Shell Energy Europe Limited has been chosen by Google to manage its renewable energy supply in the UK, as part of the technology company’s plan to run entirely on carbon-free energy by 2030.
Under Google’s Carbon-Free Energy (CFE) supply model, Shell will use its trading expertise to balance a portfolio of renewable power and battery storage.
The approach is designed to tackle the variability of wind and solar generation, delivering electricity to match Google’s demand throughout the day.
When production is high, Shell will store excess power in batteries and release it back into the grid when generation dips. According to Shell, this helps maintain a steady supply for Google while supporting the resilience of the UK’s electricity system.
The agreement was announced alongside the opening of Google’s new data centre in Waltham Cross, Hertfordshire. The site is intended to support growing demand for services such as Google Cloud, Gmail, Search and Maps, as well as expanding AI infrastructure.
“Shell’s diverse portfolio of renewable power supply, access to batteries and electricity trading and optimisation expertise enables us to meet the evolving needs of world-leading companies like Google and support the growth of data centres,” said David Wells, Executive Vice President of Shell Energy. “This gives us the scale and flexibility to help Google meet its decarbonisation goals.”
Maud Texier, Google’s Director of EMEA Data Center Energy, said: “Google’s data centres are among the most energy-efficient in the world and we’re focused on responsibly growing our AI infrastructure.
With this agreement, our UK operations are projected to run at or near 95% CFE in 2026 and we will partner with Shell to help close the remaining gap of hourly matching in the UK, enhance energy stability and contribute to the UK’s clean energy transition.”
The collaboration builds on earlier deals between the two companies. Since October 2023, Shell Energy and Google have signed three power purchase agreements for offshore wind projects in the Netherlands: NoordzeeWind, HKN V and HKW VI.
[Image credit: Shell]
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