How Meta Plans to Grow Sustainable Geothermal Energy
Meta has signed an agreement with XGS Energy to develop 150MW of geothermal capacity in New Mexico.
This effort is geared towards expanding the frontiers of reliable baseload geothermal energy and aligns with Meta's position as one of the largest corporate buyers of clean energy globally.
“We’re pleased to support Meta’s ambitious AI objectives and accelerate access to new round-the-clock power supplies,” says Josh Prueher, CEO at XGS Energy.
“More broadly, the state of New Mexico is a growing hub for data centre development. We are eager to feed clean, water-independent geothermal power into the New Mexico market at a scale uniquely possible with XGS technology.”
Harnessing renewable energy for sustainable data centres
XGS Energy's geothermal technology is specifically designed to facilitate power production with zero operating water use, which is a critical advancement for sustainable data centre operations.
This technology will be integrated into the PNM electric grid, supporting Meta's data centre operations in New Mexico.
XGS's approach decouples geothermal energy production from traditional location constraints such as water availability, paving the way for new developments in geothermal energy.
- Provides clean, round-the-clock energy
- Solid-state geothermal system uses thermally conductive materials to deliver affordable energy
- Decouples geothermal energy production from its historical dependence on natural water resources and geological conditions
New Mexico, with its rich hot rock resources, currently hosts only one operating geothermal power plant, and this project will increase the state's geothermal electricity output tenfold.
“New Mexico is not only the second-largest oil and gas producer in the US, but also one of the nation’s leading sources of clean energy,” explains Gov. Lujan Grisham.
“We’ve worked hard to ensure New Mexico remains at the forefront of the energy transition, and geothermal energy represents a promising new frontier.
Meta's commitment to sustainability
The demand for data centre cooling, which traditionally involves significant water use, is a challenge Meta is addressing through this partnership.
According to Lenovo, the average data centre uses approximately 300,000 gallons of water daily.
“We’re proud to support this innovative, carbon-free project from Meta and XGS Energy. This project is a meaningful step toward meeting New Mexico’s clean energy goals and demonstrates the power of advanced technology to shape our energy future.”
Meta is actively seeking to reduce its environmental footprint, which includes cutting down on emissions and the energy and water required to power its data centres.
This strategic collaboration with XGS involves a two-phased 150MW agreement, which will begin with a smaller initial phase followed by a larger expansion, both expected to be operational by 2030.
These projects will be located in New Mexico on the PNM electric grid.
“Advances in AI require continued energy to support infrastructure development,” says Urvi Parekh, Global Head of Energy at Meta.
“With next-generation geothermal technologies like XGS ready for scale, geothermal can be a major player in supporting the advancement of technologies like AI as well as domestic data centre development.
“We’re excited to partner with XGS to unlock a new category of energy supply for our operations in New Mexico.”
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