Google Declares 'Carbon Zero'... "Including Nuclear Power"

$5 Billion Investment Over 10 Years
Plan to Secure 5GW Energy
RE100 Institutionalization in Korea Next Year
Experts Say "Difficult to Achieve Perfectly with Only Renewable Energy," Call for "Realistic Alternatives"

View of wind turbines installed near Google's Eemshaven data center in the Netherlands. (Image source=Google)

[Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chaeseok] As global companies' interest in climate change and greenhouse gas reduction rises, Google has declared itself 'carbon free.' It is noteworthy that the company plans to secure energy sources centered on renewable energy while including nuclear power.

According to Bloomberg on the 17th, Google recently announced that it will invest more than $5 billion (approximately 5.8675 trillion KRW) over the next 10 years to secure 5GW (gigawatts) of wind, solar, nuclear energy, and more through its 'Carbon Free Energy Project.'

Google estimates that it currently operates its data centers on 'carbon-free energy' for about 14 hours and 38 minutes per day. Local analysts have analyzed that to achieve 100% carbon-free status, Google needs to secure 15.5 TWh (terawatt-hours) of clean energy by 2030.

The features of Google's energy transition policy include ▲combining wind-solar-nuclear projects ▲storing electricity with more batteries ▲increasing investment in artificial intelligence (AI) to improve power demand and forecasting capabilities. Google expects this to create 20,000 new jobs.

In this regard, experts are focusing on Google's inclusion of nuclear power in achieving carbon zero. It is analyzed that Google included nuclear power generation in its energy transition project because it sees it difficult to perfectly achieve carbon zero with renewable energy alone.

In contrast, the Korean government plans to institutionalize 'RE100,' which achieves carbon zero using only renewable energy, starting January next year. To this end, it has prepared implementation measures such as the Green Premium system, purchasing new and renewable energy certificates (REC), and third-party power purchase agreements (PPA).

Experts point out that as the United States and the European Union (EU) are likely to implement 'new energy protectionism,' including the introduction of carbon border taxes, Korea must also prepare realistic alternatives to prevent companies from suffering damages.

Professor Jeong Dongwook of the Department of Energy Systems Engineering at Chung-Ang University said, "Google judged that implementing RE100 alone is unrealistic and is promoting a 'carbon zero project' that includes nuclear power." He added, "While it is desirable for our government to support institutional measures to increase corporate participation in RE100, separately, the government should instill confidence that carbon zero is achievable through a long-term energy supply and demand plan at the government level."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.