Fervo Energy raises $462 million to scale AI-driven enhanced geothermal power for data centers

Fervo Energy Raises $462M to Scale AI-Driven Geothermal Power

December 22, 2025 – Houston-based Fervo Energy, a leader in next-generation enhanced geothermal systems (EGS), has closed an oversubscribed $462 million Series E funding round, one of the largest ever for a geothermal company. Announced on December 10, the round was led by B Capital—the venture firm co-founded by Facebook’s Eduardo Saverin—and featured prominent new investors including Google and JB Straubel (Tesla co-founder and Redwood Materials CEO), alongside returning backers like Breakthrough Energy Ventures (founded by Bill Gates).

This investment brings Fervo’s total equity and project-related funding to roughly $1.5 billion, accelerating its mission to deliver scalable, always-on clean energy at a time when AI-driven data centers are creating unprecedented electricity demand.

Unlocking Geothermal Everywhere: AI Meets Oil & Gas Innovation

Unlike traditional geothermal, which is confined to rare natural hot spots, Fervo’s enhanced approach makes underground heat accessible almost anywhere by adapting proven horizontal drilling and hydraulic stimulation techniques from the shale revolution.

The company’s core differentiators include:

  • AI-driven subsurface optimization: Advanced analytics and real-time fiber-optic monitoring guide drilling precision, reservoir creation, and flow management—slashing costs and de-risking projects.
  • Horizontal wells and fracturing: Creating engineered reservoirs in hot dry rock to circulate fluid, generate steam, and produce electricity 24/7.
  • Rapid cost reductions: Fervo has reduced drilling timelines dramatically, positioning EGS as a cost-competitive baseload alternative to fossil fuels.

Co-founder and CEO Tim Latimer commented: “Energy markets are demanding dependable, carbon-free power at an unprecedented scale, and Fervo is uniquely positioned to supply it. This funding sharpens our path from breakthrough technology to large-scale deployment at Cape Station and beyond.”

Powering the AI Revolution: Cape Station and Strategic Offtakers

The capital will primarily fuel Cape Station in Beaver County, Utah—the largest next-gen geothermal project globally:

  • Phase I: 100 MW expected online by 2026.
  • Full capacity: Targeting up to 500 MW by 2028.

Fervo has secured long-term power purchase agreements (PPAs) with major utilities, including Southern California Edison and the Clean Power Alliance.

A flagship partnership with Google—both as investor and customer—will see Fervo supplying 115 MW from a Nevada project to support Google’s data centers. This aligns with Google’s ambitious 2030 goal of operating on 24/7 carbon-free energy, highlighting geothermal’s perfect fit for powering energy-intensive AI workloads reliably.

Bill Gates’ Breakthrough Energy Ventures has backed Fervo since its early days, viewing enhanced geothermal as a critical pillar for global decarbonization.

Stellar Investor Lineup Reflects Broader Energy Trends

The oversubscribed round attracted a diverse, high-profile group:

  • Lead: B Capital
  • New participants: Google, JB Straubel, AllianceBernstein, Atacama Ventures, Carbon Equity, Climate First, Mitsui & Co., Dr. Kris Singh (Holtec International founder)
  • Returning investors: Breakthrough Energy Ventures, CalSTRS, Capricorn Investment Group, Centaurus Capital (recent $75M preferred equity commitment for Cape Station), CPP Investments, DCVC, Devon Energy, and others

This follows strong momentum, including prior equity rounds and project-specific financing, demonstrating sustained confidence in Fervo’s execution.

Sarah Jewett, Fervo’s SVP of Strategy, noted the “immense demand” created by AI expansion, positioning geothermal as the reliable clean complement to intermittent renewables.

Why This Matters: Baseload Clean Power for an AI-Driven World

U.S. electricity demand is surging—driven largely by data centers projected to consume hundreds of gigawatts more in the coming decade. Intermittent sources like solar and wind cannot alone provide the firm, round-the-clock power AI requires.

Enhanced geothermal offers:

  • Zero emissions and minimal land use
  • Dispatchable baseload capability
  • Resilience against weather variability
  • Potential for global scalability

Fervo’s milestones—successful pilots like Project Red (online since 2023), cost breakthroughs, and now massive funding—signal the dawn of a geothermal renaissance supported by bipartisan policy and private capital.

Looking forward, Fervo eyes further U.S. expansion, international opportunities, and potentially a public listing as it scales manufacturing and deployment.

This $462 million raise not only validates Fervo’s technology but accelerates the critical transition to abundant, affordable clean energy—essential for sustaining AI innovation while meeting climate imperatives.

For ongoing coverage of clean energy funding, renewable breakthroughs, AI infrastructure challenges, and the future of sustainable power, visit www.vfuturemedia.com.

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