Baker Hughes: Exploring Geothermal for the US Military

Renewable energy sources can be intermittent, but geothermal energy is different.

The constant and steady flow of energy from the Earth's core serves as a reliable source of power, even when other renewables like solar panels and wind turbines take a break.

Energy technology company Baker Hughes has been selected by the US Air Force and the Department of Defence’s Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Office (CDAO) to explore geothermal energy opportunities. 

Having achieved “Awardable” status, the company can now explore utility-scale geothermal power plants that could be used to supply US military bases around the globe. 

“The ability of geothermal to provide reliable, secure baseload power makes it an ideal addition to America’s energy mix,” says Ajit Menon, Vice President of Geothermal, Oilfield Services & Equipment at Baker Hughes. 

“Baker Hughes has been a pioneer in this field for more than 40 years and our unique subsurface-to-surface expertise and advanced technology across the geothermal value chain will help the US military unlock this critical domestic energy source, while simultaneously driving economic growth and energy independence.”  

What is geothermal energy?

Geothermal power taps into the natural heat originating from the core and crust of the Earth

This is generated by the decay of radioactive particles and residual formation heat.

With core temperatures nearing 6,000°C, the Earth continuously regenerates this heat through geological processes that make geothermal energy a sustainable option.

Typically, geothermal power plants involve technologies such as dry steam, flash steam and binary cycle systems to convert this heat into electricity.

Unlike some other sources of energy, geothermal has been adding to the energy matrix for more than a century but remains underutilised on a global scale, contributing to less than 1% of the total energy demand.

Why Baker Hughes was chosen

Baker Hughes is one of the world’s largest oil field services, industrial and energy technology companies operating in more than 120 countries. 

The firm traces its expertise back to the merger in 1987 between Hughes Tool Company and Baker Oil Tool Company, founded in 1908 and 1913 respectively.

The US military, through the CDAO's Tradewinds Solutions Marketplace—designed for expedited procurement of essential technologies—selected Baker Hughes for geothermal exploration.

“The US Air Force leveraged the Tradewinds solicitation process to quickly collaborate with innovative American companies to build resilient, next-generation geothermal technologies at our bases, using private capital instead of taxpayer dollars,” said Kirk Phillips, Director, Air Force Office of Energy Assurance.

Geothermal energy's potential

With technological advancements like horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracking, new avenues are unlocking for geothermal energy.

The International Energy Agency (IEA) anticipates that ongoing improvements and cost reductions might enable geothermal energy to cater to up to 15% of the global electricity demand growth by 2050.

On average, global geothermal capacity had a utilisation rate of more than 75% in 2023, compared with less than 30% for wind power and less than 15% for solar PV, according to the IEA.

Geothermal energy stands out as a dispatchable and clean energy source, with rich and accessible resources in countries such as the US, Iceland, Indonesia, Türkiye, Kenya and Italy.

Explore the latest edition of Sustainability Magazine and be part of the conversation at our global conference series, Sustainability LIVE. 

Discover all our upcoming events and secure your tickets today.

Sustainability Magazine is a BizClik brand