Google versus evil

There are few companies as devoted to the sustainable energy revolution as Google. We’ve talked about some of the tech giant’s green initiatives in this space before, but RE<C deserves special mention.

RE<C is perhaps the most ambitious of Google’s various projects, both in scope and timescale. In short, RE<C aims to develop electricity from renewable sources – cheaper than electricity produced from coal with a goal of producing one gigawatt of renewable energy capacity.

A gigawatt can power a city the size of San Francisco. Okay, you say – that’s an admirable goal, and maybe our grandchildren zipping around in Jetsonesque aircars will enjoy it. Perhaps they will – but so will we.

Google aims to accomplish this in years, not decades.

Initially, RE<C will focus on what’s possible today. Advanced solar thermal power, wind power technologies, and enhanced geothermal systems – all available and in use currently. However, Google wouldn’t be Google if they weren’t keeping an eager eye to the future.

RE<C is an opportunity to explore other potential breakthrough technologies, too. The company has created a renewable energy R&D group within Google’s engineering ranks. There’s an open invitation for talented engineers, technologists, energy experts and others to join.

Where will this lead? During the second world war, the government placed leading scientists in seclusion and had them work around the clock on a top-priority project. The due date was always “yesterday.” Perhaps you’ve heard of it? Needless to say, the Manhattan Project was a success.

Whatever you think of the actual goal achieved, it worked. Hopefully, Google’s RE<C project meets equal success.