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[SITUATION] · [QUIET] · [TECHNOLOGY]

3 clusters · 8 sources · 25 days · First seen · Last updated

Google data center energy and environmental expansion

Overview

Google is pursuing large-scale energy storage solutions to support its data center infrastructure. In the United States, the company has entered a 20-year agreement to purchase electricity from a $350 million solar and battery facility in West Virginia. This project, developed by MN8 Energy, will utilize a hybrid storage approach combining lithium-iron phosphate batteries with 100 MWh of zinc-based batteries from Eos Energy to provide continuous clean power.

To further secure constant, carbon-free power, Google is expanding into geothermal and nuclear technologies. In Utah, the company will purchase 396 MW from Fervo Energy’s Cape Station plant, a capacity intended to power approximately 430,000 homes. Additionally, Google is supporting Kairos Power’s development of the Hermes 2 molten salt reactor. Testing is currently underway at the Engineering Test Unit 3 in Tennessee to refine safety systems before the facility aims to provide up to 50 MW to the grid by 2030.

As Google expands these energy initiatives, it is facing environmental scrutiny regarding its data center operations. In Chile, local environmental groups, including OLCA and MOSACAT, are challenging Google’s attempt to reactivate a data center project in Cerrillos. These groups are demanding strict environmental reviews, alleging the company is attempting to present a project as “new” to bypass previous judicial rulings and assessments concerning water usage from the Santiago Central Aquifer.

Entities

Google · United States · Kairos Power · Fervo Energy · West Virginia

Timeline

  1. [TECHNOLOGY] 4 sources
    Google secures clean energy via geothermal and nuclear projects

    Google is securing constant clean energy for its data centers through geothermal power from Fervo Energy in Utah and upcoming molten salt nuclear reactors from Kairos Power.

  2. [TECHNOLOGY] 2 sources
    Google expands data center energy storage and faces environmental scrutiny

    Google is investing $350 million in zinc batteries for 24-hour clean energy storage while facing environmental opposition to a proposed data center project in Cerrillos, Chile.

  3. [TECHNOLOGY] 2 sources
    Google to power data centers via $350M solar and zinc battery plant

    Google will be the primary buyer for a $350 million solar plant in West Virginia, using a mix of lithium and zinc batteries to provide 24/7 clean energy for its data centers by 2030.

Sources

canarymedia.com · forbesliberia.com · krajiski.ba · merca2.es · noticiasdemalaga.es · okdiario.com · pisapapeles.net · thecooldown.com

This summary has been updated 1 time: see revision history