Google buys data centre power from giant US solar farms
The arrays totaling 724MW capacity will partly support the technology giant's data centre there and diversify the state's energy mix heavy on wind and oil.
Leeward Renewable Energy (LRE) announced three solar projects totaling 724MW in the US state of Oklahoma, supported in part by long-term PPAs with Google that will help power the technology giant’s data centre operations.
Dallas-based Leeward said construction has begun on the 372MW Mayes County Solar Portfolio consisting of three arrays: Huckleberry (125MW), Mayes (102MW), and Salt Branch (145MW), all on an alternating current basis.
The complex is located within one mile of Google’s data centre in Pryor, northeastern Oklahoma.
Energy generated by the solar portfolio is delivered under firm transmission service to the Grand River Dam Authority, the state’s largest public power electric utility. GRDA intends to utilise the clean energy from the projects to support data centre operations.
“By partnering with Grand River Dam Authority and LRE, Google is furthering its ambition to power our facilities, including those in Oklahoma, with carbon-free energy around the clock by 2030,” said Amanda Peterson Corio, global head of data centre energy.
Leeward’s other two projects are Twelvemile Solar 1 & 2 totaling 152.5MW and Twelvemile Solar 3 (200MW). Both are in southern Oklahoma.
“This partnership with Google not only strengthens our collaboration but also contributes to the reliability of Oklahoma’s electric grid and helps advance national energy independence,” said Eran Mahrer, chief commercial officer at LRE.
While Oklahoma is a leading wind energy state, ranking third behind Texas and Iowa, it has been a minor player in utility-scale solar with 46MW in commercial operation at the start of 2024. It also is a leading crude oil producing state.
LRE is a portfolio company of OMERS Infrastructure, an investment arm of OMERS, one of the largest pension plans in Canada.
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