Google research and development goes solar

by Stevie Smith - Sep 10 2009, 15:45

Is there nothing Google cannot turn its hand to? With the online search market duly cornered, video-sharing phenomenon YouTube purchased, and the open-source Android operating system developed, Google has now set its sights on solar technology.

You didn’t read that wrong, search engine specialist Google is currently in the process of creating new mirror technology that could have potentially dramatic cost-cutting effects when it comes to the construction of solar thermal facilities.

Speaking at this week’s Reuters Global Climate and Alternative Energy Summit in San Francisco, Google’s ecological guru Bill Weihl explained that the company’s development is based on concerns regarding the lack of breakthrough investments in the green sector.

“We’ve been looking at very unusual materials for the mirrors both for the reflective surface as well as the substrate that the mirror is mounted on,” said Weihl of the ongoing solar research, which, if successfully implemented, could reduce plant construction costs by more than 25 percent.

According to California-based Google, its development is focusing on solar thermal technology, through which energy from the sun is used to heat a substance that produces steam to power a turbine. The mirrors applied during the process are used to direct the sun’s ray onto the heated substance.

While Weihl conceded that Google’s technology is “not there yet,” he insisted the company remains hopeful of having mirrors that will be substantially cheaper than those presently being used by companies in the solar industry.

Google expects to have viable technology ready for internal review before the close of 2009.

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