Google commits to wind-powered European data centres

Google has continued its quest to use only fully renewable energy sources for its data centres with a new deal to buy wind turbine generated power in the Netherlands.

Delfzijl wind turbine.

Together with European manufacturers AkzoNobel, DSM and Philips, Google said it would buy 350 megawatt hours worth of electricity a year from the Windpark Krammer community-owned windfarm in the Zeeland provice of the Netherlands.

Windpark Krammer is owned by a cooperative of 4000 people and generates 102 MW. The four companies' commitment to buy power ensures the funding of the wind park, and Google said it will use the renewable energy to power its European operations.

The company has already signed up to buy all energy produced in the Dutch Delfzijl wind mill park, where 19 turbines have been built, generating 62 megawatts.

Google will use the renewable power from Delfzijl as the sole energy source for its new, €600 million (A$863 million) data centre in Eemshaven.

The company said it has so far bought almost 2.5 GW of renewable energy, and committed to investing US$2.5 billion in green power projects around the world.

Trans-Pacific cable project launched

Google is also investing heavily in global network cable infrastructure for its data centres, and last week said it had teamed up with social network Facebook to lay a direct undersea route between Hong Kong and Los Angeles.

Source: Google

Known as the Pacific Light Cable Network, the circuit will stretch 12,800 kilometres across the ocean, offering a low-latency route between Hong Kong and LA.

PLCN will be be built by TE Subcom, and is expected to be operational in 2018, providing 120 terabit per second capacity.