Google's New Technology Will Halve Solar Power Cost

Google is not content to rule the search engine industry. It is also positioning itself as the leader in a green energy revolution, encouraged by the Obama administration, with huge investment in solar power.

The search engine giant started investing in renewable energy back in 2007. Along with solar thermal tech, the company is also interested in gas turbines that could run on solar power rather than natural gas–a name change might be in order.

Google is set to unveil a prototype mirror technology that could halve the cost of building a solar thermal plant. This new technology may be ready for the mass market in 1-3 years time, said Bill Weihl, Google’s energy czar.

The mirror is the result of Google exploring the use of “unusual” materials for the reflective surface and substrate. Weihl said that there was a “decent chance” that the technology could help produce a two-fold cost savings for solar thermal.

Google has invested in two solar thermal firms, eSolar and BrightSource, and may test the technology with one or both of them.

In 2008, Google put $10 million each into the two companies, reports Fast Company. BrightSource just received $1.37 billion in loan guarantees from the federal government, reports Israel 21.

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