Quaise Energy said it is moving ahead with plans to build what it describes as the world’s first power plant using superhot geothermal energy, with an initial 50-megawatt facility planned in Oregon.
The Houston-based startup said the first phase of Project Obsidian is already under construction and could begin operations as early as 2030.
The company said an internal analysis presented at the 2026 Stanford Geothermal Workshop supports output of at least 50 MW of always-on renewable electricity from a small number of wells.
Superhot geothermal refers to tapping rock hotter than 300°C (572°F). At such temperatures, geothermal wells can potentially deliver far more energy than conventional systems while using less land.
The company said later expansions at the same site could lift output to 250 MW, with longer-term plans reaching 1 GW.
“Our goal is to build out to a gigawatt in the area,” said Carlos Araque, CEO and co-founder of Quaise.
Quaise is developing a drilling system that uses millimeter wave energy to melt and vaporize rock at extreme depths where conventional drill bits struggle with heat and pressure.
Today, superhot rock is accessible only in limited regions such as Iceland, where it lies closer to the surface.
Broader deployment has been restricted by the difficulty and cost of drilling several miles underground.
According to the company, Project Obsidian is a Tier I site where superhot temperatures can be reached at around five kilometers (about three miles) below ground.
Early wells there will be drilled conventionally before millimeter-wave systems are introduced on hotter wells.
The first phase will include two geothermal well systems targeting different temperature zones.
One system will reach rock averaging 315°C (599°F), while another will target rock averaging 365°C (689°F).
The lower-temperature system carries less technical risk and could help the company refine methods before moving to hotter zones.
A separate confirmation well is expected to begin operating later this year.
Quaise said it will provide data on rock strength, underground conditions, fluid behavior, and how fractures should be created to allow water flow.
“This analysis validates our long-held hypothesis that higher subsurface temperatures entail substantial improvements in power production,” said Daniel W. Dichter, senior mechanical engineer at Quaise.
He added, “If these first wells work the way we think they will, they will be on par with exceptionally productive oil and gas wells in terms of equivalent power output.”
The startup said the two initial well systems would occupy about 20 acres at the surface, a footprint it says is far smaller than comparable wind or solar installations.
Still, key questions remain. Quaise said it must determine what impurities may rise with produced water, whether the resource returns steam or liquid water, and what final plant design works best.
The company presentation was shared at the 51st Stanford Geothermal Workshop held in February 2026.
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With over a decade-long career in journalism, Neetika Walter has worked with The Economic Times, ANI, and Hindustan Times, covering politics, business, technology, and the clean energy sector. Passionate about contemporary culture, books, poetry, and storytelling, she brings depth and insight to her writing. When she isn’t chasing stories, she’s likely lost in a book or enjoying the company of her dogs.
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