Google goes geothermal to power some bitbarns
- Reference: 1701258254
- News link: https://www.theregister.co.uk/2023/11/29/google_running_on_geothermal/
- Source link:
This week the ads and search behemoth, working in collaboration with startup Fervo Energy, brought a "first-of-its-kind" enhanced geothermal power plant [1]online in Nevada to supplement more traditional carbon-free energy sources like wind power and solar energy.
Those, Google noted in its blog post, have been a cornerstone of its move away from fossil fuels – but can't produce power continuously and often require large acreage to exploit fully.
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The geothermal plant built with Fervo has been under development since 2021. It uses heat generated by the Earth's crust to boil water into steam, which is then converted into power.
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According to Google, the process involves techniques developed for the oil and natural gas industry to bore two wells 8,000 feet (about 2.43km or [5]400 giraffes ) below the surface. These wells are then extended laterally in parallel to one another. The rock between the lateral sections of wells is fractured, to create channels through which water can flow.
Once this is done, cold water is pumped down one of the wells, through these cracks, where it's heated and forced out the other well. Fervo claims that when using this technique it has observed temperatures as high as 191˚ Celsius.
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This heat is then converted to electricity using steam generators. Unlike some other power plants we've seen from the likes of Microsoft and Amazon, this one is actually connected back to the local grid – serving the local community and offsetting the power requirements of Google's datacenters near Reno and Henderson, Nevada.
So how much power have Fervo and Google managed to pull from the depths of the Earth? According to an earlier Fervo [7]blog post detailing the project, it's about 3.5 megawatts. This might be enough to power about 750 homes, but it isn't nearly enough to satisfy a typical datacenter campus – they often have capacities measured in the tens of megawatts.
We suspect this is why Google is describing the tech as a "supplement" to wind and solar. That said, the Department of Energy reports that the US could unlock upwards of 120 gigawatts of geothermal capacity by 2050 – enough for about 16 percent of the nation's anticipated energy needs. Fervo is also exploring an even larger deployment in Utah that it says could [8]produce upwards of 400 megawatts of power.
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Google is also working with InnerSpace to [10]evaluate future opportunities for geothermal power generation. The application of the technology, the cloud provider notes, is somewhat limited by geography. From what we gather, it's more economical to deploy the tech in locations where the crust is thinner and heat is closer to the surface.
While geothermal power may be able to provide Google and others a steadier supply of renewable energy, the question of water consumption naturally bubbles to the surface. It's a growing [11]concern among datacenter operators.
It's not clear how much water is lost or consumed by these plants. We imagine a fair bit of the water must be recycled back into the system – otherwise the tech would likely be unviable in arid climates like, say, Nevada and Utah – but we've contacted Google and Fervo for more information on the power plant's drinking habits.
[12]Vertiv goes against the grain with wooden datacenters for greener bytes
[13]Server shipments to fall 20% this year, but AI means vendors still raking it in
[14]Datacenter architect creates bonkers designs to illustrate the craft, and quirks, of building bit barns
[15]Greenpeace calls out tech giants for carbon footprint fumble
Google isn't the only tech giant investigating alternative energy sources to keep its growing datacenter footprint from conflicting with its sustainability goals. To support its growing power demands, Microsoft is looking for partners to help it [16]deploy small modular nuclear reactors. It has even signed a power purchase agreement with fusion startup Helion Energy – should it ever manage to make the idea work.
Meanwhile, colocation providers like Equinix are [17]investigating the potential use of green hydrogen fuel cells to power their facilities. ®
Get our [18]Tech Resources
[1] https://blog.google/outreach-initiatives/sustainability/google-fervo-geothermal-energy-partnership/
[2] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_onprem/front&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=2&c=2ZWduNo4sRQlouh2L3teymAAAAE0&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D2%26raptor%3Dcondor%26pos%3Dtop%26test%3D0
[3] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_onprem/front&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44ZWduNo4sRQlouh2L3teymAAAAE0&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[4] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_onprem/front&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=3&c=33ZWduNo4sRQlouh2L3teymAAAAE0&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D3%26raptor%3Deagle%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[5] https://www.theregister.com/Design/page/reg-standards-converter.html
[6] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_onprem/front&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44ZWduNo4sRQlouh2L3teymAAAAE0&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[7] https://fervoenergy.com/fervo-energy-announces-technology-breakthrough-in-next-generation-geothermal/
[8] https://fervoenergy.com/fervo-energy-breaks-ground-on-the-worlds-largest-next-gen-geothermal-project/
[9] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_onprem/front&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=3&c=33ZWduNo4sRQlouh2L3teymAAAAE0&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D3%26raptor%3Deagle%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[10] https://www.prweb.com/releases/project-innerspace-joins-forces-with-google-to-advance-geothermal-exploration-301925928.html
[11] https://www.nextplatform.com/2023/11/17/pushing-the-limits-of-hpc-and-ai-is-becoming-a-sustainability-headache/
[12] https://www.theregister.com/2023/11/28/wooden_datacenter_modules_vertiv/
[13] https://www.theregister.com/2023/11/27/server_shipments_fall_20_percent/
[14] https://www.theregister.com/2023/11/27/fantasy_datacenter_designs/
[15] https://www.theregister.com/2023/11/23/greenpeace_manufacturer_emissions/
[16] https://www.theregister.com/2023/09/25/microsoft_nuclear_energy_manager_job/
[17] https://www.theregister.com/2023/10/04/fuel_cell_datacenter_power/
[18] https://whitepapers.theregister.com/
Re: Hmm
Because controlling your own supply of any consumable is a substantial benefit to any business... but these guys are large enough that they can afford to do so at a reasonable scale.
