Project Details
About This Project
Executive Overview
Project Red is a 3.5 MW enhanced geothermal system (EGS) pilot project at the Blue Mountain geothermal field in north-central Nevada, developed by Fervo Energy under a partnership with Google announced in 2021. The project began supplying power to the Nevada grid in November 2023, making it the world's first commercial EGS to deliver electricity to a corporate customer. The system adds output to NV Energy's Blue Mountain Power's 49.5 MW Faulkner 1 conventional geothermal plant, with the power attributed toward Google's goal of operating on 24/7 carbon-free energy across its Nevada data centre operations by 2030. Fervo has classified the drilling approach as having reached Technology Readiness Level 9 — proven in a real-world operational environment with no remaining technical barriers to deployment.
How It Works & Differentiation
The system uses a horizontal doublet well design: two wells drilled to 3,250 feet of lateral length at depth, connected by a hydraulically stimulated reservoir in impermeable granite, through which water is circulated in a closed loop, heated to approximately 191°C (376°F), and returned to the surface to drive a steam turbine. Flow rates of up to 63 litres per second were achieved during a 37-day crossflow production test. Fibre-optic cables installed in the wells enable real-time downhole monitoring of temperature, flow, and fracture behaviour — a technique adapted from the oil and gas sector. The multi-stage hydraulic stimulation with proppant was also adapted from oil and gas completions practice, as was horizontal drilling itself. Fervo implemented a DOE-standard seismicity mitigation protocol and reported no induced seismic events.
Commercialization & Traction
Project Red represents the first real-world validation of Fervo's EGS platform at TRL-9, establishing the commercial and technical foundation for Cape Station — Fervo's 400 MW greenfield EGS project in Beaver County, Utah, which broke ground in 2023 and is targeting power delivery in 2026 and full-scale production in 2028. Google's partnership with Project InnerSpace to develop a global geothermal resource mapping tool extends the commercial ecosystem around the technology. Fervo also holds a 115 MW PPA with NV Energy for the Corsac Generating Station in Churchill County, Nevada, with a COD of January 2030, structured under Nevada's Clean Transition Tariff framework approved in May 2025.
Scalability & Strategic Context
Project Red is the most consequential validation milestone in the history of EGS in the United States, demonstrating that oil and gas horizontal drilling and completion techniques can be applied at commercial scale in geothermal reservoirs with a performance result — 3.5 MW at 63 L/s, 191°C — that supports the economics of subsequent larger projects. The U.S. DOE estimates that EGS could provide up to 120 GW of firm clean generation in the United States by 2050, representing over 16% of anticipated national electricity needs. Project Red's operational record directly informs investor and utility confidence in Cape Station and the Corsac NV Energy PPA, and in the broader case that firm, 24/7 geothermal can be developed at scale across the western United States.
Project Timeline
Fervo Energy Announces Technology Breakthrough in Next-Generation Geothermal
Fervo Energy Breaks Ground on the World’s Largest Next-Gen Geothermal Project
Baker Hughes Selected by Fervo Energy to Deliver Geothermal Power
Further Reading
Fervo Energy Secures $421 Million in Non-Recourse Project Financing for Cape Station
Fervo Energy has secured $421 million in non-recourse project financing for the first phase of its Cape Station enhanced geothermal project in Utah, marking a major milestone for the commercial maturity and bankability of utility-scale geothermal energy.
Fervo Energy Raises $462 Million Series E to Accelerate Geothermal Development and Meet Surging Energy Demand with Clean Firm Power
Fervo Energy has raised $462 million in a Series E funding round to accelerate the development of its next-generation geothermal projects, including the flagship Cape Station, in order to meet rising energy demand with 24/7 clean, firm power.
Fervo Secures New Financing to Accelerate Development
Fervo Energy has secured $206 million in new financing to accelerate the development of Cape Station, the world’s largest enhanced geothermal systems (EGS) project, enabling the delivery of large-scale, carbon-free power starting in 2026.
Baker Hughes Selected by Fervo Energy to Deliver Geothermal Power
Baker Hughes has been selected by Fervo Energy to deliver advanced geothermal power technology and services for Fervo’s geothermal projects.
Innovative Enhanced Geothermal System Begins Operations in Nevada
The article reports on the launch of Project Red, a pioneering 3.5-MW enhanced geothermal system in Nevada developed by Fervo Energy and Google, which successfully demonstrates innovative horizontal drilling technology to provide clean, round-the-clock power to Google’s local data centers.
Fervo and Google geothermal power facility starts grid supply
Fervo Energy and Google have started supplying power to the local grid from their 3.5-MW geothermal power pilot project in Nevada, marking a milestone in next-generation geothermal energy for Google's data centers and carbon-free goals.
Commercial-Scale Demonstration of a First-of-a-Kind Enhanced Geothermal System
Fervo Energy has completed construction of a commercial enhanced geothermal system (EGS) project and has qualified full functionality of the system through production testing at commercially relevant operating conditions.
Fervo’s Year in Review
Fervo Energy’s 2023 Year in Review highlights major achievements in enhanced geothermal technology, including record-breaking productivity at Project Red, the launch of the world’s largest enhanced geothermal project at Cape Station, and significant progress in scaling 24/7 carbon-free energy solutions and team growth.
Fervo’s Year in Review
Fervo Energy’s 2023 Year in Review highlights major milestones in advancing enhanced geothermal technology, including record-setting productivity at Project Red, the launch of the world’s largest enhanced geothermal project at Cape Station, and significant progress toward making geothermal a leading source of 24/7 carbon-free energy.
Google and Fervo’s Geothermal Project Creates Carbon-Free Energy
The article discusses how Google's partnership with Fervo Energy has resulted in a first-of-its-kind, next-generation geothermal project that will soon add carbon-free energy to the electric grid powering Google's data centers and infrastructure.
Fervo Energy Breaks Ground on the World’s Largest Next-Gen Geothermal Project
Fervo Energy has broken ground on Cape Station in Utah, the world’s largest next-generation geothermal project, which will deliver 400 MW of 24/7 carbon-free electricity and marks a major milestone for enhanced geothermal energy.
Fervo Energy Announces Technology Breakthrough in Next-Generation Geothermal
Fervo Energy announced a major technology breakthrough with its Project Red commercial pilot, demonstrating record-setting, 24/7 carbon-free geothermal energy production using advanced drilling techniques that confirm the commercial viability of next-generation geothermal systems.