Google Becomes and Energy Company

Apparently, Google is getting into the energy business. On December 16, 2010, a subsidiary based in Delaware called Google Energy was newly formed. It appears that part of the reason Google has done this move is so that it can become “carbon neutral,” such that it will use a lot of renewable energy for its own energy needs. In its efforts, Google is also going to invest in companies that develop clean energy technology, and it’s also going to invest millions of dollars in R&D for renewable energy itself.

As stated previously, one of its main goals in this is for Google to base its own energy usage in “green energy” renewable sources; that’s because Google itself is a major consumer of electricity. By also promoting the broad adoption of green energy by licensing technology on those terms (and perhaps by selling electricity from renewable sources as well), Google will bring its own vision of renewable energy in line with established “green energy” sources.

Google “green energy” goals

Specifically, Google hopes to produce one gigawatt of electricity from renewable energy sources at a faster pace than can currently be done at today’s levels of green energy technological development. (One gigawatt, by the way, is enough to give power to the entire city of San Francisco.)

Google wants to show that that amount of green energy can be produced more cheaply than can be done from coal — and that it can be done now. This is something that has been a hindrance to “green energy” resource development, because thus far, production of that energy has still been more expensive overall than staying with established fossil fuel sources, despite the obvious benefit green energy development provides over the long term.

Green energy Google will be investing in

Specifically, Google is going to invest in wind, solar thermal, and geothermal technologies. The ultimate and hoped-for result is that these energy sources will have lower prices than coal power generation, as low as 2.5 cents per kilowatt-hour. Google is currently working with a solar thermal company called eSolar and has invested in a company called Manaki Power, which focuses on harnessing wind at high altitudes to generate electricity.

Further, it’s also going to hire some 20 to 30 experts in the energy field, to be part of its clean energy division within the next year. As more projects develop, more investments will follow, according to Google green energy “czar,” Bill Weihl.

Google’s efforts may be significant not so much in their initial impact directly, but as a role model for how future corporations will begin to address energy needs and their impact on global warming for the future.

The executive director of Google.org, Larry Brilliant, has said that this is part of Google.org’s mission to alleviate poverty and improve human health. However, venturing into the energy business is also part of a strategic plan to expand into new business areas, according to Google cofounder Sergey Brin.

The Rest @ Choose Energy




Lee Royal
On Twitter