- Austin Energy partners with Exceed Energy to develop a 5 MW geothermal pilot project near Nacogdoches, which will start operations in 2025.
- The project aims to diversify Texas’ renewable energy sources, improving grid reliability and reducing carbon emissions.
- City leaders view the initiative as a model for geothermal expansion and a key step toward Austin’s sustainable energy goals.
Austin Energy and Exceed Energy Inc. have teamed up to develop a 5 MW geothermal pilot project near Nacogdoches, Texas. The project, which will start operating in 2025, aims to boost the sustainability and reliability of the power grid.
The project will sit near the Nacogdoches biomass facility and expand Texas’ renewable energy mix, which mainly relies on wind and solar power. Austin Energy’s 2035 Resource, Generation, and Climate Protection Plan focuses on balancing reliability, affordability, and environmental sustainability, making this geothermal project a key component.
Mike Enger, Vice President of Energy Markets and Resource Planning at Austin Energy, said the pilot will solve technical and financial challenges related to large-scale geothermal energy use. “This project could diversify our renewable energy sources, stabilise the grid, and lower emissions,” Enger stated.
Exceed Energy CEO Tim Tarver applauded Austin Energy’s commitment to innovation and described the partnership as a catalyst for transformative energy solutions.
The project will also improve the power grid’s resilience while Austin Energy works on other geothermal initiatives. These include a geothermal heating and cooling system at Penn Field and a mixed-use commercial and office complex.
City Council member Natasha Harper-Madison stressed the importance of these projects in addressing Austin’s energy demands while promoting cleaner energy solutions. She emphasised their role in meeting the city’s growing energy needs.
The geothermal pilot project could serve as a model for other communities, with the potential to expand geothermal energy in Texas. It reaffirms Austin’s commitment to a renewable energy future.