Mazama Energy Announces Record-Breaking Enhanced Geothermal Milestone in Oregon

Mazama Energy, Inc., an energy technology company launched with support from Khosla Ventures and Gates Frontier, has reached a major milestone in clean energy innovation. At its Newberry, Oregon pilot site, the company has successfully developed the hottest Enhanced Geothermal System (EGS) ever reported, achieving a bottomhole temperature of 629°F (331°C). This achievement establishes a new performance benchmark for geothermal systems worldwide and represents a key advance toward scalable, always-on, carbon-free electricity at costs targeted below five cents per kilowatt-hour.

Powering the Next Generation of Data Centers with Constant, Clean Energy

The rapid expansion of data centers and AI-driven computing is driving unprecedented demand for reliable, high-density electricity. While solar and wind resources are weather-dependent and fossil fuels carry significant carbon emissions, high-temperature geothermal offers a continuous alternative. By accessing geothermal resources exceeding 300°C, Mazama’s approach enables round-the-clock power generation in a wide range of geographies, independent of climate or time of day. This positions geothermal as a strong candidate for hyperscale data centers and energy-intensive industrial applications.

According to Mazama Energy CEO Sriram Vasantharajan, geothermal energy provides a rare combination of global availability, constant output, and carbon-free operation. He noted in a press release that the Newberry pilot demonstrates the feasibility of developing geothermal systems in much hotter and more geologically complex formations than previously achieved, creating a model for delivering utility-scale clean baseload power to support future AI and cloud infrastructure.

Dr. John McLennan, Reservoir Management Lead at Utah FORGE, said, “This is a validation of an integrated development program that has successfully interconnected two slightly deviated wells and circulated a representative working fluid – a fulfillment of a vision from nearly fifty years ago to create a full scale EGS reservoir which was initiated by Los Alamos National Laboratory at Fenton Hill, New Mexico. This proof of concept opens the door to deeper and hotter opportunities at Newberry and beyond.”

Advancing Toward SuperHot Geothermal and Large-Scale Deployment

Mazama plans to move from demonstration to commercialization using horizontal well designs, starting with a 15-megawatt pilot facility in 2026, followed by a larger 200-megawatt project at Newberry. Beyond that, the company intends to push into the SuperHot Rock regime, targeting temperatures above 400°C. By applying proprietary high-temperature materials, cooling techniques, and stimulation methods, Mazama expects to dramatically increase power output per well while reducing water use and the total number of wells required. The company’s long-term objective is to supply terawatt-scale, dispatchable clean power globally.

Newberry, located in the Cascade Range, is among the largest geothermal resources in the United States. At the pilot site, Mazama engineers first rehabilitated and stimulated an existing well to act as the injection point. They then drilled a new deviated production well to a depth of approximately 10,200 feet, maintaining alignment within six feet of the planned path to ensure optimal connectivity. Subsequent circulation testing confirmed strong hydraulic communication between the wells and verified the creation of the highest-temperature EGS achieved to date.

The project required the deployment of advanced drilling and completion techniques, including precision directional drilling, ultra-high-temperature well construction, and proprietary stimulation technologies. Operations were conducted year-round at a remote, high-altitude location, and the project was completed without any lost-time safety incidents.

Technical Highlights from the Demonstration Program

During drilling and testing, Mazama reported several notable performance results:

• Peak drilling rates reaching 100 feet per hour

• Average penetration rates of 76 feet per hour across granite, basalt, and granodiorite

• Individual drill bit runs extending up to 2,760 feet in volcanic formations

• No downhole motor or measurement tool failures

• Verified well integrity and cement performance at extreme temperatures
  
  

Mazama notes that central to the project’s success was the company's patented Thermal Lattice™ stimulation process, designed specifically for enhanced geothermal applications. Building on established hydraulic fracturing concepts, Thermal Lattice™ is designed to enable the formation of complex fracture networks that improve reservoir connectivity. The Newberry demonstration also incorporated crosslinked fracturing fluids, sliding sleeve completions, chemical and nano-scale tracers, and fiber-optic monitoring to provide real-time insight into fracture behavior and temperature distribution.

Source: Mazama Energy

Mazama’s superhot working site at Newberry VolcanoI. Source: Mazama Energy

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