Plug into a Greener Grid: RE<C and RechargeIT Initiatives
A significant amount of global greenhouse gas emissions are generated by
coal-fired power plants and vehicles. To slow global warming, we must radically – and quickly – cut these emissions. Plug-in vehicles offer a major opportunity
to reduce oil use and corresponding emissions while renewable energy sources – solar, wind, geothermal and others – could supplant a major portion of
the planet's electricity generated from coal.
Google.org is confronting the climate crisis on two fronts: We're working on
developing utility scale renewable energy cheaper than coal (RE<C) and accelerating
the commercialization of plug-in vehicles through the RechargeIT initiative.
Our over-arching vision is that one day a large portion of the world's vehicles
will plug into an electric grid fueled by renewable energy.
Develop Renewable Energy Cheaper Than Coal (RE<C)
RE<C will work to develop electricity from renewable energy sources that is
cheaper than electricity produced from coal with a goal of producing one gigawatt
of renewable energy capacity – enough to power a city the size of San Francisco – in years, not decades. As part of this effort, Google.org is making strategic
investments and grants, advancing key public policies, and using Google products
to unlock critical information.
Renewable energy is clean, abundant, and inexhaustible. However, electricity
from renewables today is generally more expensive than electricity from coal.
RE<C is focused on making renewable energy cheaper than coal-fired power which
today is the predominant source of electricity worldwide and a large contributor
to global warming pollution.
Initially, this project to create renewable energy cheaper than coal will focus on advanced solar thermal power, wind power technologies, and enhanced geothermal systems – but we’ll explore other potential breakthrough technologies, too. The company has created a renewable energy R&D
group within Google’s engineering ranks and is looking for talented engineers,
technologists, energy experts and others to join.
In addition, Google.org is taking several significant steps to advance RE<C.
First, we are making strategic grants and investments that demonstrate
a path toward producing renewable energy at a cost below that of coal-fired power
plants. Google.org will also continue to advance public policies that accelerate
the development of renewable energy. Finally, we'll use Google’s innovative products
and resources to unlock information that enables innovation and raises awareness
about the benefits of renewable energy.
Do you have investment, R&D or project opportunities? If so, please send
your contact information and proposals to renewables@google.com.
For a closer look, please read our initiative brief.
RechargeIT
Through our RechargeIT initiative,
Google.org is working to accelerate mass commercialization of plug-in vehicles
by seeding innovation, demonstrating technology, informing the debate, and stimulating
market demand. In June 2007, we officially
launched this initiative by unveiling our plug-in demonstration
fleet, debuting Google's 1.6
megawatt solar installation, and announcing over $1 million in grants to
support plug-in vehicle adoption. We also teamed up with PG&E to demonstrate
vehicle-to-grid technology to show how electricity might be transmitted back
and forth between plug-in vehicles and the grid.
Read on to learn more about Google's commitment to a clean
energy future. |
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