Google has stepped up its commitment to solar power with an investment of $10m in local company BrightSource Energy.
The investment in the California-based firm was made through Google.org, the company's non-profit philanthropic venture.
The BrightSource deal is the second such investment Google has made in solar power, after taking a stake in eSolar last month.
BrightSource is raising cash in the hope of constructing a series of huge solar power plants in California's Mojave Desert capable of supplying up to 900MW of electricity.
"Solar thermal energy generation is one of the key emerging industries addressing the changing global climate and we are excited about our current investments in solar thermal technology," Google investment strategy manager Chris Busselle and green energy strategy team member Kevin Chen said in a blog posting.
"We believe that by supporting researchers and entrepreneurs taking different, ambitious approaches and risks to generate clean energy, we can help to accelerate, progress and increase the collective economic value of these new clean energy industries."
The investments are part of Google's 'Renewable Energy Cheaper than Coal' initiative.
The company is assembling a team of researchers and engineers in the hope of creating a Gigawatt of energy for less than it costs to generate the same amount at a coal-burning power plant.
In addition to solar power, the project is also looking at geothermal and wind sources.
Google is looking to hire a head of renewable energy research to oversee all of the firm's renewable energy research and development programmes.
Ultra-thin aluminum oxide layer added at the front of crystalline silicon solar cells 15 May 2008
Scientists talk of 'electron superhighways' 14 May 2008
Arizona headquarters to build wind turbine 01 May 2008
Two new projects stem from science fiction writer's work 24 Apr 2008
PG&E agrees contract with BrightSource that will see seven solar thermal plants built in California 15 May 2009
PG&E and NRG Energy unveil plans for 1GW of new solar projects 26 Feb 2009
Funding to be divided between three projects as search giant pledges to lobby on behalf of new Enhanced Geothermal Systems 20 Aug 2008
Up to 1GW of solar power plants could be developed over next 10 years 04 Mar 2009
Glut of multimillion dollar deals highlight on-going attractiveness of solar investments 06 Mar 2009
Survey of public sector IT managers reveals deep concern over ability to deliver on carbon-neutral targets 03 Jul 2009
Fresh funding will provide new wave energy research equipment and support research 03 Jul 2009
EPA hints it could soon raise efficiency bar for routers, modems and storage systems 03 Jul 2009
More news
From record-breaking solar panels to the International Renewable Energy Agency's new home, we round up the top stories from the past week 03 Jul 2009
Well, I hope they got a no win, no fee deal. I don't like being cynical (it's more of a congenital thing)... 03 Jul 2009
Recycling waste heat is nothing new, so why has the computer industry not kept up? 01 Jul 2009 More in-depth
Post your comment
Send an email to the Business Green editor at feedback@businessgreen.com
