Google Expands Renewable Energy Footprint with Geothermal Investment in Taiwan

Google has put its money where its mouth is for a strong commitment to renewables. The company had committed itself to installing 10 megawatts of geothermal energy in Taiwan. This project will be Google’s first geothermal investment in Asia. It’s all part of the company’s larger strategy to increase its renewable energy holdings.

That’s why the tech giant recently joined a round led by Energy Impact Partners with geothermal startup Fervo. Last month, Fervo brought its first commercial 3.5-megawatt power plant onto the grid in Nevada. This facility is not only supplying electricity to Google’s data centers, it is further evidence of the tech behemoth’s increasing dependence on renewable energy technologies.

Baseload Capital is also working to develop a geothermal project in Taiwan. Google has gone so far as to establish a local subsidiary to pursue this ambitious venture. Since 2019, this subsidiary has been actively mapping the island for geothermal resources, identifying potential sites that could harness the Earth’s heat. Taiwan’s geopolitical importance is that Taiwan is located on the western edge of the Pacific Ring of Fire. This region is well-known for its tectonic interaction and geothermal potential.

The Taiwanese government has made ambitious plans to tap into these resources. Their ultimate goal is to produce 6 gigawatts of geothermal energy by 2050. Such initiatives are the lifeblood of our efforts to reduce carbon emissions and transition away from fossil-fuel derived energy. Geothermal energy has the potential to provide 90 gigawatts of clean, reliable baseload geothermal energy in the United States. This potential is poised to be fully realized by this October 2023.

Experts believe that island hotspots like Taiwan are well-positioned to generate a substantial portion of their electricity from geothermal sources. With this project, Google is continuing its significant investment in expanding its renewable energy portfolio. Simultaneously, it is encouraging Taiwan’s own efforts to strengthen its geothermal expertise.