Why is Google using geothermal energy?
Google wants to help with climate change by using clean energy. They plan to power all their data centres and offices with carbon-free energy (CFE) 24/7 by 2030. Their big goal is to make the world's electricity cleaner.
Google thinks we need new technology for clean energy, and one option is geothermal energy. This kind of energy captures heat from the Earth's crust to make electricity without using fossil fuels or adding carbon to the air.
This helps make a steady source of clean energy, like solar and wind power. Google is working with another company for this technology.
With whom has Google partnered for this technology?
Google recently started a geothermal project in Nevada, USA, partnering with Fervo, a clean-energy company. This project creates power by tapping into the heat stored deep under the ground. Fervo uses special drilling methods to extract this underground heat.
Fervo built two wells and used cables to gather information about the heat underground. The result is a geothermal plant that produces continuous clean energy while needing less land than other renewable energy sources.
This geothermal technology works by pumping cold water 8,000 feet deep, creating steam. This steam turns a turbine, creating electricity to power two data centres in Henderson and Reno (two cities in Nevada) and Google Cloud operations in Las Vegas.
What is the potential of geothermal energy?
The U.S. Department of Energy thinks geothermal energy could provide much of the country's electricity by 2050. Geothermal energy is a good choice in places where it's hard to use other clean energy sources.
The International Energy Agency has said for a while that geothermal energy can help fight climate change because it makes energy without releasing harmful gases. Google is teaming up with Project InnerSpace, a big non-profit organisation working to spread the use of geothermal energy worldwide.
