With the increasing pressure on power grids from the rise of data centers and electric vehicles, geothermal innovators are racing to tap into the Earth’s deep-seated energy reserves. Recently, a startup has achieved a breakthrough by creating the hottest geothermal well on record—capable of supplying electricity to thousands of households.
Mazama Energy announced today that it has drilled a well in Oregon that reached a temperature of 629˚ F (331˚ C) at its deepest point. Vinod Khosla, whose firm Khosla Ventures helped launch Mazama, highlighted this achievement during his appearance at TechCrunch Disrupt.
“This single location is capable of generating 5 gigawatts of power,” Khosla stated.
Other sites may offer even greater potential. “Unlike traditional geothermal wells that typically produce tens of megawatts, these can reach gigawatt levels—and potentially 100 gigawatts or more, which surpasses the short-term energy needs projected for AI, all from ultra-high-temperature geothermal sources.”
The company’s goal is to eventually reach rock temperatures as high as 750˚ F (400˚ C), aiming to produce at least 25 megawatts of electricity from a single well. This would deliver two to three times the output per well compared to current industry standards.
While geothermal energy has been harnessed for many years, most facilities use shallow sources where natural features like hot springs bring heat closer to the surface. Enhanced geothermal techniques involve drilling deeper to access more stable and intense heat, potentially making geothermal energy more efficient and widely available.
Since it draws on the Earth’s internal heat, enhanced geothermal can provide a continuous supply of electricity around the clock. This reliability has led companies such as Google to secure geothermal power for their data centers.
Enhanced geothermal could meet a substantial share of both current and future energy needs in the United States. The U.S. Geological Survey estimates that wells drilled in Nevada’s Great Basin area could supply up to 10% of the nation’s present electricity demand.
Accessing deeper, hotter rock formations could unlock even more energy while using fewer resources. By injecting water into these high-temperature wells, the energy output per well can increase dramatically. Mazama claims its approach could reduce water usage by 75% compared to existing geothermal systems.
“At 450˚ Celsius, each well can generate ten times more power than at 200˚, and the costs drop significantly—making it competitive with natural gas, but without the carbon emissions,” Khosla explained.
