Top 10 Geothermal Projects in the United States Powering the Grid in 2025

An analysis of 2025 market activities reveals a pivotal moment for geothermal energy in the United States, defined by the commercial scaling of next-generation technologies and a surge in corporate investment. The sector is rapidly transitioning from a niche renewable to a strategic solution for 24/7 carbon-free power, driven primarily by the immense energy needs of data centers. Key data points underscore this shift: Fervo Energy‘s Cape Station project is advancing toward a massive 500 MW capacity, demonstrating the commercial viability of Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS) at scale. Simultaneously, major offtake agreements from tech giants, such as the 150 MW partnership between XGS Energy and Meta, are providing the financial certainty needed for large-scale development. The dominant theme for 2025 is this convergence of technology maturation and powerful corporate demand, signaling the start of a significant expansion phase for the U.S. geothermal industry.

1. Fervo Energy – Cape Station Project

Company: Fervo Energy
Capacity: 500 MW (planned total capacity)
Application: Utility-scale power generation, data center power
Source: The Potential Contribution of Enhanced Geothermal Systems …

2. XGS Energy & Meta Geothermal Partnership Project

Company: XGS Energy, Meta
Capacity: 150 MW
Application: Powering data centers
Source: Governor announces XGS Energy, Meta geothermal partnership

3. Ormat Technologies – Mc Ginnis Hills Facility

Company: Ormat Technologies
Capacity: 96 MW
Application: Utility-scale power generation
Source: Geothermal energy in the United States

4. Unnamed Geothermal Plant (2025 Commissioning)

Company: Unspecified
Capacity: 20 MW
Application: Utility-scale power generation
Source: US Electricity 2025 Special Report | Ember

5. Unnamed Geothermal Project (Google PPA)

Company: Google (as offtaker)
Capacity: 10 MW
Application: Powering data centers
Source: Geothermal PPAs gain ground with data center demand

6. Fervo Energy – Project Red

Company: Fervo Energy
Capacity: 3.5 MW
Application: Commercial EGS proof-of-concept
Source: The sun beneath our feet: the growing case for geothermal

7. Zanskar – Lightning Dock Expansion

Company: Zanskar
Capacity: Capacity increase not specified; “tripled the production”
Application: AI-driven enhancement of conventional geothermal production
Source: Armed with $115 million, geothermal startup Zanskar gets …

8. Sage Geosystems & Ormat – Commercial Pressure Geothermal Facility

Company: Sage Geosystems, Ormat Technologies
Capacity: Not specified
Application: First commercial pressure geothermal power and energy storage system
Source: Sage Geosystems Raises Over $97 Million To Deploy …

9. Gradient & Chord Energy – Williston Basin Project

Company: Gradient, Chord Energy
Capacity: Not specified
Application: Modular geothermal power generation at a mature oil field
Source: Modular Geothermal Power: Gradient’s Scalable Solution …

10. Mazama Energy – Newberry Superhot Rock EGS Project

Company: Mazama Energy
Capacity: Not specified; resource potential of “many GWs”
Application: Technology demonstration for superhot rock Enhanced Geothermal Systems
Source: Mazama Energy Unveils the World’s Hottest Enhanced …

Table: Top 10 U.S. Geothermal Projects of 2025

From Niche Power to Mainstream Demand: The Corporate Drive for 24/7 Clean Energy

The most significant trend in 2025 is the adoption of geothermal energy by large corporate buyers to meet ambitious clean energy goals. Unlike intermittent renewables, geothermal provides firm, baseload power, making it ideal for energy-intensive data centers that require constant electricity. The partnership between XGS Energy and Meta to develop a 150 MW project in New Mexico is a landmark event, showcasing a direct, large-scale investment by a tech giant to secure 24/7 carbon-free energy. Similarly, Google’s PPA for an unnamed 10 MW project and Fervo Energy‘s 31 MW PPA with Shell Energy for its Cape Station project highlight a clear pattern: corporate demand is now a primary catalyst for geothermal development. This trend provides developers with bankable offtake agreements, de-risking projects and attracting substantial private capital, such as the $462 million raised by Fervo Energy.

US Geothermal Projects Powering Corporate Demand

This map highlights key next-generation projects driving corporate adoption, including the Meta and Google data center sites, which are central to the section’s theme on 24/7 clean energy.

