A philanthropic arm of the Google Foundation called Goggle.org drawing upon its nearly $2 billion in Google stock will invest "hundreds of millions" in companies specializing in renewable energy, co-founder Larry Page said.
"If we achieve these goals, we are going to be in the (electricity) business in a very big way," Page said. "We should be able to make a lot of money from this."
Google's plan, known as RE< C, is to develop a gigawatt of electricity from renewable energy sources that will be cheaper than electricity produced from burning coal. Google is betting its R&D dollars on advanced solar thermal power, wind power, and enhanced geothermal technologies. Google's headquarters already draws some of its power from one of the country's biggest solar power installations.
"Cheap renewable energy is not only critical for the environment but also vital for economic development in many places where there is limited affordable energy of any kind," added Sergey Brin, Google Co-founder and President of Technology.
Two companies Google.com is working with are eSolar Inc. and Makani Power Inc. By focusing sunlight with mirrors, eSolar Inc. hopes to generate utility-scale power cheaper than with coal. Makani Power Inc. is developing high-altitude wind energy extraction technologies (Get more information via pdf downloads by clicking the company names).
"Google.org's hope is that by funding research on promising technologies, investing in promising new companies, and doing a lot of R&D ourselves, we may help spark a green electricity revolution that will deliver breakthrough technologies priced lower than coal." (Nov 27 Google press release)
Sources & resources: Yahoo News and Google.com and FAQ
I am a member of the Sustainable Energy Development Associates and would like to have the contact information to request funds for research and development.
Jo Etta Brown
Finance & Regulations
SEDA
web site: sedatech.org
I clicked on the "contact" link at the bottom of the google.org "grants" page and found this:
We are not accepting unsolicited proposals at this time, however future Requests for Proposals (RFPs) and other guidelines for proposal submission will be posted here.
Converting waste heat from 150F and higher to electric power - saves the sewers of nYC, reduces emissions, creates electric power. When will RFP guidelines be posted?
I forgive Google for its problematic releases last year if they continue such positive initiatives like this. I just hope they don't use this as something they can expect to 'harvest' from in the future.
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