From TechCrunch · Tim De Chant · · 2m
Mazama Energy's $135M bet on superhot rock geothermal
A Khosla-backed startup is raising massive funding to tap deeper, hotter rocks for clean power that could dwarf traditional geothermal.
In brief
A Khosla-backed startup is raising massive funding to tap deeper, hotter rocks for clean power that could dwarf traditional geothermal. Enhanced geothermal technology drilling 15,000 feet deep can access superhot rock that produces 10 times more power per well than traditional geothermal, positioning it as a serious…
Mazama raises $135M for superhot geothermal
Geothermal startup Mazama Energy closed an oversubscribed Series B funding round led by Centaurus Capital and Doerr Capital, with backing from Khosla Ventures, Gates Frontier, ConocoPhillips, and Shell Ventures.
“Geothermal startup Mazama Energy raised $135 million in an oversubscribed Series B”
Drilling 15,000 feet for superhot rock
Mazama drills past 10,000 feet in just 15 days to reach depths around 15,000 feet where temperatures hit 750 degrees Fahrenheit, accessing heat that traditional geothermal cannot reach.
“Mazama, for example, has drilled past 10,000 feet in 15 days on its way to about 15,000 feet deep.”
Supercritical fluid generates 10x more power
At those depths, water becomes a supercritical fluid under high pressure, neither fully liquid nor gas, absorbing far more energy than steam and allowing each well to produce up to 10 times more power than traditional geothermal.
“a state that lets it absorb far more energy than ordinary steam”
Oregon site could hit 10 gigawatts
Mazama's first Oregon site is now estimated to produce 10 gigawatts of electricity, a major upward revision from last year's 5 gigawatt estimate, with the company targeting 200 megawatts by 2030.
“its first site in Oregon is capable of producing 10 gigawatts of electricity”
Superhot rock could power the world
Tapping just 1 percent of superhot rock worldwide could generate more than 63 terawatts of electricity, according to the University of Twente and the Clean Air Task Force, vastly exceeding current global electricity demand.
“Tapping just 1% of superhot rock worldwide could generate more than 63 terawatts of electricity”
Geothermal emerges as AI data center power
Enhanced geothermal startups are becoming dark horses in powering AI data centers and large grid loads, advancing faster than tech companies expected while natural gas remains the industry favorite.
“Enhanced geothermal startups are shaping up to be the dark horse in the battle to power AI data centers”
Second site already secured for expansion
Mazama has already secured land for a second development site beyond its Oregon location, positioning the company for rapid scaling of its superhot rock technology.
“the startup has already secured land for a second development”
Here's the gist
Enhanced geothermal technology drilling 15,000 feet deep can access superhot rock that produces 10 times more power per well than traditional geothermal, positioning it as a serious contender for powering AI data centers.
