generating 33 megawatts net. Unlike traditional geothermal, which needs shallow hot spots, Fervo drills deeper into hotter rock — a technique borrowed from fracking — unlocking far more sites.
The 23-month build from groundbreaking to commercial operation is remarkable for first-of-its-kind energy infrastructure, where delays are the norm. Fervo says lessons learned should compress future blocks to 18 months, and the wider site could eventually deliver up to 4 gigawatts.
Google and Southern California Edison are among the power buyers, and data-centre operators are circling the technology: geothermal can be built in phases, matching how server capacity comes online. The plant is now earning revenue under its power purchase agreement.
