Turboden to Deliver 180 MW of Gen-2 ORC Plants for Fervo’s Cape Station Geothermal Project in Utah

Turboden , Fervo and the Future of Geothermal: 180 MW of Gen-2 ORC Plants for Cape Station, Utah

October 2, 2025 In a landmark move for clean energy and geothermal power, Turboden America LLC the U.S. arm of Turboden S.p.A. (a Mitsubishi Heavy Industries group company) has been selected to supply 180 MW of Gen-2 Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) power plants for Fervo Energy’s Cape Station geothermal project in Utah.

A New Milestone in Geothermal Deployment

This award relates to Phase II of the Cape Station development, following Turboden’s earlier participation in Phase I. Under Phase II, Turboden will provide three ORC units, each with a gross output of 60 MWe, summing to 180 MWe.

Once installed and operational (targeted by 2028), these Gen-2 units will bring the total ORC capacity on site to 300 MWe, making Cape Station one of the largest geothermal installations globally.

The earlier Phase I installation, involving Turboden’s Gen-1 ORC units, is slated for commissioning in 2026.

Why This Is Significant

Scalability & Validation
The scaling from Gen-1 to Gen-2 underscores confidence in the modular ORC concept. Turboden’s repeated selection signals trust in their technology and ability to deliver at utility scale.
24/7 Clean Power
Geothermal, particularly with enhanced geothermal systems (EGS), offers a reliable renewable energy source unaffected by diurnal cycles or weather. Projects like Cape Station push geothermal further into the “firm renewables” category.
Deepening U.S. Presence
Turboden America LLC became fully functional in October 2024, establishing a stronger local footprint to support U.S. projects.
Strong Partnerships & Long-Term Vision
The award reflects the deepening collaboration between Turboden and Fervo. Fervo’s leadership has emphasized that modular ORC systems like these are central to unlocking geothermal’s full potential.

Technical and Strategic Themes

What Is a Gen-2 ORC?

ORC, or Organic Rankine Cycle, is a method of converting thermal energy (from geothermal, waste heat, etc.) into electricity using an organic working fluid with a lower boiling point than water. Gen-2 implies improvements higher efficiency, better integration, and modularity that supports scale and flexibility.

Modular Design & Dispatchability

A key aim is modularity: breaking a large plant into several ORC “units” that can be commissioned in phases, maintained independently, or scaled over time. That modularity also helps with grid compatibility and reliability.

Timeframe & Delivery

Engineering, procurement, and commissioning of the core ORC equipment are planned to conclude by 2028.

The Bigger Picture: Cape Station & EGS

isn’t just another geothermal plant it’s built around enhanced geothermal systems (EGS), which expand geothermal potential beyond naturally high-permeability reservoirs. The full Cape Station project has ambitions well beyond this phase, positioning itself as a global showcase for large-scale, dispatchable geothermal.

Quotes & Perspective

Paolo Bertuzzi, CEO of Turboden, stated:

“We are honored to deepen our collaboration with Fervo Energy … This new order further validates the reliability and scalability of our ORC technology…”

Tim Latimer, CEO and co-founder of Fervo Energy, added:

“Phase II marks another leap forward in our mission to unlock geothermal’s full potential … Turboden’s proven expertise … are key to delivering on our promise of reliable and affordable power.”

Challenges & Considerations

Technical risk: Larger scale and new generation units must meet expected performance thresholds.
Cost & financing: The capital-intensive nature of geothermal and EGS demands robust funding and cost control.
Regulatory & permitting: Projects in the U.S. must navigate a complex regulatory landscape, especially for subsurface developments.
Grid integration: Ensuring geothermal output aligns with grid requirements, especially as more intermittent renewables come on line.

Why This Matters for the Clean Energy Transition

Geothermal is often overlooked relative to solar and wind, but it is uniquely positioned to provide constant (baseload) carbon-free power.
Success at Cape Station can catalyze further investment and confidence in geothermal, shifting the narrative toward “renewables that don’t rest.”
Partnerships like Turboden–Fervo combine deep domain expertise (engineering, subsurface science, plant design) — a model for future clean energy developments.

