Google bets on fusion power as its greenhouse gas emissions grow
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Summary
Google has purchased 200 MW of “future carbon-free power” from fusion power provider Commonwealth Fusion Systems (CFS), marking the first offtake agreement for the tech giant in the nuclear fusion sector.
CFS is building a fusion plant in Virginia, with plans to connect it to the grid in the 2030s.
The deal demonstrates Google’s confidence in nuclear fusion to power its data centres, despite the technology being unproven.
CFS is backed by $8bn of private investment and is one of several companies working to commercialise fusion power.
Google’s latest sustainability report showed that the company’s greenhouse gas emissions are continuing to climb, despite its clean energy commitments.
The deal represents just a fraction of Google’s carbon-free energy purchases, with the company having signed agreements for 22,000 MW of clean energy since 2010.