Fervo has entered into a 396MW geothermal agreement with Google, set to commence in 2028.

      Alphabet has secured an agreement for up to 396MW of geothermal energy from Fervo Energy for a planned data center in Utah, beginning in 2028. There is also an option for an additional 600MW by 2030, potentially bringing the total near a gigawatt. In 2022, the European Union had around 1GW of net geothermal electricity capacity, which accounted for 0.5% of its renewable electricity in 2024.

      According to Bloomberg, Google has finalized a contract for up to 396MW of geothermal power for the Utah data center, with deliveries set to commence in 2028 and the option for another 600MW by 2030. As a result, the total order could approach a gigawatt. Following this announcement, Fervo’s shares increased by as much as 25%, although its Cape Station project still awaits regulatory approval in Utah.

      It is noteworthy to compare this one contract for a single data center with the EU's overall installed geothermal capacity, which was approximately 1GW in 2022, according to the Commission. Geothermal energy supplied 0.5% of the EU’s renewable electricity in 2024.

      Europe’s flagship next-generation geothermal plant is not as large as its reputation suggests. Eavor’s closed-loop system at Geretsried, Bavaria, has an output capacity of about 8.2MW of electricity and 64MW of heat. Nonetheless, it marks a significant milestone, as it produced the world’s first electrons from closed-loop multilateral wells on December 4, 2025, utilizing 16km of continuous wellbore per pair.

      Europe has provided adequate funding for this project. The EU Innovation Fund allocated €91.6 million, and the European Investment Bank backed a loan of nearly €45 million. However, Geretsried lacks a major customer like Google; its energy output is utilized for district heating and supplying the grid for a local Bavarian town with a population of 25,000.

      This situation reflects a broader trend rather than an anomaly. TNW reported last month that Europe has not established comparable contracts with hyperscale data centers, even where geothermal resources are abundant.

      The policy gaps have existed longer than the rising demand. On January 18, 2024, Members of the European Parliament urged the Commission to develop an EU geothermal strategy, providing clear guidance for member states, but it has yet to be released. Instead, geothermal energy is addressed within the broader renewable and energy efficiency directives, along with the Net-Zero Industry Act, as TNW reported on European expectations for it to substitute natural gas.

      Regardless of regulatory frameworks, the demand for energy continues to grow. The load from data centers is increasing across Europe, impacting the grid irrespective of an established strategy.

      Brussels has instructed major tech companies to align their AI data centers with climate objectives, but it has not specified the sources for the clean, round-the-clock power required.

       Published September 1, 2026 - 2:05 pm UTC

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