Google announces US$2 billion investment in renewable energy

MOUNTAIN VIEW, CALIFORNIA — Google has announced plans to invest in renewable energy sources across three continents to supply the company with clean electricity.<br /><br />The tech company has signed 18 new energy deals, calling it the "biggest corporate purchase of renewable energy in history."<br /><br />Google says almost half of renewable energy investments will be made in European countries such as Finland, Sweden, Belgium and Denmark, while a significant portion will be made in the U.S. states of North Carolina, South Carolina and Texas.<br /><br />The company also plans to add 125 megawatts of renewable energy capacity in Chile to supply its data centers in the country.<br /><br />The company's purchase includes solar and wind agreements totalling 1,600 megawatts, according to a Google news release. <br /><br />The tech giant says the deals will allow the company to produce more energy than the total energy consumption of countries such as Lithuania or Uruguay in a year.<br /><br />Google says the investment will increase the company's renewable energy portfolio by 40 percent, bringing its total to 5,500 megawatts.<br /><br />The company also announced two new energy grants from Google.org to support organizations looking to expand access to clean energy.