Google has entered into a deal with a Swedish wind farm developer to power its Finnish data centre.
According to Google, the decade-long wind power deal will see the search engine giant's Hamina data centre, in South Finland, meeting all its energy requirements using power generated from the O2 wind farm, which is set to be constructed in Maevaara, in Northern Sweden.
The planned wind farm is being funded by German insurer Allianz and will boast 24 turbines, with a total capacity of 72MW. The farm should be fully operational by 2015, with construction of the project set to begin "in the coming months", according to Google.
The wind energy generated by the project will flow into a grid that spans the two countries. The data centre will most likely tap all the energy pumped into the grid by the Swedish farm, and the project should drastically reduce Google's energy expenses.
Google has made significant investments in alternative energy in recent years. The brand has inked three other renewable power purchase deals for several of its US data centres, all of which were for wind energy. The company already claims to be carbon-neutral, writes Phsy.org.
Closer to home
Google's investment in renewable energy projects totals $1 billion, most of which was spent on initiatives in the US. But one of its latest investments is on our doorstep.
According to VentureBeat, Google made its first renewable energy investment in Africa just last week, backing the Jasper Power Project, a solar power plant in SA.
Google's investment in Jasper Power totals $12 million and forms part of a larger development consortium consisting of US solar power project developer, SolarReserve, as well as South African renewable energy and investment developers, Intikon Energy and the Kensani Group.
Jasper Power is a 96MW solar photovoltaic project and will be situated in the Northern Cape, near Kimberley. According to Google, the project will not only meet SA's renewable energy goals, but will also create long-term jobs and economic opportunity.
"Back in 2008, South Africa experienced a severe energy shortage, which resulted in blackouts throughout the country and slowed down economic growth," Google's energy and sustainability director, Rick Needham, wrote on the company's blog.
"Since then, the South African government has been actively supporting the growth of new sources of electricity to power the nation... Given South Africa's position as an economic powerhouse in Africa, a greener grid in South Africa can set an example for the whole continent."
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