Google’s geothermal project in Nevada is operating: its partner, Fervo Energy, began supplying electricity from Project Red to the local grid in November 2023. Fervo reported the pilot’s output as 3 MW gross in September 2026. That is separate from a 115 MW power purchase agreement involving Google and NV Energy; neither figure means a single Nevada data center is powered exclusively by a dedicated geothermal plant.
What Google’s Nevada geothermal project does
Google’s Nevada project, known as Project Red, uses enhanced geothermal technology developed with Fervo Energy. Google said the project became operational in November 2023, with carbon-free electricity flowing onto the local grid that serves its Nevada data centers. The announcement described two horizontal wells and fiber-optic instrumentation that measures flow, temperature and performance in real time. Google’s project announcement presents geothermal as a steady source that can complement weather-dependent solar and wind.
The grid connection matters: Google described electricity going to the local grid, not a direct, exclusive supply line to an individual data center. The companies characterize the electricity as carbon-free, but the cited announcements do not provide an independent lifecycle-emissions assessment for Project Red.
Project Red’s reported output and the separate 115 MW agreement
Project Red: 3 MW gross
Fervo reported in its September 22, 2026 announcement that Project Red had generated 3 MW gross for the Nevada grid since 2023. “Gross” describes the reported generation figure; it should not be treated as the amount of electricity delivered to a specific data center or combined with a separate contract capacity. Fervo’s announcement also describes enhanced geothermal systems as using deep underground heat to generate electricity around the clock, irrespective of weather or time of day. That is Fervo’s description of the technology, not an independent performance assessment of this pilot.
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Separate Nevada PPA: 115 MW
In June 2024, Fervo signed a separate 115 MW power purchase agreement with Google and NV Energy associated with Nevada’s Clean Transition Tariff. Fervo says the agreement helped pioneer that tariff. The 115 MW is the size of the agreement, not Project Red’s reported output, and the cited company announcements do not establish that all 115 MW is already being generated or specify delivery milestones. Fervo’s account of the agreement distinguishes it from the later Utah deal.
The 396 MW Google-Fervo deal is in Utah, not Nevada
Google’s larger 396 MW agreement with Fervo covers Cape Station in Beaver County, Utah. Announced September 1, 2026, the agreement calls for delivery in four 99 MW tranches beginning in Q3 2028, with a 15-year term. Those planned deliveries are not Nevada output. The agreement also includes an option for approximately 600 MW of additional offtake by June 2030; that capacity is not already contracted or operating. The option depends on Google accepting an offer and the parties negotiating a definitive agreement. Fervo’s SEC filing sets out the tranche schedule and conditions.
Cape Station has begun operating, but its buildout is ongoing
Fervo said Cape Station’s first 33 MW net GeoBlock entered commercial operation on September 30, 2026. Two other Phase I GeoBlocks were still commissioning when Fervo announced the milestone on October 1. This is progress at the Utah site, not a change to the location of Nevada’s Project Red. Fervo’s Cape Station update reports the status of those blocks.
Direct delivery remains conditional
Fervo’s SEC filing discusses potential private-system or direct-to-load arrangements for Utah, but those pathways are conditional on engineering feasibility, relevant agency approvals and commercial terms. They should not be confused with the Nevada project’s described grid supply.
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1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsA separate Nevada prospect is still an appraisal project
Fervo reported approximately $20 million in two U.S. Department of Energy awards in September 2026. The Nevada award supports appraisal of a geothermal prospect in Humboldt County; it is distinct from Project Red, which is already contributing power to the grid. The award announcement does not establish that the Humboldt County prospect is operating or supplying electricity.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What the figures mean for data-center power
| Item | Location | What the reported figure describes | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project Red | Nevada | 3 MW gross, as reported by Fervo in September 2026 | Operating and contributing to the local grid since 2023 |
| Google and NV Energy PPA | Nevada | 115 MW agreement, signed in June 2024 | Separate from Project Red’s output; detailed delivery milestones were not stated in the cited company announcements |
| Cape Station PPA | Utah | 396 MW planned across four 99 MW tranches, beginning Q3 2028; 15-year term | First 33 MW net GeoBlock entered commercial operation in September 2026; remaining Phase I blocks were commissioning as of October 1 |
| Possible Cape Station expansion | Utah | Approximately 600 MW of additional offtake | Optional, subject to acceptance and a definitive agreement |
The practical distinction is between generation, contracted capacity and the way electricity reaches a load. Project Red is an operating Nevada project whose reported gross output reaches a local grid. The 115 MW agreement is a separate Nevada procurement arrangement, while the 396 MW contract and possible expansion concern a Utah project. The public materials cited here do not establish that any one geothermal facility exclusively powers a particular Google data center.
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