Google: Powering its Danish data centre with the first subsidy-free solar park

Google set out to find reliable and competitively priced green energy for its data centre in Western Denmark. Through Power Purchase Agreements with Better Energy, Google contributed to establishing three solar parks, including Denmark’s first park built without subsidies.

Data centres present the need for green energy 

In 2018, Google broke ground on its Frederica data centre, choosing the site due to its high-quality digital infrastructure and potential to support green energy production. 

With a target to operate on carbon-free energy 24/7 by 2030, Google needed to find green power for its new data centre.

But, in 2019 onshore renewable energy production was still supported by government subsidies, making it difficult for companies to ensure additionality with their power purchase. 

With a track record of contributing to the global green transition, Google sought a partner with which it could do so in Denmark. 

 

Partnering to develop renewable energy without subsidies 

In 2019, Google and Better Energy announced their partnership that would result in three solar parks with a total capacity of 100 MWp. Through a 10-year Power Purchase Agreement, Google offtakes all the renewable energy from the parks for its Frederica data centre. 

The partnership also led to Denmark’s first solar park being built without subsidies, which was constructed in Næstved Municipality. The park, which has a capacity of 51 MWp, was also an early example of how solar parks could create space for nature. 

Google were among the very first to demonstrate that meaningful impact on the green transition can be made through its purchasing of power. 

Impact of partnership

  • The PPA with Better Energy saw Google contribute to three new solar parks, adding more than 100 MWp of green energy to the Danish grid.

  • The Næstved Solar Park near Blangslev was the first subsidy free solar park in Denmark.

  • The Næstved Solar Park near Blangslev has a capacity of 51 MWp, corresponding to the annual electricity consumption of approximately 32,500 Danes.

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Who benefits from green energy

  • Bottles being produced

    Consumer goods

    Factories and stores can purchase zero-emissions and new green energy to make the products the world needs.

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  • Pharmaceutical factory

    Healthcare

    Renewable energy can decarbonise businesses that develop and provide healthcare solutions for the world.

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    Manufacturing

    Gain better control over long-term costs and reduce emissions from manufacturing with green energy.

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    Transport

    Choosing a PPA can help cover the energy consumption of your facilities and fleets with new green energy. 

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Why partner with Better Energy?

  • Add green electricity to your company’s energy mix with competitively priced energy produced without subsidies.

  • Contribute to a Better Energy renewable energy park that positively impacts surrounding communities and nature through your power purchase.

  • Transition to zero-emissions electricity regardless of the size of your company’s electricity consumption.

  • Explore opportunities to bring renewable energy production closer to your consumption and deliver long-lasting value to the region.

  • Partner with an experienced renewable energy producer and electricity supplier trusted by companies across Northern Europe.

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Start learning about PPAs

  • A Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) allows your business to purchase green electricity at a fixed price and volume over an extended period.

    Your power purchase contributes to establishing a new renewable energy park that positively impacts the surrounding community and nature.

  • When you sign a PPA, you purchase green electricity from a Better Energy renewable energy park. Each MWh your company purchases is documented through Gaurantees of Origin (GoO). 

    This is applicable to your market-based scope 2 reporting in line with GHG protocol and CSRD.

  • PPAs are typically long-term agreements lasting 5 to 10 years. The advanced demand for renewable energy enables us to secure project financing to build the solar park.

  • We believe all businesses should be able to buy green.

    Throughout dialogues, we’ll explore different offtake volumes that make sense for your business, and you will have full control over how much of your electricity consumption you want to cover through the PPA.

  • All you have to do to get started is get in touch with us! We’ll start by looking at your energy consumption and operations to understand your business’s needs.

    This allows us to propose a PPA solution and renewable energy park suited to your business.

    The length of the dialogues can vary, but we’re committed to making sure you have the information you need to make an informed decision.

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What we offer

We provide green energy so companies can use their power purchases to meet sustainability targets and drive meaningful, long-term change.

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Our green energy empowers companies of all sizes to make good business decisions across procurement, finance and sustainability.

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