Re: Hmm
Same reason that a crypto mining firm bought an old coal plant. The more you have under your control the less susceptible you are to outside forces. These companies like predictable long term pricing for things they use a lot of.
Re: Hmm
You already know the answer to this from the stateside perspective. Any organisation of moderate size or above that values uptime will have it's own generation in preference to reliance on the networks, which offer little to nothing in the way of guarantees.
European networks typically incorporate more redundancy but they are more expensive per kWh delivered. They do have the benefit of lower thermal loads and so tend to last a lot longer with all the equipment in parallel.
Some types of customers the cost of downtime is such that the cost of adding a generator even if used only once every 20 years for 20 mins the cost-benefit still favours buying the genny regardless of which side of the pond you reside.
If you want the worst of both worlds the UK has you covered; we have shortfalls in capabilities AND sky high bills, backed up by a clueless BEIS/OFGEM/EA triumvirate of conflicting objectives such that very little gets done to address the causes.
Re: Hmm
"If you want the worst of both worlds the UK has you covered; we have shortfalls in capabilities AND sky high bills, backed up by a clueless BEIS/OFGEM/EA triumvirate of conflicting objectives such that very little gets done to address the causes."
Minor correction that BEIS is now DESNZ (colloquially Des-nes), and EA involvement in energy is negligible. Both Ofgem and EA are both administrative quangos, so whilst they might be useless and Ofgem are useless, neither hold policy responsibility. Defra get consulted on environmental matters by DESNZ. But the overall assessment, yes we have a system that doesn't work well for what it now has to do, is poorly designed as a starting place for the magical world of Net Zero, and has created vastly expensive energy costs due to a poor system design and an over-reliance upon "markets".
Don't forget that you've not mentioned one the biggest contributors to the chaos - an endless stream of poorly qualified fools for ministers. The current post holder failed to even graduate, after studying Philosophy and Law at Cambridge, so is qualified in nothing. The previous post holder had a degree in history, and so it goes on through the twelve makeweights who have occupied the minister's chair since the 2010 election and that number includes "talent" like Hancock and Kwarteng. Lest anybody think Labour were any better, in the five years prior to the 2010 election, they motored through five energy ministers, mostly with similar useless degrees in history, sociology, law, politics.
So ultimately the problem is not the administration of policy (poor thought that often is) but that the politicians don't understand their brief, are poorly educated, don't stay around to see anything through, and always put short term party needs before the needs of the nation.
Re: Hmm
"Can anyone think why big companies are looking to build their own power generation instead of relying on the grids? "
Reasons vary - but if they can build and connect their own capacity then they can avoid or minimise paying distribution and transmission charges (and greenification policy costs added to the distributions costs) that can be up to a third of the total cost of grid electricity, and they can avoid peak demand pricing on grid connected generation. Peak demand wholesale pricing can be around 3x the lowest system cost, so it's a potentially big win, but a huge amount depends on how much the DC can and will rely on the grid, available generation technologies and land to build them.
But bear in mind that so far DC operators are only playing with generation - for all the puff about renewable powered DCs and small nuclear reactors, the overwhelming majority of DCs are grid connected. Being 100% self-reliant for juice is possible, but it's rarely viable, and there's plenty of places such as most of the UK where it would be impossible.
Re: Hmm
They invest, we give money to the gov who would leave us in the dark.
As opposed to dark money being given to Tufton Street so that they can "convince" government to keep on giving 'investments' to Big Oil 'n' Gas. Hmm?
Earth's crust or Earth's core?
Being picky, is the heat generated by the Earth's crust or the Earth's core.
I was under the impression that geothermal actually obtains heat that is moving through the crust (the solid rock) having come from the core (or perhaps that should be the mantle).
Also, if the data centre uses water for cooling, is that 'pre-heated' water then being used as what is pumped into the ground?
Re: Earth's crust or Earth's core?
So far as I know, the heat is thought to be generated by the decay of a variety of radioactive isotopes diffused throughout the planet. I don't think we currently know for sure what isotopes, nor in what quantities, nor or how they are distributed throughout the mass of the planet. Ask again every few decades. Someday you'll get an answer.
Greenwashing
While Google's foray into geothermal energy is commendable for its renewable energy initiative, it raises several ecological concerns that seem glossed over in this "happy-clappy" narrative. The disruption of unique subterranean microbial ecosystems, potential thermal pollution, and the increased risk of seismic activity due to fracturing processes are significant issues.
Moreover, the substantial water usage and possible contamination in arid regions are worrying. These factors, combined with the impact on local land use and habitat disruption, suggest that this project might not be as environmentally benign as portrayed.
Sustainable energy solutions should not compromise the very ecosystems they aim to protect.
Re: Greenwashing
@elsergiovolador
"While Google's foray into geothermal energy is commendable for its renewable energy initiative, it raises several ecological concerns that seem glossed over in this "happy-clappy" narrative."
The happy clappy narrative glosses over ecological concerns. Energy generation comes with risks and tradeoffs, its the only way to do it.
Re: Greenwashing
The Tufton narrative doesn't even consider ecological concerns. Hmm? Ha!
According to Google, the process involves techniques developed for the oil and natural gas industry to bore two wells 8,000 feet (about 2.43km or 400 giraffes)
Always nice to see El Reg's journalists using the Standards Bureau
Hmm
Can anyone think why big companies are looking to build their own power generation instead of relying on the grids? They invest, we give money to the gov who would leave us in the dark.