Google has committed to securing up to 3GW of hydropower in what is being termed the largest clean power agreement by a corporation, as the tech giant seeks to expand its energy-intensive data centers, the company announced on Tuesday.
The agreement with Brookfield Asset Management includes a 20-year power purchase deal worth $3 billion for electricity generated from two hydroelectric plants located in Pennsylvania.
Additionally, the tech giant will invest $25 billion into data centers across Pennsylvania and neighboring states over the next two years, according to Semafor’s report on Tuesday.
The technology sector is increasingly seeking vast amounts of clean energy to support the power demands of data centers essential for artificial intelligence and cloud computing.
Ruth Porat, president and chief investment officer of Google’s parent company Alphabet, spoke about the initiative at the AI Summit in Pittsburgh, where Donald Trump announced a $70 billion investment in AI and energy.
Amanda Peterson Corio, head of Datacenter Energy at Google, commented on the collaboration with Brookfield, stating, “This partnership is a crucial step towards ensuring a clean energy supply in the PJM region where we operate.”
Almost a year ago, Google initiated several unique power purchase agreements involving carbon-free geothermal energy and advanced nuclear options. The company is also collaborating with PJM Interconnect, the largest power grid operator in the U.S., to expedite the integration of new power sources using AI technology.
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Google has entered into an initial framework agreement with Brookfield, the owner of Brookfield Renewable Partners, stating its intent to develop and operate a renewable energy facility. The two hydroelectric plants in Pennsylvania will undergo upgrades and refurbishment as part of this agreement. Furthermore, Google intends to expand its commitment beyond these facilities to other regions within the Mid-Atlantic and Midwest.
Source: www.theguardian.com
