Google, Microsoft and Nucor Join Forces to Develop Clean Energy
North American steel manufacturer Nucor Corporation and US tech giants Google and Microsoft Corporation are to work together across the electricity ecosystem to develop new business models to accelerate the development of early commercial projects, including advanced nuclear, next-generation geothermal, clean hydrogen, and long-term energy storage.
As a first step, the companies will publish a request for information in several US regions on potential projects in need of funding and encourage technology providers, developers, investors, utilities and others to participate.
Initially, the companies will focus on validating the aggregate demand model through advanced technology pilot projects in the United States. The companies will test a project delivery framework focused on the following three levers:
- signing offtake agreements for technologies that are still early on the cost curve;
- bringing a clear customer voice to policymakers and other stakeholders on broader long-term ecosystem improvements;
- developing new enabling tariff structures in partnership with energy providers and utilities.
The companies note that the aggregate demand model will allow buyers to purchase larger volumes of carbon-free electricity from a portfolio of power plants, reducing the risk of developing a specific project, and will also help to improve procurement efficiency and experience exchange.
To ensure the transparency and scalability of the project delivery system they have developed, Google, Microsoft and Nucor will share lessons learned and a roadmap of their first pilot projects, and encourage other companies to consider how they can support advanced clean electricity projects.
According to World Nuclear News