Google has confirmed its first geothermal energy agreement in the Asia-Pacific, partnering with Baseload Power Taiwan to advance sustainable energy efforts on the island, as reported by Focus Taiwan. This initiative will initially contribute 10 megawatts of constant, renewable power to Taiwan’s grid—marking a significant stride towards decarbonisation in the region.

The tech giant views Taiwan’s rich underground thermal resources as a vital complement to intermittent renewables like wind and solar. By investing in Baseload Capital—the Swedish parent company of Baseload Power Taiwan—Google is aiming to fast-track geothermal energy adoption not only in Taiwan but across Asia Pacific.

At present, Taiwan has a modest 7 MW of installed geothermal capacity, with Baseload’s Hualien-based site still under development. Additional projects are also in progress, with national plans targeting 6 gigawatts of geothermal capacity by 2050. Baseload hopes to integrate energy access with local economic development, providing both electricity and heat for farming and food processing in rural areas.

The firm also sees an opportunity in combining geothermal plants with regional tourism—particularly in hot spring destinations like Yilan on the east coast —where geothermal heat is already used for cooking and wellness experiences.

Environmental concerns are being addressed through community education, stressing geothermal’s low emissions and 24/7 reliability—especially relevant as Taiwan seeks energy independence amid geopolitical uncertainties and the impending closure of nuclear plants.

In a recent interview with Newsbase, the Taiwan Energy Administration’s Lee Chun-Li highlighted geothermal as a critical part of Taiwan’s net-zero strategy while in another interview with Newsbase,  Baseload Taiwan’s Van Hoang outlined how localised, clean geothermal power could strengthen national energy security and stimulate community-led green enterprise.