World's largest private energy grid opts for hybrid cooling system

Fermi America has partnered with Hungarian power-cooling specialist MVM EGI to develop advanced hybrid cooling systems for its planned 11 GW energy campus and data center in Amarillo, Texas. The collaboration, formalized through a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding signed on December 1, will focus initially on engineering and feasibility studies for indirect hybrid cooling towers designed to support up to 6 GW of natural gas generation and four AP1000 nuclear reactors. These 450-foot towers will employ a hybrid dry-wet cooling approach that combines air cooling with closed-loop water circulation to significantly reduce evaporative water loss, with additional plans to explore recycled water and solar-covered retention ponds to enhance water conservation. Project Matador, situated on Texas Tech University land, aims to become one of the world’s largest data center campuses, spanning 18 million square feet and integrating multiple energy sources including natural gas, solar, wind, and nuclear power. The project has secured key energy agreements, such as a pipeline connection with Energy