Google has entered into a significant agreement to procure geothermal energy for its operations in Asia, marking a historic first for both the company and Taiwan. This initiative is a milestone in the region’s shift toward renewable energy, according to the tech giant.
The agreement aligns with Google’s ambitious climate objectives, including a commitment to halve its greenhouse gas emissions and to achieve carbon-free energy usage around the clock by 2030. Geothermal energy, derived from the Earth’s internal heat, is a renewable source that could help mitigate the pollution from fossil fuels that drives climate change.
This agreement sets a precedent for geothermal power procurement in Taiwan.
The deal, finalized with international geothermal developer Baseload Capital, highlights the importance of power purchase agreements (PPAs) which assure developers of customer commitments, thus facilitating the creation of new renewable energy sources. Baseload Capital anticipates that this collaboration will introduce an additional 10 megawatts of carbon-neutral energy to Taiwan’s power grid by 2029, effectively doubling the existing commercial geothermal capacity.
The energy generated from these projects will be used to support Google’s regional facilities, including data centers and offices, alongside its largest hardware research and development hub located outside the United States. Furthermore, Google has indicated it plans to make an equity investment in Baseload Capital, although specifics regarding the investment amount were not disclosed.
In addition to this initiative, Google has partnered with Fervo in the United States to explore cutting-edge technology that would extend the availability of geothermal energy beyond natural reservoirs. The company is also evaluating similar geothermal agreements in countries such as Japan and Indonesia. Recently, a collaboration was announced with the University of Newcastle to investigate geothermal energy development in Australia.
Michael Terrell, Google’s senior director of clean energy and carbon reduction, expressed optimism about the agreement, stating that this initial corporate geothermal deal in Taiwan could encourage broader corporate engagement with geothermal energy initiatives throughout the region and beyond.
