Google and Green Energy
Looks like Google is looking to continue investing heavily in alternative energy.
According to a Reuters article published this afternoon, the ubiquitous search titan is looking to invest hundreds of millions of dollars in finding cheaper, cleaner alternative energy sources.
This isn’t the first Green Energy initiative for Google. The company’s philanthropic arm, Google.org, has already committed $20 million to funding start-up firms that research and develop solar-thermal and wind power. Among them:
* Pasadena-based eSolar Inc has recieved $10 million in funding. Google is looking to support research and development on solar thermal power, which concentrates heat from the sun to create steam and spin turbines.
* Alameda-based Makani Power Inc, developers of high-altitude wind technologies, has received a $10 million investment from Google.
Google.org is also looking at investing in a firm that creates energy through geothermal systems.
“We arrived at these three technologies because we think they have real promise number one to move down the cost curve and to be competitive with coal and number two to get to very large scale,” Reicher told Reuters at the Clean-tech Investor Summit.
Energy transmission and storage are a fourth area in which Google.org is focused.
Time and time again, leaders in business tend to take the lead on social, political and environmental issues. If you haven’t seen what else google.org is up to, check out their list of initiatives.
All said: kudos to Google for using its high visibility to promote Green energy!
