Google Secures 18 New Renewable Energy Deals Worth 1,600 Megawatts
Google announces its largest renewable energy package to date, featuring 18 new deals across the globe. These agreements bring the company's total wind and solar capacity to 5,500 megawatts and spur $2 billion in infrastructure investments.
Google announces its largest package of renewable energy deals yet, totaling 1,600 megawatts across 18 new agreements in the United States, Chile, and Europe. These additions bring the company's total portfolio of wind and solar agreements to approximately 5,500 megawatts and increase its overall number of renewable projects to 52. Google states that this massive expansion drives about $2 billion in new investments into global energy infrastructure.
In the United States, Google purchases 720 megawatts of capacity from solar farms located in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Texas, marking a shift away from its earlier focus on wind energy. CEO Sundar Pichai attributes this transition to the rapidly declining costs of solar power. Meanwhile, in Chile, the company invests in its first hybrid solar and wind project to power a local data center, utilizing the complementary nature of wind and sunlight to provide carbon-free electricity for longer periods each day.
Google keeps the specific details of its European plans under wraps until an upcoming event in Finland where Pichai speaks. This major push for clean power follows a recent, similar climate pledge from rival Amazon, which promises to run its entire business on 100 percent renewable energy by the year 2030.