Source :Turboden

Connect with us: LinkedIn, X

Comments

Hot Topics

Blowout at Cape Station: Fervo Energy’s First Major Crisis After Blockbuster IPO

Just weeks after a record-breaking IPO, the flagship project of the "geothermal unicorn" faces its first major operational crisis. By : Robert Buluma Beaver County, Utah – The morning of May 27, 2026, began like any other at the Cape Station construction site in rural Utah. Workers for Fervo Energy, the newly public darling of the renewable energy world, were engaged in the complex task of drilling deep into the Earth’s crust to unlock what the company promised would be the future of 24/7 clean power. But by the afternoon, the routine had turned into a crisis. The site had experienced a blowout—an uncontrolled release of fluid or pressure from a well. For any energy company, a blowout is a serious matter. For Fervo Energy, which had just raised $1.89 billion in a blockbuster Nasdaq debut two weeks prior, it represents an immediate stress test of its technology, its safety protocols, and its $7.7 billion market valuation. While the well has since been contained and no injur...

Enhanced Geothermal Systems Financing Hurdles

The Heat Beneath: Why Enhanced Geothermal Systems Can't Get Financing—And What It Will Take to Change That By : Robert Buluma Introduction: The Paradox of Boundless Energy Beneath our feet lies an energy source so vast that capturing just a fraction of it could power civilization for millennia. More than five terawatts of heat resources exist beneath the United States alone—enough to meet the electricity needs of the entire world. Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS), which circulate water through engineered fractures in deep hot rock, promise to unlock this resource nearly anywhere on the planet, not just in volcanic hotspots. The technology is improving faster than almost anyone expected. Costs are falling. The fossil fuel industry's drilling expertise is being repurposed. And yet, for all its promise, EGS remains stuck in a financial no-man's-land—too big for venture capital, too risky for traditional lenders, and too unfamiliar for the infrastructure investors who could tr...

The Heat Beneath Our Feet: How Canada’s First National Geothermal Roadmap Could Redefine Clean Energy

The Heat Beneath Our Feet: Canada Invests in First National Geothermal Energy Roadmap By: Robert Buluma Image: The Eavor Wonder, something amazing 👏 Calgary, Alberta – June 11, 2026 – In a move that signals a significant shift toward diversifying its clean energy portfolio, the Government of Canada has officially invested in its first national roadmap for deep geothermal energy. The announcement, made today by the Honourable Tim Hodgson, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources , marks a pivotal moment for a country better known for its oil sands and hydroelectric dams than for harnessing the heat of the Earth’s crust. With a conditional investment of $468,000 through Natural Resources Canada’s Energy Innovation Program , the government is backing the Canadian Deep Geothermal Roadmap project. Led by the Canadian Deep Geothermal Coalition and supported by the Cascade Institute as the secretariat, this initiative aims to create a cohesive, evidence-based strate...

Rodatherm Energy: The Refrigerant Gambit

By: Robert Buluma Rodatherm Energy has done something no other geothermal startup has attempted at commercial scale: swapped water for refrigerant in a closed-loop system. The claim is 50% higher thermal efficiency than water-based binary cycles, achieved by circulating a proprietary phase-change fluid through a fully cased, pressurized wellbore. The company emerged from stealth in September 2025 with a $38 million Series A—the largest first venture raise in geothermal history. Lead investor Evok Innovations was joined by Toyota Ventures, TDK Ventures, and the Grantham Foundation. The engineering thesis is elegant. The execution risks are significant. This is an Alphaxioms examination of both. II. The Thermodynamic Distinction Every geothermal company you've covered moves heat using water or steam. Rodatherm moves heat using a fluid that boils and condenses inside the wellbore. In a conventional closed-loop water system (Eavor's model), water circulates as a single-phase liq...

Mazama Energy Newberry Superhot Geothermal Breakthrough Reshapes Clean Energy

Mazama Energy’s Superhot Rock Vision Redefines Global Geothermal Power By Robert Buluma The geothermal industry is entering a new era, and one company is pushing the boundaries of what was once considered technically impossible. Mazama Energy has ignited global attention after revealing extraordinary progress at its Newberry geothermal site in central Oregon, where it reportedly achieved temperatures of 331°C in an enhanced geothermal system environment. For an industry accustomed to operating within the 150°C to 300°C range, this milestone is more than impressive — it signals the possible beginning of a technological transformation capable of reshaping the future of clean baseload power. For decades, geothermal energy has quietly remained one of the most reliable renewable energy resources on Earth. Unlike solar and wind, geothermal power does not depend on weather conditions, sunlight, or seasonal variability. It delivers continuous electricity twenty-four hours a day, seven ...

