| By Xuan Zhong |

With technological support from start-up Fervo, Google’s new geothermal energy project in Nevada is now up and running. This project can generate up to 3.5MW of electricity for two data centers in Las Vegas and Reno. The running of this geothermal project is an important start of Google’s decarbonization plan, which aims to rely on carbon-pollution-free electricity by 2030. This project could help Google gain access to key data such as the efficiency and cost gap between geothermal and conventional energy sources, the potential dangers of geothermal energy, and requirements for its scale-up operation.

Geothermal energy is technologically immature compared to wind and solar, but it has the advantage of being more stable and will be a key part of Google’s clean energy technology focus. In September, Google announced another partnership with the nonprofit Project InnerSpace, increasing funding in technology research and development for geothermal energy.

From a larger perspective, shareholders and taxpayers want Google to continue to invest in projects that increase business efficiency and revenue margins. Data centers consume enormous amounts of energy, resulting in high energy bills for Google. Geothermal energy investment helps increase business operating efficiency and meets social responsibilities by dealing with substantial energy requirements while cutting down on carbon emissions. This is especially crucial for major corporations such as Google and AWS to tackle as they expand their power-hungry data centers.

Accordingly, Google is expected to continue exploring clean energy possibilities with a methodical and determined approach. And geothermal energy is a promising option for companies to pursue on the path toward a sustainable, clean, and carbon-free energy future.

Photo Credit: Google