Google, AirTrunk funding solar farm in Australia

Google has teamed up with hyperscale data centre operator AirTrunk and renewable energy provider OX2 to fund the development of 25 MW of new renewable energy generation capacity for Australia’s energy grid.

Under the innovative agreement, OX2 will develop a new solar farm in NSW’s Riverina district. AirTrunk will procure renewable energy generated by OX2’s solar farm and associated energy attribute certificates with time-matching to Google’s consumption.

The new solar farm is expected to begin generating power in 2025. It will help advance Google’s 2030 target of running on 24/7 renewable energy on every grid where the company operates.

Google Australia MD Mel Silva said industry collaboration and innovation will be critical to the ICT sector achieving its ambitious sustainability objectives, including Google’s efforts to drive increases in carbon-free energy capacity across the Asia-Pacific region.

“As part of our broader Digital Future Initiative, this project will see us support local infrastructure to tackle big challenges like climate change while also further solidifying the foundations of a growth-centric yet sustainable digital economy,” she said.

AirTrunk has its own ambitions to achieve net zero scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2030, according to Chief Customer and Innovation Officer Damien Spillane. “Our collaboration with Google and OX2 will deliver new renewable energy capacity into the grid on the east coast of Australia. Developments like this are critical to accelerating progress towards a carbon-free future in Australia,” he said.

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