Technology company will invest US $ 3 billion to purchase 3 clean energy gigawatts over 20 years
Google has signed a contract with Brookfield Asset Management to acquire up to 3 Gigawatts of hydroelectric power in 20 years in the United States, in the largest corporate power agreement for hydroelectricity in the world.
The announcement was made by the Technology Company on Tuesday (15.Jul.2024), with the objective of supplying the growth of data centers and AI (Artificial Intelligence) operations in US East States. Electricity will be generated by two hydroelectric installations in Pennsylvania.
The agreement includes initial energy purchase contracts in the order of $ 3 billion (R $ 16.68 billion). Google will also invest $ 25 billion ($ 139 billion) in Pennsylvania data centers and neighboring states in the next 2 years, according to information released by the site Traffic lights.
Brookfield Asset Management, owner of Brookfield Renewable Partners, develops and operates renewable energy plants. The two hydroelectric installations in Pennsylvania will be modernized and will have their licenses renewed as part of the arrangement, as reported in the companies.
The partnership is located in the PJM region, an area that covers several East American states where Google maintains operations. The company also aims to extend the agreement to other areas of the middle atlantic and the American Midwest.
The growing demand for artificial intelligence and cloud computing led the technology industry to look for large volumes of clean energy to supply its data centers. This movement has driven electricity consumption in the United States to record levels after almost 20 years of practically stagnant consumption.
“This collaboration with Brookfield is a significant step, ensuring the supply of clean energy in the PJM region where we operate”said Amanda Peterson Corio, Google’s Data Centers Chief of Energy Centers in a statement.
