Deep Heat Everywhere with Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS): Powering the Future of Data Centers?

Artificial intelligence (AI) is changing the way we live and work. From smart apps to self-driving cars, AI needs a lot of data. That data is stored in buildings called data centers. These data centers use tons of electricity. As more data centers are built, the need for power keeps going up, increasing the emissions that cause climate change.

Most U.S. data centers are powered by coal or gas, whose pollution causes climate change. This makes it harder to keep the environment clean and healthy. As AI keeps growing, we need a better way to power these data centers.

Enhanced geothermal systems (EGS) offers a compelling answer. Unlike coal or natural gas, EGS is a clean, renewable source of energy that taps into the Earth’s natural heat. It provides steady, 24/7 electricity.

Why This Matters

Global Pressure on Power Grids: With AI expanding, data centers are using more electricity than ever. According to the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE), AI data centers could account for nearly 9% of total U.S. electricity demand by 2030. If this power continues to come from fossil fuels, it will lead to more pollution and climate change.
Energy Costs on the Rise: As demand increases, electricity prices are going up. This puts financial pressure on companies and can make internet services more expensive for everyone.
Clean Energy Access Is Uneven: Not every region has easy access to renewable power. Geothermal energy, especially with Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS), can be built in more places and help balance this gap.
Risk of Climate Setbacks: Without better solutions like geothermal, the growth of AI could slow climate progress by increasing emissions. This puts communities at greater risk of climate disasters.
Can Power Growing Demand: In some U.S. cities, geothermal energy could meet up to 100% of the electricity growth from expanding data centers.
Data Centers Too: Geothermal systems can also cool data centers by using underground temperatures, cutting the need for extra cooling equipment.

Deep Heat: How Geothermal Energy is Created

The process starts deep underground. The Earth's core is extremely hot, and in some places, that heat rises close enough to the surface that we can reach it by drilling. In traditional geothermal systems, wells are drilled into naturally heated underground reservoirs. Water or steam from these reservoirs is brought to the surface and used to spin turbines, which then generate electricity.

Making Geothermal Work Anywhere

New technology, called Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS), takes this a step further. Even in places without natural hot water, engineers can drill deep into dry rock, inject water, and create their own heat exchange system. This means geothermal energy can now be used in more places, especially closer to where data centers are located. The Rhodium Group found that EGS has the potential to meet up to 64% of projected data center demand growth in the early 2030s—and in some cities, up to 100%.

Cool by Nature: How Geothermal Keeps Data Centers Chill

Geothermal energy offers a better way to keep data centers from overheating. AI systems, especially those used for training large models, generate significant amounts of heat, making effective cooling essential. Instead of using traditional chillers that rely heavily on electricity, geothermal can support direct-use cooling methods. Systems like absorption chillers use low-grade geothermal heat to produce water vapor, which cools when passed through a condenser removing heat from servers without traditional power-hungry systems. According to the Rhodium Group, cooling can account for as much as 40% of a data center's total energy use. Direct geothermal cooling reduces this burden and shrinks the size and cost of the geothermal power system needed. This makes it both an energy-saving and cost-effective solution.

Taking Action: Building a Greener AI Future

It’s time for tech companies, energy planners, and local governments to work together to:

Add geothermal energy to long-term energy plans
Choose data center sites that are near geothermal potential
Use geothermal cooling systems
Support pilot projects that test geothermal near data hubs