Switch Secures 13MW Geothermal Power Deal with Ormat for Nevada Data Centers

Switch Inks 20-Year Geothermal PPA with Ormat Technologies

January 12, 2026

As the data center industry grapples with surging energy demands from artificial intelligence and high-performance computing, securing reliable, carbon-free baseload power has become a critical strategic priority. This push is driving major operators beyond traditional solar and wind power toward more consistent renewable sources like geothermal energy.

Global data center operator Switch has signed a significant 20-year Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with Ormat Technologies, a leading geothermal energy company. The deal secures 13 megawatts of geothermal power for Switch's operations in Nevada, sourced from Ormat's Salt Wells geothermal power plant located near Fallon. This agreement marks Ormat's first direct PPA with a data center developer.

The power delivery is scheduled to commence in the first quarter of 2030. The contract includes an option for expansion through the integration of an on-site 7-megawatt solar farm, which serves as an auxiliary power source for the geothermal facility. The Salt Wells plant, a conventional binary-cycle facility operational since 2009, is currently undergoing enhancements by Ormat to boost its efficiency and output, with upgrades slated for completion by the second quarter of 2026.

Alise Porto, SVP of Energy & Sustainability at Switch, stated, “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.” She emphasized that “geothermal energy offers the resiliency and sustainability profile required for the next generation of AI and cloud workloads.”

Doron Blachar, CEO of Ormat Technologies, commented on the partnership, saying, “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.” He noted that upon completion of the plant upgrades, Ormat will be able to deliver the contracted 13MW, highlighting the strategic value of their assets. Ormat operates a global portfolio of 1.6 gigawatts across geothermal, solar, and energy storage technologies.

The deal places Switch among a growing cohort of technology giants investing in geothermal power to meet sustainability and reliability targets. In recent years, Meta has signed agreements for up to 150MW each with enhanced geothermal firms Sage Geosystems and XGS. Google has also entered the space, securing a 10MW PPA with Baseload Capital in Taiwan and a separate deal with Nevada utility NV Energy to procure 115MW of geothermal power from a plant operated by Fervo Energy. These moves signal a broader industry shift toward leveraging geothermal's constant, clean energy output to power the next wave of digital infrastructure growth.

Source: datacenterdynamics