08 January 2010

Google: Generating energy offline?

Chalk one more subdivision up to Google: Only a few short days after the go-to search engine threw its hat into the mobile-ring with the launch of the Nexus One, it has come to light it's also getting involved in the energy trade as well.

As reported by the New York Times, the company awaits a decision in the United States from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, which, if decided in its favour, would allow the Mountain View-based firm to barter in the energy trade.

Whilst the company maintains the application was filed in an effort to open up its options for energy procurement, this same license would allow them to sell off any excess energy, much like an established energy trader would, albeit on a smaller scale. Furthermore, Google says the move will help 'green' its operations.

"We want to have the ability to procure renewable energy to offset power usage of our operations," said company spokesman Niki Fenwick. Such access could help the company become "carbon neutral."

Bill Weihl, who works to achieve this goal for the company, agreed, in a separate interview, that the company was actively seeking out alternative energy solutions. "There are three areas we're looking at: concentrated solar thermal, enhanced geothermal and high-altitude wind."

These initiatives form part of Google's pledge to make renewable energy cheaper than coal through research and investment, with the NYT reporting the company has spent upwards of US$45 million (£28 million) to that end.

But while the company states it has no intentions of selling off any energy for itself, the application, if approved, would leave that door open, and Google's hardly the type of business that would look that gift horse in the mouth.

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