Google has just signed a deal to support the development of a gas-powered power plant in Illinois, combined with carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology, in an effort to meet the growing energy demand of data centers.
The project is called the broadwing Energy Center, expected to operate from 2030, with a capacity of 400MW.
Google is committed to buying most of the electricity produced by the plant and expects CCS technology to isolate about 90% of CO2 emissions, permanently storing them underground.
This company emphasizes that this is an opportunity to learn and experience promising CCS solutions in the market.
However, CCS is a method of filtering carbon from chimney emissions and is controversial. Reports from GAO in 2021 and research in Australia in 2023 show that most previous CCS projects have failed or the cost of electricity generation is 1.52 times higher than conventional solar, wind or gas power.
Some projects also rely on CO2 to recover increased oil, instead of reducing greenhouse gases.
broadwing has some differences in that the plant uses gas, which is cheaper than coal, and stores CO2 deep underground instead of selling it to the oil and gas industry.
However, natural gas still contains methane, a more powerful greenhouse gas than CO2, which is often leaked from wells and pipelines, and these plants also release other air pollutants, affecting public health.
Experts warn that CCS may only extend its dependence on fossil fuels, while renewable energy sources such as solar power and wind are both cheaper and less polluting.
Google used to be one of the world's largest renewable energy buyers, contributing to promoting the development of solar and wind power farms.
Under the Trump administration, many renewable energy tax incentives have been revoked, while the CCS still receives financial support, allowing Google to participate in the project. The company is currently facing increased energy consumption at data centers as it expands AI services, causing carbon emissions to increase.
Thus, the broadwing project demonstrates its efforts to balance new energy solutions, data needs and emission reduction pressures.
However, the big question remains whether CCS will really help reduce climate change, or is it just a way to help fossil energy in the AI era?
