The Green Blueprint Sage Geosystems' bet on underground energy storage
Dec 17, 2025
Cindy Taff, CEO of Sage Geosystems, is pioneering geothermal technologies that could transform energy storage. She discusses her shift from oil and gas to focusing on gravity fracking and pressure geothermal. The conversation covers the promising partnership with San Miguel Electric Cooperative, facilitating a swift 13-month build of a commercial facility. Cindy elaborates on the innovative process of deep drilling and reservoir pressure to enhance energy density, highlighting the potential for a major shift to clean, long-term energy storage.
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Upside-Down Pumped Hydro Concept
- Sage's pressure geothermal is like pumped hydro turned upside down, using subsurface pressure instead of elevated reservoirs.
- Deeper wells (8,000–12,000 ft) give higher energy density than the tallest pumped hydro due to greater pressure.
Rural Utility Backs Pilot After Site Visit
- San Miguel Electric Cooperative visited Sage's 2023 pilot and then leased land for Sage's first commercial facility.
- SMECI plans to scale solar after an initial USDA-backed tranche and could pair long-duration geothermal storage with that expansion.
Kick Off Interconnection Early And In Parallel
- Start grid interconnection studies early and in parallel with design and long-lead equipment orders.
- Expect linear, slow processes and budget extra time because queues and feasibility studies can take far longer than initial estimates.