Wedoany.com Report-Dec.7, Fermi America, in collaboration with the Texas Tech University System, has signed a non-binding memorandum of understanding with Hungarian company MVM EGI Zrt to jointly develop an advanced hybrid dry–wet cooling system for the planned 11 GW private energy campus in West Texas.

Fermi America and MVM EGI will partner on feasibility studies for a series of indirect hybrid cooling towers.

The agreement covers preliminary engineering and feasibility studies for a series of large-scale indirect hybrid cooling towers that will serve Project Matador's 6 GW of combined-cycle natural gas generation and four AP1000 nuclear reactors.

The partnership will adapt MVM EGI's established hybrid cooling technology to local conditions, defining cooling requirements, evaluating tower layouts, addressing site and height limitations, and modelling water-saving performance. The design emphasises air cooling with closed-loop water circulation to minimise evaporative loss.

Construction of the first cooling tower is scheduled to start in January 2026, with the complete system expected to be finished by 2034 in line with the phased commissioning of the power generation units.

The collaboration also includes assessment of recycled water sources, underground storage, and solar-covered retention ponds to further reduce evaporation and protect the Ogallala Aquifer.

Fermi America's multi-billion-dollar investment and 99-year lease with the Texas Tech University System underscore the project's long-term commitment to regional sustainability and responsible management of local water resources. The early focus on water-efficient cooling technology reflects this priority from the initial planning stage.

The MoU establishes clear milestones – from requirements definition and concept validation through detailed design – to ensure the cooling infrastructure supports reliable, large-scale clean energy delivery while demonstrating careful stewardship of the Panhandle's natural resources.