November 27, 2007

Google Takes On Global Warming

Erick Schonfeld

27 comments »

Google announced today that it will be investing tens of millions of R&D dollars through its philanthropic arm, Google.org, to develop clean energy technologies that are cheaper than coal. Google co-founder Larry Page thinks that solar thermal and wind energy is the way to go. Google is already working with eSolar, an Idealab company, and Makani Power, a high-altitude wind-energy company (although it is not clear whether Google has invested in either). Google, incidentally, has also worked with another Idealab company, Energy Innovations, which installed the solar panels on the roof of its campus buildings and is working on some interesting solar-concentration technologies in its own right that involve Fresnel lenses, but I digress.

Google wants to apply its expertise in running energy-efficient data centers into broader renewable energy businesses. Obviously, this has little to do with search or organizing the world’s information, which is why it is under Google.org. But Google has money to burn, and if anything comes out of this effort, it will be well worth it. Nevertheless, getting renewable energy below the cost of coal at an unsubsidized rate is a tall order for anyone. It is an audacious goal that nobody will blame Google for not meeting, and that will attract heaps praise if they make any progress whatsoever. But, hey, they are smart guys. Solving global warming is just a big engineering problem, right? Larry Page could do that on his 20-percent Tuesdays.

Sphere It

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National Outdoors

November 27th, 2007 at 3:36 pm

Backdrifter

November 27th, 2007 at 8:54 pm

Google.org Targets Climate Change, Poverty and Emerging Threats

January 17th, 2008 at 10:07 am

Comments

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dale

November 27th, 2007 at 12:37 pm

Finally some in the world is leading the way in reduce green house gas emssions . I wish the USA gov’t should buy into the Kyoto protocal or at least follow Canada and the Common Wealth Nations climate change programs. It is not all about money. Way to go Google!!!!!!!!!!1
wayne lambright

November 27th, 2007 at 12:38 pm

Way to go Google :-), Leadership by example.
Gubatron

November 27th, 2007 at 12:41 pm

We need a way to store all the heat of the summer and then use it in the winter.
Some kind of chemical storage for massive amount of heat energy.

I think this to myself everytime I’m sweating my ass on the street in the summer.

“If only I could use all the heat outside during the winter”

Too bad I’m not a chemist, I’m only a computer guy, but it’s worth looking into energy storage solutions of that sort.
maxconfus

November 27th, 2007 at 1:05 pm

energy is a $350B, yes biolet that’s billion, annual biz and it’s a great one to be in because of that. energy execs make web execs look like the Clampett’s…
Ed

November 27th, 2007 at 1:55 pm

It’s good that they’re doing something. They have some great people, like Dan Reicher, at google.org. Some of it may be engineering, but alot of it has to deal with capacity building, communications, policy development.

BTW, you don’t have to be a chemist to help address the reduction of GHG emissions. Check out the energystar.gov website for tips and good advice on what you can do at home and save some money while you take those actions.
David Cohen

November 27th, 2007 at 2:12 pm

There they go again, organizing the worlds information.

No, obviously, this is a good thing. A fine example for other companies who are successful.
agnes

November 27th, 2007 at 2:38 pm

The first - and with luck, not the last - time, I will be impressed to read such a posting.
David from Log Thing

November 27th, 2007 at 2:58 pm

Its good to see that Google is getting behind this kind of thing. The more big players that get involved, the better.
David Mackey

November 27th, 2007 at 3:22 pm

Kudos to Google.
Sebastian W.

November 27th, 2007 at 3:25 pm

so what is the ratio to this and the amount they spend on private jets?
James

November 27th, 2007 at 3:40 pm

I for one welcome our renewable energy Google Overlords!
John Public

November 27th, 2007 at 3:44 pm

Three things:

1) Curious this was released the same day Verizon makes an announcement about opening up their network.

2) It’s really going to suck when Google’s goodwill is used up in the market. By then they’re going to have their hands in so many things it’ll be impossible to walk away.

3) I can see it now … free power for your house as long as you allow Google to mount LCD screens in all your rooms that run context sensitive ads.
DavidEzra

November 27th, 2007 at 4:15 pm

Smart move …. even though “energy” is in no way associated with their core business, it’s my opinion that all of the “big money” that will be made in the next 20 years will be in “energy.” Let’s face it, our energy supply is tenable at best, and whoever develops cheap renewable energy will have discovered the holy grail.
keef

November 27th, 2007 at 4:21 pm

Yeah but it’s too bad mankind has little or nothing to do with global warming so they are just pissing their money away. Whatever…

But hey, if Al Gore made a movie and won a Nobel peace prize (alongside such peace lovers as Arafat) it must be worth spending money on! Whoopee!
Adam

November 27th, 2007 at 4:43 pm

Maybe this helps them sleep at night after they fly their private 737 across country with a couple people on it.
Steve Ballmer

November 27th, 2007 at 6:44 pm

Al Gore is getting to them!
btw he also invented the internet.

http://fakesteveballmer.blogspot.com
iHero

November 27th, 2007 at 6:59 pm

Finally — a reason to like the Google.
Fake Urlacher

November 27th, 2007 at 7:24 pm

Good to see a leading company take a stance like this one.

We also need to get afforable solar power to the individual customers.

http://www.fakesportsblogs.com
Panamajack

November 27th, 2007 at 7:24 pm

Good job google.

Erick you wrote:

“Nevertheless, getting renewable energy below the cost of coal at an unsubsidized rate is a tall order for anyone.”

Agreed, especially when we get to burn carbon based fuels and dump carbon FOR FREE into the atmosphere . It’s not just about technlogy, hard minded regulation on carbon emissions is essential to drive said technological innovation. Cap emissions and trade the excess to benefit early adopters!
Vishal Sharma

November 28th, 2007 at 1:28 am

Google is setting and leading examples in all reas it is entering. By entering in this emerging market not only it is fulfilling it energy needs but is making sure any new technology is tapped in early and to its advantage. I think this is the core of their strategy as well if you can compete with others then come with new initiative, with that much money and best brains on the planet in its armour it can do anything now a days.
Ian

November 28th, 2007 at 2:43 am

Sounds good. I really like this quote i got from the register “The Prius is made of recycled fairtrade coffee and runs on magic moonbeams and love.”

I’m not sure whether this sums google up or not. I hope not. but who knows.
Hank

November 28th, 2007 at 4:49 am

This is a pure business decision on the part of Google. They use megawatts of power to run their server farms. All forward-looking companies are seeking ways to hedge on increasingly expensive joules.
Jerk

November 28th, 2007 at 11:13 am

“Solving global warming is just a big engineering problem, right?”

Reversing the trend from the last ice age is not “just a big engineering problem.” It’s a foolish use of resources and, if it were possible, potentially dangerous. Thankfully, it’s not possible.

This is simply exploitation by their marketing department of the current public combined enthusiasm and ignorance of climatology (just read comments above and below). Oh yeah, and a huge tax write off.
kioki25

November 28th, 2007 at 7:20 pm

Finally some in the world is leading the way in reduce green house gas emssions. Google found a way to become better than it already is. Too bad the google founder won,t run for president, because he would make a good one!