Google Inc. (Nasdaq: GOOG) announced it will eliminate and offset the rest of all its greenhouse emissions by 2008.
“This is just a start,” said Eric Schmidt, chairman and CEO of Google. “We are actively looking for more opportunities to help tackle climate change.”
Last week, Google and Intel Corp. (Nasdaq: INTC)announced an initiative to ramp up energy-efficient personal computers and server systems to 90% efficieny by 2010.
In other news, Google.org, the philanthropic arm of Google Inc. announced the RechargeIT initiative to accelerate the adoption of plug-in hybrids. It will tender a $10 million request for proposals (RFP) to fund development, adoption and commercialization of plug-ins, fully electric cars and related vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology. It awarded $1 million in grants.
Today, Google’s 1.6MW solar panel installation turned on for the first time at its Mountain View, Calif. headquarters. It is the largest solar installation to date on any corporate campus in the United States and one of the largest on any corporate site in the world.
At today’s event, Google teamed with PG&E to demonstrate the bi-directional flow of electricity between plug-ins and the electric grid. “Clean energy technology can dramatically shift how we make and use energy for our cars and homes by charging cars through an electric grid powered by solar or other renewable energy sources, and selling power back to the electric grid when it’s needed most. This approach can quadruple the fuel efficiency of cars on the road today and improve grid stability,” said Dr. Larry Brilliant, Executive Director of Google.org.
The RechargeIT Initiative includes several elements designed to advance plug-in development and commercialization, including:
— Grants: Google.org announced grants to the following organizations:
— Brookings Institution: $200,000 to support a spring 2008 conference on federal policy to promote plug-ins;
— CalCars: $200,000 to support its work to educate the public about plug-ins;
— Electrical Power Research Institute (EPRI): $200,000 to support its plug-in research and development program;
— Plug-In America: $100,000 to raise public awareness and advocate for plug-in transportation;
— Rocky Mountain Institute: $200,000 to launch the design of a practical plug-in hybrid electric vehicle, with additional support and collaboration by Alcoa, Johnson Controls, and the Turner Foundation;
— Dr. Willett Kempton, University of Delaware (http://www.ocean.udel.edu/cms/wkempton): $150,000 for megawatt scale vehicle-to-grid research and implementation planning.
— $10M RFP: Later this summer Google.org will publish a formal request for proposals (RFP) on its website, focused on investment opportunities in companies and projects accelerating the commercialization of alternative transportation that reduces vehicle fossil fuel use and climate emissions.
— Plug-In Data Project: To demonstrate the potential of this new technology, Google has partnered with A123Systems/Hymotion to convert a small fleet of hybrid cars into plug-ins and published preliminary performance data at www.google.org/recharge/. The experimental fleet of plug-in Prius models has averaged 74mpg to date, compared with 41mpg for the test fleet of non-plug-in Prius hybrids.
— Google Fleet: Through a partnership with Enterprise Rent-A-Car, the program is designed to support alternative commuting through a free car-sharing program that will be offered to Google employees. The program will eventually expand to include 100 plug-ins as they become available.
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