Last November, a virtual corner experienced a shift toward sustainability that will make the Internet 100% renewable through a revolutionaryenvironmentally friendly operation initially developed in the northern Nevada desert.

A large company related to the world of internet searches created a before and after by opting for an ingenious way to guarantee low polluting emissions when its data centers operate.

This is particularly the famous company Google, which created an innovative alternative to guarantee that all its data centers operate exclusively with green energy 24 hours a day, providing an environmentally friendly system.

How was this novel achievement possible?

The Enhanced Geothermal System (EGS) located in Nevada operates in a unique way. Unlike the classics that drill a natural hydrothermal system, Fervo chose to excavate completely dry rock and establish an artificial thermal spring by pumping water, which returns to the surface with a considerably higher temperature.

This revolutionary approach could make the Internet 100% renewable. This is due to a method that involves the application of hydraulic fracturing (fracking) techniques, common in the oil and gas industry. Fervo drilled two wells, both exceeding 2,000 meters deep and extending completely horizontally.

Continuing with the process, the aforementioned company joined them using hydraulic fracturing, generating fractures in the rock that connects both wells. The water, which initially enters cold through one of the wells, emerges from the other at a temperature high enough to activate turbines and produce energy.

These results suggest that the project is ready for long-term connection to the grid. Additionally, the proximity of Nevada wells to a traditional geothermal power plant allows existing turbines and power lines to be leveraged to supply electricity to the grid.

Google sees geothermal energy as a key solution to address the challenge of ensuring a constant, clean supply for its data centers. Although the company has purchased enough renewable energy to cover its annual consumption, the variability in the availability of wind and solar energy poses challenges.

Finally, Google aims to achieve 24/7 clean energy supply by 2030, with geothermal energy emerging as one of the leading options to achieve this goal.