Zanskar is an EE-focused, eco-friendly startup leveraging science and technology to discover geothermal energy’s deep resources. Through supervised machine learning, they hope to reveal the tidal wave of potential that has been brewing under the surface for decades. Individually, Zanskar has breathed new life in a failing New Mexico power plant, accessing the U.S. West’s rich geothermal energy resources. Plus, the company has found two other sites with a combined potential that’s well over 100 megawatts. What makes the company different from other railroads comes down to its innovative approach. By doing away with traditional indicators such as hot springs and volcanoes, it’s at the forefront of revolutionizing geothermal exploration.
Zanskar takes a much more technical approach and pumps an array of data—including past accidental finds—into machine learning models. While still developing, this data-driven approach is one that has proven promising, with all three sites explored so far deemed successful. Zanskar’s Chief Technology Officer, Joel Edwards, emphasizes the efficacy of their method, stating, “We now know this is the future of exploration.”
The firm has recently blown up in the public eye. Backed by investment firm Spring Lane Capital, it clinched $115 million in Series C funding. The influx of capital will bolster Zanskar’s efforts to identify at least ten confirmed sites to attract project finance investors. Edwards notes that this funding will enable Zanskar to visit a number of new sites. Today, these sites have the potential to support more than a gigawatt of generating capacity.
Zanskar’s attention on the U.S. West is intentional. This region is known for its geothermal energy potential, and Zanskar looks to shake up the typical narrative about geothermal power. Roughly 95 percent of geothermal systems do not have visible surface indicators, a factor that has historically constrained exploration activities. Zanskar’s cutting-edge AI models have revolutionized the process of identifying geothermal resources. Now, thanks to other non-traditional data sets, we can find them—without the use of traditional indicators.
Holland—who has become a major force at Zanskar—stresses the largely neglected promise of these yet-to-be discovered geothermal systems. He explains that recent technology could mean these systems are actually an order of magnitude more pervasive than ever thought. He’s convinced that this new exploration paradigm can result in a massive boost to America’s energy production.
“They underestimated how many undiscovered systems there are, maybe by an order of magnitude or more,” – Holland
Today, Zanskar is busily looking ahead. It has mapped out enough sites to double or treble national electricity production from geothermal sources alone. Since that time, the company has pointedly shared the message that their controversial methodology is indeed working. With each successful find, they lend credence to their visionary approach and showcase the unrealized potential that geothermal resources offer.
Additionally, the company is focused on shattering the traditional approach that’s prevented geothermal from growing rapidly. Holland asserts, “This is going to change geothermal in very short order.” Zanskar, meanwhile, is continuing to look for new geothermal prospection sites. Picture this, they are about to change the renewable energy sourcing landscape in the US forever.