Taipei: Google announced a significant agreement with Baseload Power Taiwan to purchase geothermal energy, marking its first venture of this kind in the Asia-Pacific region. The multinational technology company revealed that this collaboration aims to bolster clean energy development in Taiwan, highlighting the potential of geothermal resources to complement other renewable energy sources like solar and wind.

According to Focus Taiwan, the initial projects under this agreement will contribute 10 megawatts (MW) of continuous power to Taiwan’s grid, potentially acting as a catalyst for the country’s geothermal market. Google’s official blog emphasized Taiwan’s substantial geothermal resource availability, which the company believes holds significant potential for generating clean electricity.

The partnership with Baseload Capital includes an equity investment and underscores Google’s commitment to accelerating geothermal energy deployment both regionally in Asia Pacific and globally. Google described this col
laboration as an important milestone in its journey toward clean energy solutions.

Statistics from the Energy Administration indicate that as of February 2024, Taiwan’s geothermal energy production has an installed capacity of 7 MW, which is a minor share of the nation’s overall energy output. Baseload Power Taiwan, operating under the Swedish company Baseload Capital, initiated its first power plant project in Hualien in 2020, and it remains in the drilling phase.

Baseload Power Taiwan has indicated that four additional power plant projects are ongoing. Their website outlines a goal to enhance energy resilience and create business opportunities for local communities, all while supporting Taiwan’s net-zero targets and aiming for 6 gigawatts (GW) of geothermal installed capacity by 2050.