MOUTAIN VIEW 08/19/08
Google.org, the philanthropic arm of the Internet search giant Google, today announced a $10.25 million investment in geothermal energy technology.
Two California-based companies and one university share the more than $10 million funding.
AltaRock Energy, based in Sausalito, received a $6.25 million investment from Google for continued development of an alternative energy source called Engineered Geothermal System.
Potter Drilling, headquartered in Redwood City, received $4 million to expand their range of hard rock drilling and technology in the renewable, clean energy.
Southern Methodist University Geothermal Laboratory in Texas received a grant of $489,521 to update geothermal mapping and to improve the understanding of the size and distribution of geothermal energy sources in the United States.
Engineered Geothermal System technology takes traditional geothermal energy to the next level by replicating naturally occurring geothermal sources, or pockets of steam or hot water. Engineered Geothermal System technology captures the electricity created from the injection and circulation of water into areas of fractured hot rock.
Google.org's investment is part of its Renewable Energy Cheaper Than Coal initiative.
© Jason Berkes, all rights reserved.
www.jasonberkes.com is a trademark of Jason Berkes