The Retrofit Revolution: How GreenFire Energy Is Turning Abandoned Oil & Geothermal Wells Into Continuous Clean Power Without New Drilling

The Retrofit Revolution: How GreenFire Energy Is Unlocking Geothermal Power Without Drilling a Single New Well By: Robert Buluma While much of the geothermal energy sector has been focused on breakthrough drilling techniques—deeper wells, hotter reservoirs, and complex engineered systems—a quieter revolution has been unfolding in the background. Instead of chasing entirely new subsurface frontiers, one company has chosen a radically simpler question: What if the answer was already in the ground? GreenFire Energy is advancing a retrofit-first geothermal strategy that targets one of the most overlooked opportunities in the global energy transition: existing wells that are underperforming, depleted, or completely abandoned. Rather than drilling new holes into the Earth, the company is reusing the infrastructure that already exists—turning stranded assets into continuous sources of clean, baseload electricity. This approach is not just technically elegant. It may also be one of ...

"Below the Surface: How Baker Hughes is Drilling the 24/7 Clean Energy Solution"

Below the Surface: How Baker Hughes is Drilling the 24/7 Clean Energy Solution By: Robert Buluma The geothermal era has arrived — and Baker Hughes is holding the drill. While much of the energy world remains fixated on LNG exports and offshore wind, a quieter revolution is taking place beneath our feet. Baker Hughes (BKR) , the Houston-based energy technology giant, has assembled what may be the most comprehensive geothermal partnership network in the industry — positioning itself as the go-to industrial executor for next-generation geothermal power. In 2026 alone, the company has locked in strategic collaborations spanning three continents, from the deserts of Saudi Arabia to the outback of Australia and the high-heat basins of the American West. The common thread? Baker Hughes is applying a century of oil and gas drilling expertise to unlock geothermal energy at industrial scale — and the data center boom is providing the perfect market catalyst. The Strategy: "G...

Sage Geosystems: Turning Underground Pressure Into 24/7 Power

Sage Geosystems : The Geothermal Startup That Turns Pressure Into Power By: Robert Buluma Most conversations about advanced geothermal circle around the same question: How do you extract heat from dry rock? Sage Geosystems started with a different question: What if the Earth could do most of the work for you? Based in Houston, Sage has quietly built a technology stack that treats the subsurface not just as a heat source, but as a pressure vessel. Their system captures heat and mechanical energy, stores energy underground like a battery, and uses a fraction of the surface pumping that conventional geothermal requires. This article focuses entirely on Sage , how their technology works, what makes it genuinely different, and where the blind spots still are. Part I: The Core Innovation , Pressure Geothermal Sage's foundational insight is simple but powerful: deep hot rock isn't just hot. It's also under immense natural pressure. Traditional geothermal systems ignore that pre...

Project Obsidian: Unlocking Superhot Geothermal Power from Deep Earth

Quaise Energy and the Dawn of Superhot Geothermal Power in Oregon By: Robert Buluma Inside Project Obsidian and the Future of Deep Earth Energy The global energy transition has long been defined by solar panels on rooftops, wind turbines across plains, and batteries reshaping grids. Yet beneath all these familiar technologies, another contender is quietly emerging—one that does not depend on weather, daylight, or even surface conditions at all. It comes from deep within the Earth itself, from rock so hot it behaves almost like a molten energy reservoir. That is the frontier where Quaise Energy is now operating. In Oregon, the company is developing what could become the world’s first superhot geothermal power plant under its ambitious initiative known as Project Obsidian . If successful, it could mark a fundamental shift in how humanity produces clean, continuous electricity—moving from shallow geothermal pockets to tapping heat sources several kilometers beneath the Earth’s surfac...

The XGS Energy Heat Sponge Solves Geothermal's Biggest Problem

The XGS Energy Heat Sponge Solves Geothermal's Biggest Problem I mage: A californian XGS well pad Imagine drilling a hole into the Earth’s hot crust but instead of simply dropping in a pipe and hoping for the best, you paint the inside of that hole with a magic material that soaks up heat like a sponge soaks up water. Then you seal it, circulate a fluid, and generate clean, firm electricity 24/7, no fracking, no water consumption, no earthquakes. That’s not science fiction. That’s XGS Energy . While most of the geothermal world has been chasing fracked reservoirs or massive drilling rigs, XGS quietly built a prototype, ran it for over 3,000 hours in one of the harshest geothermal environments on Earth, and landed a 150 MW deal with Meta – enough to power tens of thousands of homes or a massive data center campus. This is the story of a technology that might be the most elegant, low-risk, and capital-efficient path to scalable geothermal power. Let’s dig in. Part 1: The Pro...

ALPHAXIOMS Geothermal News & Energy Research

Search This Blog