The giant Google is taking a new step in its environmental commitment. The company has signed its largest offshore wind energy deal with Dutch companies, to power its European data centers.
Google announced on Thursday that it had signed the largest power purchase agreement (PPA) in its history. The Mountain View firm has in fact committed to purchasing no less than 478 megawatts (MW) of energy from two new wind farms developed in the Netherlands by the joint ventures Crosswind & Ecowende Consortia, associated with the energy giants Shell and Eneco. But to serve what ambitions?
Google multiplies renewable energy projects in Europe
We know that renewable energy projects are increasingly linking their production to long-term power purchase agreements, to guarantee the security of their income. And that’s good, because companies like Google are also looking to secure their supply, while meeting their clean energy goals. So all these beautiful people get together.
The American behemoth does not hide its ambition to green its electricity supply. His goal ? Operate 24 hours a day with carbon-free energy by 2030, particularly for its data centers. The major agreement formalized this Thursday also strengthens Google’s position as a leader in the use of renewable energy to power its operations.
In addition to this Dutch agreement, Google also announced smaller-scale renewable PPAs but still in Europe, whether in Italy, Poland or Belgium. The company had already concluded an electricity purchase contract (of 100 MW) with Engie, for a period of 12 years, at the end of 2022. The expansion of these initiatives once again confirms Google’s desire to diversify its sources of renewable energy on the Old Continent.
Google already knows how to use this energy
As for the use of this electricity, Google’s president for Europe, Middle East and Africa, Matt Brittin, highlighted that the ambition to run on carbon-free energy requires solutions in every operational network .
Google wants to stand out here and adopt an hourly approach, trying to match each hour of electricity used with an hour of clean energy production. This strategy would help to have a better idea of real consumption.
This major agreement with Dutch wind farms in any case demonstrates the growing influence of technology companies in the transition to cleaner energy sources. Google demonstrates here its ability to catalyze innovative partnerships, to help propel the industry towards a greener and more sustainable future.
Source : Reuters
2