Quaise Energy, a pioneer in grid-scale superhot geothermal technology, has reached a critical milestone by successfully drilling to a depth of 100 meters at its Central Texas field site using millimeter wave technology.
This marks the first time such a depth has been achieved with the innovative approach and sets a new record in geothermal drilling history.
The company’s proprietary system uses millimeter wave energy—developed through over a decade of research at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)—to vaporise rock without relying on conventional downhole equipment. Instead of mechanical drill bits, which face significant limitations when penetrating hard, high-temperature formations like granite and basalt, Quaise’s approach uses powerful gyrotron devices to ablate rock cleanly and efficiently.
By enabling access to rock heated to approximately 752°F (400°C), often located deep within Earth’s crust, the technology unlocks the potential for geothermal energy generation on a scale comparable to large fossil fuel power plants.
“The Earth holds an enormous reservoir of clean energy — energy that could fundamentally change how we power our world if we can reach it,” said Carlos Araque, CEO and President of Quaise Energy. “Quaise has now demonstrated that millimeter wave technology can do what no other technology can do: drill perfectly clean holes through some of the hardest rocks on Earth in record time. This milestone brings us closer to making geothermal energy a practical solution to power communities virtually anywhere.”
Until now, millimeter wave drilling had only been demonstrated in laboratory settings. MIT’s earlier tests produced boreholes just a few centimeters deep. This year’s success extends that progress substantially, demonstrating the system’s capability in real-world conditions. The 100-meter drill was conducted through granite, the same type of hard basement rock that underlies much of the Earth’s crust and presents a formidable barrier to conventional geothermal development.
“Our progress this year has exceeded all expectations,” Araque continued. “We’re drilling faster and deeper at this point than anyone believed possible, proving that millimeter wave technology is the only tool capable of reaching the superhot rock needed for next-generation geothermal power. We are opening up a path to a new energy frontier.”
The breakthrough is an important step toward Quaise’s commercial ambitions. The company is preparing to deploy a new gyrotron with ten times the current power output and has set its sights on completing a pilot geothermal power plant in the Western United States by 2028.
This achievement not only advances the feasibility of superhot geothermal energy but also positions Quaise Energy at the forefront of a global transition toward cleaner, more reliable, and abundant energy sources.