example14_data-center.txt

# Example 14: 1 GW Geothermal-Powered Data Center (CHP)
# This example models a 1 GWe Enhanced Geothermal System (EGS) to power a hyperscale data center.
# Based on the techno-economic analysis by Yusifov & Enriquez (2025), the simulation incorporates direct
# cooling via an absorption chiller, yielding an average of $107 million in annual operating cost savings over the 30-year project lifespan.
# The absorption chiller is thermodynamically modeled as cogenerated heat, with heat sales yielding revenue equivalent to Yusifov & Enriquez's estimated savings.
# The absorption chiller CAPEX of $562M is modeled via an add-on.
#
# For further context on SAM Economic Models Combined Heat and Power (CHP) / cogeneration conventions, see:
# https://softwareengineerprogrammer.github.io/GEOPHIRES/SAM-EM_End-Uses-and-Surface-Applications.html
#
# Reference: Yusifov, M., & Enriquez, N. (2025, July). From Core to Code: Powering the AI Revolution with Geothermal Energy. Project InnerSpace & Future Ventures. https://projectinnerspace.org/resources/Powering-the-AI-Revolution.pdf

# *** ECONOMIC/FINANCIAL PARAMETERS ***
# *************************************

Economic Model, 5, -- SAM Single Owner PPA

Starting Electricity Sale Price, 0.095, -- Upper end of ranges given in https://atb.nrel.gov/electricity/2024/geothermal
Electricity Escalation Rate Per Year, 0.00057, -- calibrated to reach 10 cents/kWh at project year 11
Ending Electricity Sale Price, 0.15, -- Note that this value does not directly determine price at the end of the project life, but rather as a cap as the maximum price to which the starting price can escalate.
Electricity Escalation Start Year, 1

Starting Heat Sale Price, 0.045
Ending Heat Sale Price, 1, -- Note that this parameter has no effect unless escalation is applied and ending heat sale price is reached.

Discount Rate, 0.12
Fraction of Investment in Bonds, .6, -- Based on fraction of CAPEX with $1 billion in sponsor equity per https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/fervo-energy-technology-day-2024-entering-geothermal-decade-matson-n4stc/
Inflated Bond Interest Rate, .056
Inflation Rate, .027, -- US inflation as of December 2025

Combined Income Tax Rate, .28
Investment Tax Credit Rate, 0.4, -- 30% base ITC plus 10% bonus credits (necessary for positive NPV)
Property Tax Rate, 0

One-time Flat License Fees Etc, 100, -- Permitting & Land Acquisition = $100M
Exploration Capital Cost, 500

Surface Plant Capital Cost Adjustment Factor, 1.3782, -- $4.225B power plant cost

Well Drilling Cost Correlation, 3, -- VERTICAL_LARGE (2025 NREL Geothermal Drilling Cost Curve Update)
Well Drilling and Completion Capital Cost Adjustment Factor, 0.713, -- Based on $12,257,861.64/well with 46% drilling cost ratio
All-in Nonvertical Drilling Costs, 0, -- model horizontal & vertical cost together as single vertical cost

Reservoir Stimulation Capital Cost per Production Well, 5.50281912, -- Based on $12,257,861.64/well with 54% stimulation cost ratio
Reservoir Stimulation Capital Cost per Injection Well, 5.50281912, -- Based on $12,257,861.64/well with 54% stimulation cost ratio

Field Gathering System Capital Cost Adjustment Factor, 0.3972, -- Gathering costs represent 2% of facilities CAPEX per https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/fervo-energy-technology-day-2024-entering-geothermal-decade-matson-n4stc/

Construction Years, 5
Construction CAPEX Schedule, 0.0268, 0.0268, 0.0268, 0.4597, 0.4597, -- 3-year derisking phase followed by 2-year construction phase

# *** SURFACE & SUBSURFACE TECHNICAL PARAMETERS ***
# *************************************************
End-Use Option, 31, -- CHP: Cogeneration topping cycle A power plant is followed by a direct-use heat application in series. Heat at high temperatures from the geothermal fluid is first converted into electricity. Any remaining heat in the geothermal fluid after leaving the power plant is supplied to a low-temperature direct-use heat application.

Power Plant Type, 2, -- Supercritical ORC
AddOn Nickname 1, Absorption Chiller
AddOn CAPEX 1, 562
AddOn Profit Gained 1, 0, -- note that revenue is modeled as heat sales, not add-on profit.
AddOn OPEX 1, 0

Plant Lifetime, 30

Reservoir Model, 1, -- Multiple Parallel Fractures (Gringarten)
Reservoir Depth, 3.7

Number of Segments, 1
Gradient 1, 55

Reservoir Density, 2800, -- per https://doi.org/10.31223/X52X0B: phyllite + quartzite + diorite + granodiorite
Reservoir Heat Capacity, 790
Reservoir Thermal Conductivity, 3.05
Reservoir Porosity, 0.0118

Reservoir Volume Option, 1, -- FRAC_NUM_SEP: Reservoir volume calculated with fracture separation and number of fractures as input

Fracture Separation, 18, -- Per https://eartharxiv.org/repository/view/7665/, lateral length is 4700 ft = 1432 m. Dividing 1432 by 80 = ~18 m fracture spacing.
Fracture Shape, 4, -- Square
Fracture Height, 95
Fracture Width, 305
Number of Fractures per Stimulated Well, 102

Injectivity Index, 2.1105
Productivity Index, 1.7458

Number of Doublets, 114
Production Flow Rate per Well, 100
Production Well Diameter, 8.5, -- p. 25
Injection Well Diameter, 8.5, -- p. 25

Ramey Production Wellbore Model, 1
Injection Temperature, 46.72, -- Injection temperature that yields ~300 MWth heat
Injection Wellbore Temperature Gain, 3

Ambient Temperature, 10
Surface Temperature, 1.1, -- Calibrated to case study specifications for depth and BHT/production temperature target

Maximum Drawdown, 0.044, -- Average net power output per well = 6.3 MWe (no redrilling; same value as Fervo_Project_Cape-4)

Water Loss Fraction, 0.15

Utilization Factor, .9
Plant Outlet Pressure, 1000 psi, -- https://doi.org/10.31223/X5VH8C
Production Wellhead Pressure, 325 psi, -- https://doi.org/10.31223/X5VH8C
Circulation Pump Efficiency, 0.80

Number of Multilateral Sections, 318
Nonvertical Length per Multilateral Section, 1500

Surface Piping Length, 2.67

# *** SIMULATION PARAMETERS ***
# *****************************
Maximum Temperature, 500
Time steps per year, 12