Zanskar, the AI-native geothermal startup that’s been making serious noise in the clean energy world, has just hit another major milestone. The company announced a second deep geothermal discovery—this time at a site called “Pumpernickel” in Northern Nevada—that could soon become one of the biggest geothermal power plants in the state.

If the name sounds quirky, the results are anything but. The Pumpernickel project has proven both high temperature and strong underground permeability—two key ingredients for a successful geothermal power plant. According to Zanskar, the site will move into full-scale development immediately, with the first phase expected to deliver clean, firm electricity to the grid in just three years.

“This is another major proof point for our AI-native approach,” said Carl Hoiland, Zanskar’s Co-founder and CEO. “We’re not just finding power—we’re proving it, fast.”

Geothermal energy isn’t new, but the way Zanskar is going about it is. Instead of focusing on next-gen Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS)—which involve fracturing rock to create new reservoirs—Zanskar is proving there’s still massive untapped potential in what’s called conventional hydrothermal geothermal. These are natural reservoirs that already have the heat and water flow needed for power—but historically, they’ve been hard to find.

Zanskar’s edge lies in its custom-built AI and massive geoscience models, which sift through enormous volumes of geospatial data to pinpoint hidden geothermal hotspots. Once a target is identified, the company moves quickly, bringing in its own drilling and construction teams to verify and develop the site.

“We’ve always believed the geothermal map of the U.S. is way out of date,” said Joel Edwards, Co-founder and CTO. “With our models and field data, we’re proving that the resource is way bigger—and way more accessible—than most people thought.”

The Pumpernickel discovery follows Zanskar’s widely publicized turnaround at Lightning Dock in New Mexico, where the company took over a struggling geothermal field and turned it into the most productive pumped geothermal well in the U.S.—possibly even the world—in under a year.

Now, Zanskar is applying that same high-confidence, AI-guided targeting process to a growing pipeline of sites across the country. The goal? Deliver gigawatts of clean, reliable, and affordable baseload power at a time when the grid desperately needs it.

Building the Future—From the Ground Down

While the discovery itself is big news, what’s happening after the drill bit hits is just as exciting. Zanskar isn’t just finding resources—it’s rethinking how geothermal power plants get built.

With its vertically integrated model, the company combines advanced drilling tech, AI-powered planning, and modern construction techniques to drastically cut the time and cost from discovery to power delivery. Think automated drilling platforms, real-time reservoir analytics, and modular power plant design—all aimed at getting clean energy online faster.

“In the past, geothermal development could take a decade or more,” said Hoiland. “We’re talking about cutting that timeline by more than half—and doing it at scale.”

Zanskar’s approach is proving that geothermal doesn’t have to be slow, small, or niche. With smarter tools, faster drills, and better data, the company is making clean, 24/7 power a lot more attainable—and a lot more exciting.