Backed by Khosla Ventures, the startup drills the world’s hottest geothermal well, aiming to generate up to 25 megawatts per borehole and scale clean energy far beyond current geothermal capabilities.
A New Frontier in Clean Power: Super-Hot Geothermal
As global energy demand surges—driven by data centers, electric vehicles, and an electrified economy—geothermal startups are racing to deliver round-the-clock clean energy. Leading the charge is Mazama Energy, which has just announced a breakthrough in super-hot rock drilling.
The startup, incubated by Khosla Ventures, revealed it has drilled the hottest geothermal well on Earth in Oregon, reaching an incredible 629˚F (331˚C) at the bottom of the borehole.
“This one site can produce 5 gigawatts of energy,” said Vinod Khosla, speaking on stage at TechCrunch Disrupt.
“We’re not talking tens of megawatts anymore. This is gigawatt-scale geothermal.”
Why Super-Hot Geothermal Changes the Game
Traditional geothermal plants tap into shallow underground heat, often near natural features like hot springs. But Mazama’s approach drills much deeper, accessing hotter, more stable heat sources that can unlock vast energy reserves in previously untappable locations.
Key advantages of super-hot geothermal:
- 24/7 renewable energy, unlike intermittent solar and wind
- Much higher energy output per well
- Smaller water footprint (up to 75% less than traditional geothermal)
- Carbon-free and cost-competitive with natural gas at scale
At temperatures above 400°C (750°F), a single borehole could produce 25 megawatts or more—2–3x more power than conventional geothermal systems generate today.
Scaling From Megawatts to Gigawatts
Mazama’s Oregon well is just the start. The company believes that tapping into deeper, hotter rock formations could unlock 100+ gigawatts of clean energy in the near future—enough to surpass projected AI power consumption.
- One well could power thousands of homes.
- Sites in the Great Basin (Nevada and surrounding areas) could meet 10% of U.S. electricity demand, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
- Super-hot geothermal offers greater energy density with fewer wells and less infrastructure.
As Khosla noted:
“At 450˚C, you get 10x the power per well than you get at 200˚—and dramatically lower cost.”
Tech That Makes It Possible
Mazama’s success hinges on a few key innovations:
- Advanced drilling techniques that reach deeper into high-temperature rock
- Use of AI and machine learning for precision targeting and system optimization
- Integration of enhanced geothermal systems (EGS) to circulate water and generate power efficiently
- Engineering for durability and heat tolerance at unprecedented depths
By injecting water into these ultra-hot wells, Mazama creates steam-driven energy systems capable of delivering constant, dispatchable electricity—an urgent need in today’s grid-constrained environment.
More Than Hype: Commercial and Climate-Ready
While geothermal has long been a niche energy source, enhanced geothermal systems like Mazama’s are proving scalable. Tech giants such as Google are already investing in geothermal to power data centers with clean, uninterrupted energy.
Mazama’s project could become a blueprint for how geothermal goes from regional resource to mainstream power solution.
With $15M in funding raised and a focus on cost reduction, Mazama is working to position geothermal as not just clean—but also economically competitive.
The Road Ahead
Mazama’s current well is a proof point, but future ambitions are much larger:
- Drill into even hotter formations (up to 400˚C)
- Expand to additional high-potential sites across the U.S.
- Deliver 25+ megawatts per well with minimal water use
- Enable continuous, carbon-free electricity on a massive scale
With growing concerns over grid reliability and fossil fuel dependence, super-hot geothermal may emerge as a critical piece of the 24/7 clean energy puzzle.
