Google Backs Carbon Capture Gas Plant to Power AI Data Centers

Google’s Controversial Clean Energy Bet

Google has signed an agreement to support development of the Broadwing Energy Center, a 400-megawatt gas-fired power plant in Illinois that will incorporate carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology, according to the company’s announcement. The project represents Google’s first direct investment in carbon capture infrastructure and signals a strategic shift as the company grapples with soaring electricity demands from its artificial intelligence initiatives and data center expansion.

The tech giant reportedly plans to purchase “most” of the power generated by the facility when it becomes operational in 2030. Company statements indicate the move is part of Google’s effort to “help bring promising new CCS solutions to the market while learning and innovating quickly” as it seeks to balance its climate commitments with growing energy needs.

The Carbon Capture Conundrum

Carbon capture technology aims to filter carbon dioxide emissions from industrial processes and store them underground to prevent atmospheric buildup. In theory, analysts suggest this could help mitigate climate change impacts including sea level rise and coral reef destruction. However, sources indicate CCS faces significant technical and economic challenges that have limited its widespread adoption.

According to a 2021 Government Accountability Office report, the U.S. Department of Energy spent nearly $684 million on CCS projects at six coal plants, with only one ever becoming operational. The report states the other projects failed due to “factors affecting their economic viability.”

Financial and Environmental Concerns

Recent analyses suggest electricity from power plants with carbon capture costs at least 1.5 to 2 times more than power from solar, wind, or traditional fossil fuel plants without CCS. This cost premium comes as electricity demand from data centers is already contributing to rising utility bills across the United States, according to energy market reports.

Environmental advocates have expressed skepticism about whether CCS ultimately prolongs dependence on fossil fuels rather than accelerating transition to renewable alternatives. Critics note that even with carbon capture, gas plants still produce methane leaks from wells and pipelines and emit other air pollutants that pose health risks to nearby communities., according to recent studies

Distinct Approach to Carbon Storage

The Broadwing project differs from previous CCS attempts in several key aspects, according to project documentation. Unlike the sole successful DOE-backed project that supplied captured CO2 for “enhanced oil recovery” – injecting the gas underground to extract more oil – Broadwing plans to permanently sequester carbon dioxide approximately one mile underground in a well near the power plant.

Google claims the facility will capture approximately 90 percent of the plant’s carbon emissions, a higher rate than most existing CCS projects have achieved. The company also highlights that natural gas has become a cheaper power generation source than coal in the U.S., potentially improving the project’s economic viability.

Political and Market Context

Industry observers note that Republican policies have created a shifting landscape for energy investments. Tax incentives for solar and wind projects are being phased out while CCS continues to receive financial support, potentially making carbon capture projects more attractive to corporate investors.

Google’s move comes as the company’s carbon footprint has grown alongside its AI ambitions, with data centers requiring substantial and reliable power. While Google has been one of the largest corporate purchasers of renewable energy in recent years, analysts suggest the company may be diversifying its approach to ensure adequate power supply for its expanding operations.

Unresolved Environmental Questions

Despite the promised carbon capture, environmental researchers note that gas-fired power plants present additional climate concerns beyond CO2 emissions. The primary component of natural gas is methane, which is a greenhouse gas far more potent than carbon dioxide in the short term. Methane routinely leaks from extraction sites and pipelines, creating emissions that carbon capture at the power plant cannot address.

Meanwhile, renewable alternatives like solar and wind continue to become more cost-competitive and don’t carry the same pollution risks, according to energy analysts. The coming years will reveal whether Google’s carbon capture bet represents a meaningful climate solution or merely bridges the company’s growing energy needs amid political headwinds for renewables.

References

• https://www.broadwingenergy.com/
• https://climate.mit.edu/explainers/carbon-capture
• https://www.typeinvestigations.org/investigation/2025/03/10/leaving-the-island/
• https://go.skimresources.com/…/?id=1025X1701640&xs=1&url=http
• https://blog.google/…/
• https://www.gao.gov/products/gao-22-105111
• https://ieefa.org/resources/ccs-power-yet-stack-against-alternatives
• https://heatmap.news/energy/why-is-electricity-so-expensive
• https://www.energy.gov/fecm/enhanced-oil-recovery
• https://ieefa.org/sites/default/files/2024-02/fact-sheet-CCS-ADR.pdf
• https://www.edf.org/issue/methane
• https://blog.ucs.org/mark-specht/natural-gas-power-plants-are-not-clean/
• https://about.bnef.com/…/
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gas-fired_power_plant
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbon_capture_and_storage

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