With our world on the verge of destruction as we are running out of non-renewable resources, green energy is the need of the hour. Fuels like natural gas and coal are in high demand around the world because many industries are consuming it and they are present in a limited amount. Many countries and the R&D department of many companies are carrying out research to make green energy more accessible and affordable. Because once we find a strong source of renewable energy we can put a stop to the use of limited resources. Till then we should consume power from natural non-renewable resources judiciously.
Speaking of consuming energy judiciously, Google is aiming to use 100% clean energy by 2030. The chief executive officer of Google, Sundar Pichai told Reuters yesterday that they will ditch consuming power generated from coal and natural gas and completely depend on renewable sources of energy.
Google “stretch” goal
Alphabet Inc’s Google is planning to use only carbon-free electricity to power all its offices and data centers by 2030. Google is a multinational company trying to become completely dependent on renewable energy sources and if they succeed it will become the first company to ditch non-renewable sources of energy.
Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google, has described it as a “stretch” goal as it will force the company to push itself beyond the technical norms of offsetting carbon emissions. He also said that to achieve this goal they also need to make a major technological and political breakthrough. The initiative taken by the company is appreciated as this will set an example for many industries around the world to pursue an alternative option. Someone had to start it and Google is helping others find solutions like it is doing for itself.
Climatic change limits the resources
Though we are receiving alert messages about how rapidly our limited resources are declining, how global warming is gradually becoming a nightmare for the Arctic and Antarctic region, this year triggered the situation. The high rate of wildfire in 2020 has led to the destruction of many natural resources with climate change at its peak. The western part of the United States has witnessed damage to wildfire and Google wants to draw people’s attention to this via its new goal and product feature.
It’s been many years that Google has inclined towards the renewable sources of energy and a part of Google’s offices and data centers run on it. Almost 61% of the total Google’s hourly electricity usage at a global level is fueled by renewable sources like wind, solar power, etc. So, more than half of Google’s energy consumption comes from green sources which are a very big success for the company. But, the consumption of green energy is not equally distributed. For example, in Google’s Oklahoma data center 96% of the total hourly energy required is met by carbon-free resources while in the gas-reliant Singapore operation only 3% is met. So, Google’s new goal will establish uniformity as well.
Sundar also said that to fuel all the offices and data centers 24/7 with carbon-free resources is pretty challenging. So, they spent the entire last year coming up with a practical model and hence confident about reaching the goal by 2030. He didn’t reveal any cost of the new system yet.
Other companies
Other big companies like Amazon and Microsoft are also trying to eradicate carbon emissions from the environment. But, it is only Google that publicly announced their goal to be fulfilled by 2030. Every company should try its best to start producing green energy in-house as scientists say that by 2030 global warming will take a huge toll on our planet.
Stop pollution
Jennifer Layke, the global director of the World Resources Institute (funded by Google) said that the action of Google has inspired many in America and Europe over the last decade. Google trying to ditch carbon-containing sources of energy is nothing new, the only difference is now it will look onto nations with crucial polluting regions like India, Indonesia, Vietnam, and China. Jennifer also said that if we are unable to ditch carbon, we will suffer in the hands of natural disasters like drought and firestorms.
Google has remained carbon-neutral since 2007 thus focusing more on planting trees, funding projects concerning green energy, etc. The carbon fuel electricity usage for Google is going now as compared to the early 2000s.
Annasha Dey is an NIT student, who apart from studying engineering is also a content writer. She has a great interest in photography, writing, reading novels, and travelling as well. She is a foodie who loves socializing and hanging out with her friends. She is also a trained Kathak dancer and a big fashion enthusiast. Dey also loves watching TV series, which includes F.R.I.E.N.D.S. and Big Bang Theory. To be a better writer she prefers to read more