Meta to Power US Data Centres With Geothermal Energy: Does This Make AI Safer for the Climate?

Key Takeaways

• Meta will purchase 150 megawatts of geothermal power from Sage Geosystems to power its data centers. 
• According to the Electric Power Research Institute, data centers could use up to 9% of the total electricity generated in the US by 2030.
• The first stage of Meta and Sage’s project will be operational by 2027.

Meta announced on Monday, Aug. 26, that it had signed a deal to buy geothermal power from Sage Geosystems to power its US data centers.

The deal follows warnings from global experts and industry bosses that energy consumption from rapid AI development could lead to a catastrophic effect on the climate. 

According to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, large machine learning models will use over 85.4 terawatt-hours of electricity each year by 2027, surpassing Portugal’s total electricity usage.

What Is Geothermal Power?

Geothermal power is a form of renewable energy that harnesses the natural heat from beneath the Earth’s surface to generate electricity. 

This heat comes from the Earth’s core, which remains incredibly hot due to the decay of radioactive materials and residual heat from the planet’s formation.

Geothermal power plants emit very low levels of greenhouse gasses compared to fossil fuel-based power plants. The emissions are primarily steam, and any other gasses released are usually in much smaller quantities than those produced by burning coal, oil, or natural gas.

Meta’s Geothermal Answer To Hungry AI

Meta will purchase 150 megawatts of geothermal power from Sage Geosystems, roughly enough electricity to power 38,000 homes.

The first stage of the project will be operational by 2027 and will “significantly” expand the use of geothermal power in the US, the companies said in a joint statement.  

Financial terms and the project’s location have not been disclosed, but it is understood to be east of the Rocky Mountains in North America. 

Sage Geosystems was founded in 2020 and develops energy storage and geothermal baseload technologies deep in the Earth. 

This technology, known as its Geopressured Geothermal System, allows geothermal energy to be deployed virtually anywhere, the four-year-old startup said. 

“This announcement is the perfect example of how the public and private sector can work together to make the clean energy transition a reality,” said Cindy Taff, CEO of Sage Geosystems.

 “As energy demand continues to grow, the need for reliable, resilient, and sustainable power is paramount, and our partnership with Meta underscores the critical need for innovative and sustainable energy solutions like ours.” Taff wrote.

Major Climate Warnings About Data Centers

AI, particularly advanced forms like deep learning and large language models, consumes massive amounts of energy when training models.

The handling of large datasets, the scale of computations required, and the growing demand for AI-powered applications are skyrocketing energy consumption.

In May, new research from the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI)  found that data centers could use up to 9% of the total electricity generated in the US by 2030.

According to the Institute, depending on the efficiency of newly built data centers, the annual growth rate of AI electricity usage could range from 3.7% to 15% through 2030.

“The US electricity sector is working hard to meet the growing demands of data centers, transportation electrification, crypto-mining, and industrial onshoring while balancing decarbonization efforts,” said EPRI Vice President of Electrification and Sustainable Energy Strategy David Porter.

“The data center boom requires closer collaboration between large data center owners and developers, utilities, government, and other stakeholders to ensure that we can power the needs of AI while maintaining reliable, affordable power to all customers,” Porter added. 

About the Author

Kurt Robson

Kurt Robson is a London-based reporter at CCN with a diverse background across several prominent news outlets. Having transitioned into the world of technology journalism several years ago, Kurt has developed a keen fascination with all things AI. Kurt’s reporting blends a passion for innovation with a commitment to delivering insightful, accurate and engaging stories on the cutting edge of technology.

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