Google Energy
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Renewable energy |
| Founded | 2009 |
| Products | Clean energy generation and marketing |
| Parent | Alphabet Inc. |
Google Energy LLC operates as a subsidiary of Alphabet Inc. with the objective of lowering energy expenses for the Google organization while generating and marketing clean energy. It also utilizes initiatives supported by the philanthropic arm, Google.org.
Operations
By 2007, Google had made significant investments in various renewable energy sources such as wind power, solar power, solar thermal, and geothermal power, including a 1.6 MW solar demonstration project at its main campus. The first renewable energy investment by Google Energy came in 2010, when it allocated US$38.8 million toward two wind farms located in North Dakota. Developed by NextEra Energy Resources, these facilities produce 169.5 MW—sufficient to supply electricity to approximately 55,000 households—and help reduce reliance on fossil fuels in the region. Google secured a 20% ownership interest to support project development.[1] On July 30, 2010, Google Energy entered into an agreement with NextEra to purchase 114 MW of wind-generated power from Iowa at a fixed price for a duration of 20 years.[2] This electricity is primarily intended to supply Google's data centers but may also be traded on the open market.
In 2010, Google Energy partnered with other investors to advance the Atlantic Wind Connection, an underwater transmission line designed to connect offshore wind farms with onshore electrical grids. Financial obstacles arose due to depressed natural gas prices.[3]
In April 2011, Google expanded its collaboration with NextEra by signing a 20-year power purchase agreement (PPA) for the 100.8 MW Minco II Wind Energy Center situated in Oklahoma.[4]
Google committed $280 million to SolarCity in 2011 and followed with an additional $300 million investment in 2015.[5]
On September 17, 2013, Google declared its intention to acquire all electricity output from the 240 MW Happy Hereford wind farm near Amarillo, Texas, which sells power into Oklahoma’s wholesale market close to one of Google's data centers.[6]
, Google holds power purchase agreements amounting to a total capacity of 2,600 MW.[7]
DeepMind integration
Google is incorporating its DeepMind artificial intelligence technology to enhance the efficiency of energy generation from its wind farms, tackling the variability that traditionally hampers wind energy adoption. DeepMind created predictive algorithms trained using weather forecasts and turbine performance data to estimate power production up to 36 hours in advance. This forecasting tool enables planning of electricity delivery to the grid one day ahead and has reportedly improved the "value" derived from Google's wind assets by roughly 20%. Although this innovation is currently applied internally, there is potential for commercialization aimed at other wind farm operators, thereby strengthening Google's position within the renewable energy sector.
Authorization to buy and sell energy
In February 2010, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) granted permission to Google Energy, a subsidiary of Google, allowing it to buy and sell electricity at market rates. This authorization covers transactions involving energy, capacity, and ancillary services but clarifies that Google Energy neither owns nor operates any generation or transmission infrastructure. This regulatory clearance supports Google's strategic move into energy markets and complements its investments in renewable power.
See also
- Google PowerMeter, a former Google service dedicated to monitoring energy usage