Google Invests in Taiwanese Solar Energy to Boost 1GW Sustainable Power Pipeline

 

Google Invests in Taiwanese Solar Energy to Boost 1GW Sustainable Power Pipeline

Google is investing in a Taiwanese solar company, New Green Power (NGP), part of BlackRock’s investment portfolio, to develop a 1-gigawatt (GW) sustainable energy pipeline in the region. This initiative aims to help both Google and Taiwan meet their climate goals and stabilize green energy production in a crucial semiconductor hub.

Currently, fossil fuels generate nearly 85 percent of Taiwan’s power grid. Amanda Peterson Corio, Google’s global head of data center energy, highlighted the importance of companies in developing new renewable energy sources and promoting technologies for decarbonizing regional electricity systems. Google already has a significant presence in Taiwan, including a data center, and expects to use up to 300 megawatts of solar capacity to power its data centers there.

Image credit: New Green Power 

Peterson Corio mentioned that Google might offer a portion of this clean energy capacity to its semiconductor suppliers and manufacturers in the region, aiding them in meeting their green energy goals and reducing indirect (Scope 3) emissions from Google’s supply chain partners. "A significant share of our Scope 3 footprint can be traced back to the electricity grids that power our suppliers and users, which is why broad decarbonization — and partnerships like this — continue to be core to our net-zero goal," she wrote.

While regulators have not yet approved the deal, Google has not disclosed the amount it is investing in NGP.