But is it suitable for everyone? Or is this another case of the wealthy monopolising government tax credit?
I note that Google has upped its game in this area with the world’s largest Green PPA (Power Purchase Agreement). Despite falling average electricity consumption across the Western world, the need for data centre power has grown hugely and that growth is likely to go stratospheric as AI takes a hold.
The financial benefits of green investment are many fold and include the juicy 130% super-deduction, as well as (generally) cheaper energy. Buying into this technology is not cheap with the RoI horizon often measured in decades so it’s unlikely to be suitable for small/young companies or regular individuals.
It is, however, a great way for big tech to lead the way into green energy by providing the upfront investment. We applaud the long-sighted approach.
There will be increasing availability of consumer-accessible projects costing a few pounds to get started in, rather than the several thousand pound starting point today.
Our Green Credentials
At Connected, we are committed to a long-term negative carbon footprint – and in fact plan to offset the entire carbon footprint we created since our founding in 1996. This is on target to be achieved by 2030.
We became carbon negative in 2020, and then in 2023 we agreed our first direct investment in a UK green energy project – buying an investment in the Derrill Solar Park.
Not only is this a step or two on from agreeing to buy power at a fixed rate for a few years, we have directly invested in physical infrastructure that has a 40 year life – outlasting my working life and investing not only for our children, but our children’s children.
