Google and Google.org-Google's
philanthropic partner-anticipates investing hundreds of millions of dollars in what it considers
"breakthrough technologies," including geothermal power, solar thermal power, and wind power.
This new initiative will draw on Google's experience in
creating and building its energy-efficient data centers that are already in place. Google plans to
build on the extensive work already done in renewable and green energy fields.
In the
Official Google Blog, Larry Page, Co-Founder and President of Products writes, "Technologies have
been developed that can mature into industries capable of providing electricity cheaper than coal.
Solar thermal technology, for example, provides a very plausible path to providing renewable energy
cheaper than coal. We are also very interested in further developing other technologies that have
potential to be cost-competitive and green."
In 2008 alone, the Internet search company
plans to invest tens of millions of dollars, in part, with the hiring of 20 to 30 engineers,
scientists, and others to help investigate and create these technologies. Currently, Google has
jobs openings listed for Renewable Energy Engineer, Head of Renewable Energy Engineering, Director,
Green Business Strategy & Operations, Director of Other and Investments Manager for RE Page writes, "To lead this effort, we're looking for a world-class team. We need creative and
motivated entrepreneurs and technologists with expertise in a broad range of areas, including
materials science, physics, chemistry, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, land
acquisition and management, power transmission and substations, construction, and regulatory
issues."
Google isn't gazing into a hazy crystal ball for when this inexpensive energy
source will be on-line. Google says that it is planning to create this cheap alternative energy in
the next several years. It plans to generate one "gigawatt" of renewable energy that costs less to
produce than a gigawatt of coal-fed energy. A "gigawatt" is defined as a billion watts, which is
the amount of power it takes to power a city the same size as San Francisco according to Google.
As Google Co-Founder Sergey Brin wrote on the Google Blog, "It is unreasonable to think
that people are going to stop traveling or using electricity. Technology is the answer."
One of the goals of RE Another reason behind RE A positive financial return is
one of the other important underlying reasons for Google's investment in renewable energy.
Google.org's Executive Director, Dr. Larry Brilliant, explained, "Google.org's hope is that by
funding research on promising technologies, investing in promising new companies, and doing a lot
of R&D ourselves, we may help spark a green electricity revolution that will deliver breakthrough
technologies priced lower than coal."
Part of the investment in alternative energy will
come from the Google.org's three million shares of Google stock it received when it was launched by
Google.
Along side RE Google's Mountain View campus already has one of the largest solar panel installations in
the US. However, Google doesn't have any plans to become a green power company, but rather it
plans to license out the renewable technologies it helps create. It also looks to create
partnerships with renewable energy companies.
In the Official Google Blog, Page writes,
"Our new initiative isn't just about Google's energy needs; we're seeking to accelerate the pace at
which clean energy technologies are developing, so they can rival the economics of coal quickly."
Some of Google's current green partners include the RechargeIT, an initiative that works
to develop plug-in vehicles in which Google has already invested $10 million and the Climate Savers
Computing Initiative, which works to create more energy-efficient computers.
Gregory
Miller, Managing Director, Investments, Google.org posted to the Official Google blog, "last summer
we announced an RFP (request for investment proposals) as part of our RechargeIT aiming to
accelerate the adoption of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles and vehicle-to-grid technology. . . We
selected just under 40 companies in categories including batteries, components and vehicle-to-grid
solution to advance to the next round of review. Look for us to announce investments in some of
these interesting companies during the first quarter of 2008."
Google's clean energy
website also lists two companies it is partnering with on the RE