(Source: NREL)

The New Geothermal Frontier: Beyond the Great Basin

While the traditional geothermal heartland in the western U.S. remains critical, 2025 project announcements reveal a significant geographic expansion. Nevada and Utah continue to host flagship projects, including Ormat Technologies‘ 96 MW Mc Ginnis Hills facility and Fervo Energy‘s massive Cape Station project, respectively. However, New Mexico is rapidly emerging as a key growth state, home to both the large-scale XGS/Meta partnership and Zanskar’s innovative Lightning Dock Expansion. Perhaps most strategically important is the push into non-traditional territories. The Gradient and Chord Energy project in the Williston Basin of North Dakota represents a pivotal effort to repurpose oil and gas infrastructure for geothermal power. This approach, if successful, could unlock vast geothermal resources in regions previously overlooked, dramatically expanding the potential map for U.S. geothermal energy.

Geothermal Capacity Remains Focused in West

This map illustrates the heavy concentration of geothermal capacity in the western U.S., providing visual context for the article’s discussion of geographic expansion from this traditional heartland.

(Source: EIA)

From Demonstration to Deployment: A Spectrum of Geothermal Innovation

The 2025 project landscape illustrates a full spectrum of technological maturity, from proven systems to cutting-edge research. At one end, conventional plants like Ormat‘s facilities provide reliable, established power. In the middle, Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS) are making the leap from pilot to mass commercialization. Fervo Energy’s operational 3.5 MW Project Red served as the critical proof-of-concept for its utility-scale Cape Station, demonstrating that horizontal drilling techniques from the oil and gas sector can be successfully applied to create geothermal reservoirs. Several companies are now deploying their “first commercial” facilities, including Sage Geosystems with its “Pressure Geothermal” technology that combines power generation and energy storage. At the frontier of innovation is Mazama Energy‘s Newberry Superhot Rock EGS Project. By reaching temperatures of 629°F (331°C) in 2025, it represents a breakthrough in accessing much higher-energy resources, which could dramatically lower the cost and increase the output of future geothermal wells.

Plummeting Costs Drive Geothermal Innovation

This chart shows a dramatic cost reduction for Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS), directly supporting the section’s point that innovation is making the technology commercially viable and enabling its deployment.

(Source: NREL)

Forward-Looking Insights: Geothermal’s Ascent as a Pillar of U.S. Energy

The market activities of 2025 signal that geothermal energy is evolving from a geographically constrained resource into a scalable, technology-driven solution for the national grid. The convergence of three powerful trends—relentless data center energy demand, the commercial maturation of EGS, and innovative methods that leverage oil and gas expertise—is creating a virtuous cycle of investment and growth. Looking forward, the model of repurposing oil and gas assets, as seen with the Gradient & Chord Energy project, is poised to accelerate, potentially unlocking geothermal production in new states. Furthermore, hybrid systems like those being developed by Sage Geosystems offer a glimpse into a future where geothermal provides not just baseload power but also critical grid-stabilizing services. While “superhot rock” remains a longer-term prize, the immediate future of U.S. geothermal growth will be defined by the successful deployment of large-scale EGS projects like Cape Station, underwritten by the strong corporate demand solidified in 2025.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the main reason for the surge in geothermal energy projects in 2025?

The primary driver is the massive, 24/7 energy demand from large corporations, especially for powering data centers. Tech giants like Meta and Google are signing large power purchase agreements (PPAs), which provide the financial security needed to develop large-scale geothermal facilities.

What is an Enhanced Geothermal System (EGS), and why is it significant?

Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS) are a technology that creates man-made reservoirs by applying techniques from the oil and gas sector, like horizontal drilling, to hot rock. This is significant because it allows geothermal power to be developed in areas that lack natural water and permeability, dramatically expanding the potential map for geothermal energy. Fervo Energy’s Cape Station project is a key example of EGS being scaled commercially.

Which project mentioned has the largest planned power capacity?

Fervo Energy’s Cape Station project has the largest planned capacity, with a target of 500 MW. This utility-scale project in Utah demonstrates the commercial viability of Enhanced Geothermal Systems.

Are geothermal projects in 2025 limited to traditional states like Nevada and California?

No, the analysis shows a significant geographic expansion. While states like Nevada and Utah remain important, New Mexico is emerging as a key growth area with the XGS/Meta partnership. Furthermore, projects like the Gradient & Chord Energy collaboration in North Dakota are exploring repurposing oil and gas infrastructure, potentially unlocking geothermal resources in entirely new regions.

Besides providing power, are these new geothermal projects offering other services?

Yes, some projects are exploring hybrid applications. For example, Sage Geosystems is developing a “Pressure Geothermal” facility that is designed to act as both a power generation source and an energy storage system, which can help provide critical grid-stabilizing services.

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