AltaRock Energy

AltaRock Energy Inc.

Company type	Private
Industry	Geothermal energy, Renewable energy
Founded	2007 (2007)
Founder	Andrew Perlman, Susan Petty, and associates
Headquarters	Seattle , United States
Area served	United States
Products	Enhanced geothermal systems (EGS) technologies

AltaRock Energy Inc. is a privately owned enterprise focused on advancing geothermal energy and enhanced geothermal systems (EGS) technologies. Based in Seattle, Washington with an additional technology hub in Sausalito, California, AltaRock possesses exclusive licenses and pending patents related to EGS innovations. Since 2008, the company has been running a project near The Geysers, California, showcasing EGS as a dependable and renewable method for generating electric power.

The firm’s strategic approach is underpinned by a 2006 report from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), which estimates that EGS could provide over 100 GWe of power to the United States by 2050. Founded in 2007 by entrepreneur Andrew Perlman, Susan Petty, and associates, AltaRock has secured investments from organizations such as Google.org, Advanced Technology Ventures, and Vulcan Capital, along with grant support from the United States Department of Energy (DOE).

Newberry EGS Demonstration

AltaRock’s primary project at present is the Newberry EGS Demonstration, located roughly 30 miles south of Bend, Oregon within the boundaries of the Deschutes National Forest. This initiative operates on a federal geothermal lease and is governed by a committee composed of representatives from local communities, environmental groups, government agencies, and industry stakeholders.

The objective of the Newberry demonstration is to establish an EGS reservoir in high-temperature rock with low permeability on the northwest side of the Newberry Volcano. Instead of traditional hydraulic fracturing, AltaRock applies hydraulic shearing combined with advanced drilling techniques to enhance fluid circulation and geothermal heat recovery. The project aims to develop a commercially viable well field paired with a power generation facility. Detailed assessments of water consumption and induced seismicity suggest negligible impact on surrounding populations and ecosystems.

The Geysers Demonstration

In 2008, AltaRock initiated a demonstration at the depleted geothermal field known as The Geysers, which still holds substantial untapped electrical capacity. The plan involved re-drilling a well originally completed in 1988; however, drilling faced challenges due to unstable serpentinite formations causing multiple equipment failures. Operations at this location were paused while AltaRock explores other potential well sites within The Geysers and additional locations to further develop its technology.

Blue Mountain

Commissioned in 2009, Nevada’s Blue Mountain Faulkner 1 Geothermal Power Plant situated in the Black Rock Desert was experiencing underperformance by 2014. AltaRock was contracted by EIG Global Energy Partners to enhance its output to 50 megawatts through proprietary hydroshearing technology. This technique improves existing geothermal wells by injecting cold water mixed with particulates to create new fractures, thereby increasing steam flow and electricity generation. The Blue Mountain project served as a test case for AltaRock’s business strategy of generating revenues through upgrading operational sites to finance future EGS developments. AltaRock managed this facility until its acquisition by Ormat Technologies in 2025.

External links

• Official site of AltaRock Energy Inc.
• Enhanced Geothermal Systems - Geothermal Technologies Program (U.S. Department of Energy)
• Newberry EGS Demonstration Project
• Geothermal Technologies Program (Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, U.S. Department of Energy)