24/7 Carbon-free Energy by 2030
Google, a leader in computing infrastructure, is committed to running all of its data centres and campuses on carbon-free energy (CFE) around the clock by 2030. As part of this effort, Google has established a power purchase agreement with ENGIE for offshore wind energy from the Moray West wind farm in Scotland, which will increase the UK operations’ carbon-free energy to around 90% by 2025.
Furthermore, Google is leveraging innovative methods, such as off-site heat recovery, to conserve energy. The new data centre will incorporate provisions for off-site heat recovery, allowing the captured heat generated by the data centre to be utilized by nearby homes and businesses. The facility will also implement an air-based cooling system.
Google’s dedication to sustainability has attracted customers like Rightmove, a UK-based company, which has chosen Google Cloud for its cloud computing needs to support their own sustainability goals. Rightmove views Google’s commitment to decarbonize and build sustainable data centres as instrumental in reducing the carbon impact of their digital infrastructure and advancing their net-zero goals.
Google’s Ongoing Investments in the UK
This recent investment in the Waltham Cross data centre is part of Google’s continued support for the UK and its thriving economy. It reinforces Google’s unwavering commitment to the UK, a vital market for the company and a global leader in AI, technology, and science. This development follows Google’s previous investments in office spaces, including the acquisition of the Central Saint Giles office and the establishment of a 1 million sq ft. development in King’s Cross, along with the launch of the Accessibility Discovery Centre to promote the creation of accessible technology throughout the UK.
Beyond office expansions, Google has also extended its infrastructure connections with the laying of the Grace Hopper subsea cable, linking the UK with the US and Spain. In addition, Google has actively engaged with over 500 locations in the UK since 2015, providing free digital skills training to over 1 million people. This commitment was further strengthened with the expansion of the Google Digital Garage training programme to include a new AI-focused curriculum, enabling more individuals in the UK to benefit from opportunities arising from this technology.
