Google Expands Renewable Energy Portfolio with Offshore Wind Farm Acquisition

Google, the technology giant, has struck a deal to purchase two new offshore farms off the coast of the Netherlands for the purpose of harnessing offshore wind energy, as part of the company’s plan to transition all energy used in its centers to be clean by 2030.

The company revealed that it will acquire more than 700 megawatts of power as a result of the deal, and its center in the Netherlands will benefit from the offshore wind farms, contributing to about 6% of the country’s annual electricity needs.

Google aims to provide 90% clean energy for its Dutch data centers this year, with additional agreements to purchase sustainable energy from wind and solar farms in Belgium, Poland, and Italy. The company plans to offset its electricity consumption by purchasing carbon-free energy, which represents about 40% of the electricity produced in the Netherlands.

Following Google’s lead, Microsoft is committed to purchasing carbon-free energy from local sources. In May 2023, Microsoft signed a deal with Helion Energy to provide clean energy by 2028, connecting the first commercial nuclear reactor to the electricity grid in Washington.