Controlled Thermal Resources (CTR) and Baker Hughes have signed a strategic agreement to develop up to 500 megawatts of geothermal energy at the Hell’s Kitchen project in Imperial County, California. This initiative seeks to provide continuous and reliable electricity to data centers and artificial intelligence systems that require uninterrupted operation.
While energy demand for AI operations AI operations and massive data and mass data processing operations skyrockets, the Hell’s Kitchen project aims to solve the intermittent energy challenge with a geothermal baseload model. This technology maintains capacity factors above 98%, positioning itself as a low-emission, high-stability solution.
Technology and geothermal energy close to consumption
Baker Hughes will provide expertise in high temperature geothermal drilling and digital and digital field services. With its integrated approach from subsurface to surface, the company will provide the necessary tools to scale the project efficiently, reducing deployment costs and accelerating access to power.
The project design contemplates the possibility of generating power “behind the meter”, facilitating the development of digital infrastructure directly on the site. This will allow hosting AI clusters and data centers close to the generation source, minimizing transmission losses and strengthening operational resilience.
Hell’s Kitchen as an energy model for the digital age
The Salton Sea region combines access to geothermal resources and critical minerals such as lithium, positioning California as a leader in AI-ready energy infrastructure.
Hell’s Kitchen is shaping up to be one of the largest baseload developments in the United States, setting a precedent for projects that integrate clean energy and high-performance digital demand.
Source and photo: Controlled Thermal Resources
