Sage Geosystems, a Houston-based innovator in geothermal technology, is branching beyond its Gulf Coast roots to instigate a new project at Naval Air Station (NAS) Corpus Christi in partnership with the Defense Department's Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) and the Environmental Security Technology Certification Program (ESTCP). The company's mandate is to evaluate the potential of geothermal energy solutions, with an aim to create 24/7 clean and resilient power for the military base, as told by Sage Geosystems' official press release.
Running parallel to this Department of Defense initiative, Sage announced a land-use agreement for an energy storage project south of San Antonio with San Miguel Electric Cooperative Inc. (SMECI). While sharing land, building a solar energy and storage project could be an opportunity for the two companies, as Sage CEO Cindy Taff mentioned to the Houston Business Journal, the solar might be of interest while their grid connection is pending.
The Navy's target of achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2045 underscores the critical role of alternative energy sources in military operations. Sage's Geopressured Geothermal Systems (GGS) technology aligns with these goals by utilizing hot dry rock, a resource more widely available than traditional hydrothermal sources, thereby offering potential for energy independence and operational advantage at U.S. military sites. "We’re pleased to expand our partnership with the DoD at NAS Corpus Christi to demonstrate the advantages of geothermal technology for military energy independence," Taff stated in Sage Geosystems' official press release, highlighting the broader potential impact of such initiatives on military capabilities.
Meanwhile, in the civilian sector, Sage Geosystems has capitalized on its proprietary geothermal processes to develop several innovative projects across Texas. As reported by the Houston Business Journal, this includes a promising collaboration with Meta Platforms Inc. to supply geothermal power to data centers and developing a 3-MW geothermal energy storage facility scheduled to complete in December 2024. Sage's approach, leveraging the groundwork laid by the oil and gas industry, has allowed it to cut costs and expedite geothermal energy's reach across the Texas landscape and beyond.
