Google's recent nuclear energy procurement in the US has sparked interest, especially after CEO Sundar Pichai discussed nuclear power during his visit to Japan, fueling speculation that the company's nuclear ambitions could extend to the Asia-Pacific. A senior Google energy executive said the company continues to drive a variety of energy initiatives in the region, including solar and biomass projects, all part of long-term plans.
Pichai, during an early October trip to Japan, hinted at the potential use of nuclear power for Google's data centers. His remarks, made in a country still grappling with the legacy of a nuclear disaster, were seen as particularly significant. Less than two weeks later, Google announced a deal to purchase nuclear energy from US-based Kairos Power, which will come from small modular reactors (SMRs). The tech giant is targeting 500 MW of carbon-free energy, set to come online between 2030 and 2035, to fuel its AI research and meet decarbonization goals.
Despite this push into nuclear energy, Google remains committed to renewable energy investments. Giorgio Fortunato, Google's Asia-Pacific head of clean energy and power, noted that countries in the region have varying energy resources, geographies, and regulatory environments, meaning there's no universal blueprint for the shift from fossil fuels to renewables.
Fortunato said that, over the past year, Google has rolled out numerous projects across the Asia-Pacific to achieve its 2030 net-zero carbon goal, including a 1GW solar project in Taiwan and a total of 275MW of clean energy projects in other countries.
In Japan, where land constraints limit large-scale energy developments, Google and its partners are advancing hundreds of small solar projects to supply power to local data centers, cloud regions, and offices. Fortunato added that this model could be replicated in other nations with limited land resources.
In May, Google announced two solar procurement deals in Japan, totaling 60MW. One project, in collaboration with Itochu Corporation's Clean Energy Connect, involves 800 small, distributed solar sites across various regions, producing 40MW. Another project, developed with Shizen Energy, will generate 20MW of solar power in the same grid region as Google's data center in Inzai, Chiba Prefecture. Both projects, which will see US$690 million in investment, are expected to be operational within four years.
In Singapore, Google inked a 10-year deal with a local energy firm to purchase biomass energy generated from waste, combined with carbon capture technology. The project will generate six times more energy than a similarly sized solar array. In Australia and India, Google is using innovative procurement methods and signing deals with multiple partners, spanning solar and wind energy.
Google also highlighted its role as a founding member of the Asia Clean Energy Coalition (ACEC), which brings together energy buyers, suppliers, and policymakers to accelerate regional decarbonization efforts.
Credit: Google, website screenshot
Article translated by Vyra Wu
