Google Inks $3B Deal to Buy Hydropower from Brookfield
As it races to build ever-larger data centers, Google announced Tuesday that it has agreed to pay more than $3 billion to source carbon-free hydropower from Brookfield Renewable Energy Partners, a company owned by Brookfield Asset Management.
Long-Term Contracts and Up to 3 Gigawatts in Capacity
The initial contracts include 20-year power purchase agreements totaling $3 billion for 670 megawatts of capacity from two hydropower plants located in Pennsylvania, according to the companies. The agreement is part of a broader framework that could allow Google to source up to 3 gigawatts of clean energy in total.
Surging Energy Demand from AI-Powered Data Centers
The deal comes as Google and other hyperscalers—Meta, Amazon, and Microsoft—scramble to secure energy for their rapidly expanding data centers, which power the AI tools driving today’s tech boom.
This renewed hunger for energy has reignited interest in nuclear power, increased gas generation, and refocused attention on renewables. Google has committed tens of billions of dollars to avoid energy shortages; Meta has essentially acquired a nuclear plant; and Microsoft signed a 20-year deal for power from a nuclear facility located next to one that experienced a meltdown nearly 50 years ago.
Clean Energy Supports Net-Zero Goals
Beyond energy supply, renewables like hydropower help tech giants stay оn track with their net-zero pledges, even as emissions from growing data infrastructure continue tо rise.
Brookfield Renewable Partners, which operates renewable power facilities іn the U.S., said its two hydropower plants іn Pennsylvania—Holtwood and Safe Harbor—will be relicensed, upgraded, оr overhauled tо meet Google’s requirements.
“This collaboration with Brookfield is a significant step forward, ensuring clean energy supply in the PJM region where we operate. Hydropower is a proven, low-cost technology, offering dependable, homegrown, carbon-free electricity that creates jobs and builds a stronger grid for all,” said Amanda Peterson Corio, Google’s head of data center energy.
