Newberry
NEWBERRY PROJECT
Mazama Energy has completed the first-of-its-kind Superhot Rock (SHR) Enhanced Geothermal System (EGS) pilot located in Central Oregon, home to one of the largest geothermal reservoirs in the U.S.
The demonstration is the hottest EGS to date across the globe. Mazama’s breakthrough at Newberry sets a new global benchmark for geothermal technology and marks a critical step towards delivering low-cost, carbon-free baseload power at terawatt scale at less than 5 cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh), which validates the feasibility of creating a commercially viable geothermal reservoir in superhot rocks.
During this project, Mazama successfully used Thermal Lattice™, the company’s patented stimulation technique, proving Mazama’s expertise in technological advancements. Mazama’s approach provides a stepping-stone for the generation of utility-scale power that is cost-competitive with fossil fuels. The success of this provides the blueprint to unlock 24/7 clean energy from resources between over 400°C (752°F) temperatures worldwide.
WHY SHR EGS?
Why EGS?
Conventional geothermal systems can be created in naturally occurring hot water reservoirs. However, geothermal locations which lack naturally occurring reservoirs can be developed through enhanced geothermal systems (EGS), which is a geothermal system created through a man-made reservoir. EGS is the first step in harnessing this renewable energy source that is vastly available but unattainable in many areas. SHR EGS, the next evolution, taps into superhot rocks, which are subsurface geological formations with temperatures exceeding 374°C (705°F).
WHY SHR?
When harnessed, SHR geothermal generates five to ten times more electrical power than current conventional and EGS resulting in a safe, scalable, carbon-free energy. This output is economically competitive with traditional and renewable power sources and has the potential to generate enough carbon-free energy to power the world’s growing energy demands.
WHERE?
Central Oregon is more than just a beautiful backdrop; it’s a hub of geothermal energy innovation. The Newberry Volcano in Central Oregon is one of the largest geothermal heat reservoirs in the United States and has been extensively studied over the last 50 years.
The large conductive thermal anomaly at Newberry, geothermal wells reaching 320°C at only 3000 m depth, has been well-characterized by previous drilling endeavors and geophysical surveys. Thus, the characterization of this continental volcanic system reveals an excellent site for SHR geothermal development as temperatures greater than 400°C can be found at relatively shallow depths of less than 5000 m.
Central Oregon is at the forefront of the future of geothermal power with Mazama Energy leading the way.
NEWBERRY PROJECT
WHEN & HOW?
RIG MOBILIZATION AT NEWBERRY VOLCANO
October 21, 2024
WORKOVER OPERATIONS
November 3, 2024
Mazama Energy re-entered one of the existing geothermal wells at the Newberry Volcano for initial feasibility testing of several technologies. These operations require no drilling and consist of recompleting and adding integrity to the well structure. The workover will continue through the end of February 2025.
DOE funded SHR EGS Demonstration Project
Coming January 2025
SEISMICITY TRACKER
The site is equipped with a network of seismometers to track the seismic activity during operations and provide real-time data for monitoring. This network is maintained, and the data is reviewed for accuracy, by the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.