Google seeks to cut cost to go green

BY KATHERINE YUNGFREE PRESS BUSINESS WRITER
http://www.freep.com/article/20090916/NEWS09/909160331/1001/News/Google-seeks-to-cut-cost-to-go-green

Almost two years after Google Inc. announced that it's seeking a cheaper, renewable alternative to coal, the technology giant is working on projects to make solar and wind power more affordable.

The Mountain View, Calif.-based company is developing new technology for the hundreds of mirrors used at solar plants that would reduce the mirrors' cost by more than half, Bill Weihl, Google's green energy czar, said in an interview Tuesday in Ann Arbor.

Google hopes to roll out prototype mirrors later this year, with plans to unveil them outside the company in 2010. It also may build a pilot plant for these mirrors, Weihl said.

Google engineers are also looking at materials that would allow wind towers to soar much higher into the sky than they do today, enabling them to generate more power.

Today, taller wind towers are very expensive to build so Google is trying to reduce this cost. If successful, the plan could shave 20% to 25% off the cost of wind power, said Weihl, a former computer science professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Though most people associate Google with its popular search engine, the company is taking steps to expand into alternative energy.

Google.org, the company's philanthropic arm, has invested $45 million in five renewable energy companies in the solar, wind and geothermal fields -- eSolar, BrightSource Energy, Makani Power, Potter Drilling and AltaRock Energy.

More investments in renewable energy are likely to follow, said Weihl, who spoke Tuesday to students and others at the University of Michigan. "We are willing to take risks if there is a potential big impact," he added.

The company has about 30 employees working full-time on renewable energy and energy efficiency, with the aim of helping the world obtain plentiful and cheap clean energy. But don't expect Google to build and operate power plants one day, Weihl said.

"That's not our goal," he said. "We are in the energy information business."

Contact KATHERINE YUNG: 313-222-8763 or kyung@freepress.com

Bilibala comments:
Google always give people an innovative impression which is great.
I don't think the project will help Google to generate immediate profit, but if it helps lots of corporation & individual to save energy, i still glad to support a company who willing to do so, even though it may not be profitable.