Global data center operator Switch has signed a 20-year Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with Ormat Technologies for 13MW of geothermal power from its Salt Wells geothermal power plant located near Fallon, Nevada.

The deal, which is Ormat’s first with a data center developer, includes an option to expand through the use of an on-site 7MW solar farm, which serves as an auxiliary power option for the geothermal plant. Power delivery is expected to commence in Q1 of 2030.

“We are proud to enhance our diverse portfolio of renewable, Nevada-based energy sources and deepen our commitment to powering Switch’s data centers with renewable energy through this new long-term agreement with Ormat,” said Alise Porto, SVP of Energy & Sustainability at Switch.

“As demand for AI and high-performance digital infrastructure accelerates, securing reliable, carbon-free baseload power is essential to supporting our customers and sustaining our growth. Geothermal energy offers the resiliency and sustainability profile required for the next generation of AI and cloud workloads.”

The Salt Wells plant is a conventional binary-cycle geothermal facility that began operations in 2009. Developed by Enel Green Power, the plant was sold off to Ormat in October 2023, as part of a larger portfolio acquisition. Ormat is currently undertaking enhancements and optimizations at the plant to increase efficiency and power output, with completion slated for Q2 2026.

“We are excited to partner with Switch, a leader in the data center industry, to supply reliable, zero-emission power from our Salt Wells geothermal facility. This agreement not only advances Switch’s sustainability goals but also underscores the growing demand for renewable energy within the data center sector,” said Doron Blachar, CEO of Ormat Technologies.

Upon completion of the Salt Wells upgrade, we will be able to deliver approximately 13MW of geothermal energy to Switch, with the potential for further expansion through the addition of a Solar PV facility, highlighting both the enhanced revenue opportunities and strategic value of our power plants.”

Ormat Technologies is a vertically integrated geothermal and energy company with a global operating portfolio of 1.6GW, including geothermal, solar, and energy storage assets.

Switch isn’t the first data center firm to dip its toes into geothermal energy. Meta has partnered with two enhanced geothermal firms over the past two years, signing deals with Sage Geosystems for up to 150MW of power and with XGS for the same amount.

Google, too, has gotten in on the act, inking a 10MW PPA with Baseload Capital in Taiwan and a power supply deal with Nevada utility NV Energy to procure 115MW of renewable energy from a geothermal power plant operated by Fervo Energy.