ABB and Sage Geosystems collaborate to develop geothermal energy and storage solutions

ABB and Sage Geosystems (Sage), a leading geothermal baseload and energy storage company, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to jointly develop geothermal power generation and energy storage facilities that harness natural heat from the earth’s core to produce clean electricity.

This partnership builds on Sage's existing agreement with Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, to deliver up to 150 MW of geothermal baseload power at a location east of the Rocky Mountains in the United States. The first phase of this groundbreaking project is expected to be operational by 2027.

Under the terms of the MoU, ABB will explore how its expertise in automation, electrification, and digital technology can be applied to geothermal sites worldwide to improve energy efficiency and reliability. This may include providing distributed control systems (DCS), electrical infrastructure, and digital solutions like asset performance management, process optimisation, and cybersecurity systems. The collaboration also offers the opportunity to enhance Sage’s energy storage technology, which could be integrated with intermittent renewable energy sources such as solar and wind.

Cindy Taff, CEO of Sage Geosystems, highlighted the potential of their technology, saying, "We are focused on scaling our proprietary Geopressured Geothermal Systems (GGS) technology, and our partnership with ABB will advance the widespread deployment of next-generation geothermal. Unlike traditional renewable energy sources, geothermal energy, including energy storage and baseload power generation, provides an on-demand clean energy source available 24/7, 365 days a year."

Geothermal energy is emerging as a key player in the future energy mix. Enhanced geothermal systems, which emit little to no greenhouse gases, use the earth’s natural heat to generate power. The GGS process involves pumping fluid into a man-made subsurface reservoir under pressure. After the fluid is heated to temperatures exceeding 150°C, it is released to the surface, where it passes through heat exchangers and turbines to generate electricity. In the United States alone, geothermal energy could potentially provide enough natural heat resources to power over 65 million homes.

Per Erik Holsten, President of ABB Energy Industries, emphasised the need for collaboration across industries to unlock geothermal’s full potential. "To harness geothermal energy and contribute to a low-carbon society, we need cross-industry partnerships to push technological advancements forward," he said. "Sage’s GGS offers the ability to generate low-carbon electricity and provide energy storage, making it a crucial part of the energy transition."

Geothermal energy is poised for significant growth. Currently, geothermal accounts for just 0.3 percent of the world’s power supply. However, with installed capacity expected to grow from 16.8 GW to 28 GW by 2030 and potentially 110 GW by 2050, the market for geothermal energy is expected to attract over $120 billion in investments by 2035, according to Rystad Energy.

This collaboration between ABB and Sage is a significant step toward realizing the potential of geothermal energy in the global transition to cleaner, more sustainable power generation.