Menengai’s Broken Promise: How Kenya’s Geothermal Model Lost the Steam Thematic image of the Olkaria Geothermal Field Kenya’s Menengai geothermal project was sold as a model of modern public-private partnership. The state would carry the difficult and expensive burden of geothermal exploration and drilling. Private power producers would then build, own and operate power plants. Geothermal Development Company would supply the steam; the independent power producers would convert it into electricity; Kenya Power would buy the output. On paper, the arrangement was elegant. In practice, Menengai has exposed a far more uncomfortable reality: Kenya’s public steam-supply model is not delivering the certainty it promised. Menengai Phase I was designed to produce 105 megawatts from three 35 MW plants. GDC’s own project page says the three plants were awarded to Globeleq Menengai Geothermal, Sosian Menengai Geothermal Power and OrPower Twenty Two under a build-own-operate structure. Yet the ...
CTR Launches American Data Power: 600 MW Geothermal Complex to Fuel America’s AI & Hyperscale Data Boom at Salton Sea
The recent announcement from Controlled Thermal Resources Holdings Inc. (CTR) marks a significant step in addressing one of the most pressing challenges in the U.S. energy landscape:
providing reliable, clean, baseload power for the explosive growth of hyperscale data centers and AI infrastructure.
On January 29, 2026, CTR launched American Data Power, a new subsidiary dedicated to delivering a utility-scale 600 MW energy complex in California's Salton Sea Geothermal Field. This initiative advances the next phase of CTR's flagship Hell’s Kitchen development, positioning it as one of the largest baseload renewable energy projects in the country.
Geothermal energy stands out in the renewable mix because it delivers continuous, 24/7 power unlike solar or wind, which depend on weather conditions. The proposed complex targets a capacity factor exceeding 95%, ensuring high operational reliability. This makes it ideal for the constant, high-load demands of hyperscale data centers powering AI training, cloud computing, and digital infrastructure.
Rod Colwell, CEO of CTR, highlighted the urgency: "Access to reliable baseload power has become a critical bottleneck for AI and hyperscale data infrastructure growth in the U.S."
He pointed to the Salton Sea geothermal field as a game-changer. Currently producing around 450 MW of baseload power, the field holds an estimated 2.5 GW (and up to nearly 3 GW per some U.S. Department of Energy assessments) of untapped capacity,enough to power an entire city with clean, around-the-clock electricity.
The Hell’s Kitchen project spans approximately 4,000 acres in Imperial County's Lithium Valley Specific Plan. This master-planned framework designates data centers, advanced manufacturing, and supporting digital infrastructure as permitted uses in industrial zones. It offers streamlined permitting pathways, reducing entitlement risks and supporting faster project planning and financing. The site benefits from strong bipartisan support at state and federal levels, including integration with the Imperial Irrigation District’s transmission network.
This launch builds on CTR's long-term partnership with Baker Hughes, spanning over eight years of technical validation, subsurface analysis, engineering, drilling, and execution planning. Their recent Field Development Plan confirmed the technical and commercial viability of producing up to 600 MW of net baseload power.
American Data Power complements CTR's broader efforts in the region. The company's initial 50 MW power plant and critical minerals project under subsidiary American Critical Resources is nearing construction readiness. This integrates geothermal power generation with lithium extraction from geothermal brines, creating a unique "energy + minerals" hub. The Salton Sea area is recognized as one of the world's largest geothermal lithium resources, with estimates of millions of metric tons of lithium carbonate equivalent.
By co-locating power production and data infrastructure, the project could enable direct, low-carbon electricity supply to hyperscale facilities while minimizing transmission losses. This approach aligns with national goals for energy security, grid decarbonization, and domestic critical minerals production—essential for batteries, EVs, and tech manufacturing.
The announcement came at the Baker Hughes Annual Meeting in Florence, underscoring international collaboration in advancing U.S.-based clean energy solutions.
As AI and data demands surge, projects like this could alleviate power supply instability. While alternatives like battery storage mature, geothermal offers immediate, scalable baseload renewable energy. The Salton Sea's proven 40-year operating history adds confidence in rapid scaling.
CTR's vision extends beyond power: by unlocking reliable energy and critical minerals in one location, it encourages co-location of battery producers, tech firms, and manufacturers boosting jobs, economic growth in Imperial Valley, and U.S. energy independence.
This development highlights geothermal's potential to bridge the gap between renewable intermittency and the relentless needs of the digital economy. With untapped capacity waiting, the Salton Sea could become a cornerstone of America's clean energy future, powering innovation while cutting emissions.
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