Quaise Energy Inc. and a joint venture between Barrick and Newmont Corp.—Nevada Gold Mines (NGM)—are working together to use geothermal heat for on-site power generation at NGM’s TS Power Plant, the companies said Dec. 3.

Nevada Gold Mines is in the process of modifying the TS plant to use cleaner natural gas as a fuel source, the companies said. Deep geothermal energy sources would further reduce the plant’s fossil fuel consumption, in line with NGM’s 30% reduction target of greenhouse-gas emissions by 2030.

“We continue to pursue initiatives that economically reduce our reliance on carbon-based electricity sources,” said Nevada Gold Mines Managing Director Henri Gonin in the press release. “Quaise offers a unique prospective solution to hybridize our on-site power generation with clean geothermal heat.”

The partnership would be the first commercial plant for retrofitting a fossil fuel power plant to suit geothermal heat in an effort to grow geothermal’s share of the global energy mix.

Quaise’s millimeter wave technology will be employed to achieve deep geothermal, competitive to fossil fuels economically and with lower emissions to produce as much as 10 times more power per well than traditional geothermal.

“Deep geothermal can decarbonize critical industrial processes like mining because of its superior power density,” said Carlos Araque, president and CEO of Quaise Energy. “Our millimeter wave drilling technology is the key to unlocking high-grade geothermal heat, repositioning fossil-fired assets for a clean energy future.”

The project will propel Quaise from drilling field trials to full commercial deployment, the company said in the press release.

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