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The Cape station in Beaver County is scheduled to begin providing continuous power in 2026.
(Fervo Energy) Cape Station’s upgraded geothermal power plant, located outside Milford, is scheduled to begin producing electricity by summer 2026.
This article is part of The Salt Lake Tribune’s continued effort to identify solutions to Utah’s biggest challenges through the work of the Innovation Lab.
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Fervo Energy announced new financing and technological advances that put the Houston-based company on track to open the world’s largest enhanced geothermal power plant in Beaver County within two years.
The Cape Station power plant is scheduled to begin generating 90 megawatts of continuous power in 2026, with plans to expand to 400 megawatts by 2028, making it one of Utah’s top 10 sources of electricity. It would be smaller than any coal-fired power plant in the state, but larger than any hydroelectric power plant in the state, including Flaming Gorge Dam.
“If it weren’t for the transmission restrictions, the Cape station could have delivered even more power,” said Chelsea Anderson, strategic communications specialist at Furbo. “We believe the Cape has at least 2 gigawatts of geothermal potential.”
It’s also a “dispatchable” power, which is a priority for the Utah Legislature. By varying the amount of water pumped through the system, the plant can generate power on demand or shut down when intermittent sources such as solar or wind are producing power.
So far, the plant’s power has not been sold to Utah’s utility company. Anderson said the company currently has a 53-megawatt contract with a customer in California.
Anderson added that the Golden State’s “demand for clean, reliable power continues to soar.”
Department of Energy says enhanced geothermal could power 65 million U.S. homes and businesses
“The demand for 24-hour clean energy has never been greater, and next-generation geothermal is uniquely positioned to meet this demand,” Tim Latimer, CEO and co-founder of Fervo, said in a recent statement. Ta. “Our technology is completely de-risked, our pricing is already competitive and our pipeline of resources is huge. With this investment, Fervo will turn geothermal into its 24/7 carbon-free energy source. We can continue to put it at the center of production.”
Another geothermal laboratory nearby
Fervo’s project, located 16 miles north of Milford, is taking over work from Utah FORGE, which is less than a mile away.
Utah Forge (Geothermal Energy Research Frontier Observatory) is a DOE-funded laboratory operated by the University of Utah to develop enhanced geothermal technologies. The US government agency has invested more than $200 million in FORGE and is publishing its results to promote enhanced geothermal development.
There are currently a number of power plants operating using geothermal energy, but they only exist where hot springs bring water to the surface. Enhanced geothermal energy is produced by drilling solid rock. It is heated by an underground magma source, but no water flows through it.
Geothermal producers drill two wells into the rock using techniques perfected by the oil and gas industry, such as horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing (fracking). They then create cracks in the rock that allow cold water to pump out and hot water to return. The water is hot enough to drive turbines and generate electricity. It can also be operated as a closed loop, allowing the same water to be used over and over again.
faster drilling
Earlier this year, Farbo announced it had drilled its latest Cape Station well in solid granite in 21 days, 70% faster than the first test well drilled in 2022. Shorter drilling times mean lower costs. For the first 90-megawatt phase, the company expects to drill 20 to 24 wells over three miles in length.
“We’re drilling about 8,000 feet deep and about 5,000 feet horizontally,” Anderson said. He said the company plans to “flow test” the system, or produce hot water, in the coming months.
Last year, FERVO opened the nation’s first enhanced geothermal power plant near Winnemucca, Nevada, with an output of just 3.5 megawatts. All data center power is contracted to Google.
Furbo recently announced that it had secured $244 million in funding. The lead investor is Devon Energy, another Texas company that has built success in horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing.
“Furbo’s approach to geothermal development leverages the cutting-edge underground, drilling and completions expertise and technology that Devon has honed over decades,” said Devon’s Chief Corporate Development Officer and Executive Vice President. David Harris says. “We look forward to deepening our partnership with Fervo and maximizing the value of his Fervo first-mover advantage in geothermal and adjacency to our core business in Devon.”
The Cape Station plant is located on land leased from the U.S. Bureau of Land Management, with some additional real estate leased from private landowners.
Anderson said the plant will employ about 200 people during construction and “several dozen” people during operation.
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