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Google is not in nuclear energy business. It would be better for all of us if Google stays focused in software development.

brianbreslin 15y ago
Google is in the renewable energy business. They have devoted well over $400Million US to solar, hydro, and wind power startups. They see energy as their biggest cost point in the next decade (powering data centers is not trivial).
- dennisgorelik 15y ago
  Google is in search business. I think focusing on power is a mistake for Google (unless founders are having fun toying with power).
  - dennisgorelik 15y ago
    "why shouldn't they invest into new energy tech" Because amount of attention that top management have is limited. Google would be better off if they focus on their core products. For example, Search.
  - raarky 15y ago
    Google is a pretty large and technically savvy advertising company that does search and a bunch of other things. If energy costs are eating into their bottom line and they have the cash, why shouldn't they invest into new energy tech. Seems like a good business decision to me
- ThaddeusQuay 15y ago
  If Google has actually spent that much on renewables, then why didn't they give Bussard the measly $5M (or maybe it was $20M) for which he practically begged them, back on 11/09/06? He needed $200M, over 5 years, to build his fusion reactor, but only a small fraction of that to confirm some important experimental results which he had achieved just before the Navy cut his funding. He believed that he could get that confirmation, and that it would be enough to show that proceeding with the $200M investment would be prudent. I was quite sad to see that he died about 11 months later, having not achieved his dream, and having been reduced to begging at the end of his life. Google not only should have given him the $5M/$20M, but they should have been thrilled and honored to have such an intellect even speaking to them. Fuck Google's shortsightedness. http://youtube.com/watch?v=FhL5VO2NStU http://youtube.com/watch?v=FhL5VO2NStU http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_W._Bussard http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_W._Bussard http://newmexico.watchdog.org/7104/fusion-energy-promises-yield-stimulus-cash http://newmexico.watchdog.org/7104/fusion-energy-promises-yi...
  - brianbreslin 15y ago
    http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2011/06/google-invests-280-million-in-partnership-with-solarcity http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2011/06... $280Million just in june. I don't know anything about Bussard, but seems like he unfortunately passed away before completing his research (which admittedly was underfunded). However I wonder if part of the reason for it being underfunded is that it promised power that was TOO cheap. Too cheap to profit at the same scale as coal etc.
pedalpete 15y ago
The response said what is stopping google from 'funding' this, not 'creating' this. Of course, they would benefit too.
- dennisgorelik 15y ago
  "Funding" requires focus too.
  - KeithMajhor 15y ago
    Enough focus to say, "Hey, good idea". I think it would be better for all of us if Google got any of the potential patents as well. Even if it isn't their main business.

brianbreslin 15y ago

Google is in the renewable energy business. They have devoted well over $400Million US to solar, hydro, and wind power startups. They see energy as their biggest cost point in the next decade (powering data centers is not trivial).

dennisgorelik 15y ago
Google is in search business. I think focusing on power is a mistake for Google (unless founders are having fun toying with power).
- dennisgorelik 15y ago
  "why shouldn't they invest into new energy tech" Because amount of attention that top management have is limited. Google would be better off if they focus on their core products. For example, Search.
- raarky 15y ago
  Google is a pretty large and technically savvy advertising company that does search and a bunch of other things. If energy costs are eating into their bottom line and they have the cash, why shouldn't they invest into new energy tech. Seems like a good business decision to me
ThaddeusQuay 15y ago
If Google has actually spent that much on renewables, then why didn't they give Bussard the measly $5M (or maybe it was $20M) for which he practically begged them, back on 11/09/06? He needed $200M, over 5 years, to build his fusion reactor, but only a small fraction of that to confirm some important experimental results which he had achieved just before the Navy cut his funding. He believed that he could get that confirmation, and that it would be enough to show that proceeding with the $200M investment would be prudent. I was quite sad to see that he died about 11 months later, having not achieved his dream, and having been reduced to begging at the end of his life. Google not only should have given him the $5M/$20M, but they should have been thrilled and honored to have such an intellect even speaking to them. Fuck Google's shortsightedness. http://youtube.com/watch?v=FhL5VO2NStU http://youtube.com/watch?v=FhL5VO2NStU http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_W._Bussard http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_W._Bussard http://newmexico.watchdog.org/7104/fusion-energy-promises-yield-stimulus-cash http://newmexico.watchdog.org/7104/fusion-energy-promises-yi...
- brianbreslin 15y ago
  http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2011/06/google-invests-280-million-in-partnership-with-solarcity http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2011/06... $280Million just in june. I don't know anything about Bussard, but seems like he unfortunately passed away before completing his research (which admittedly was underfunded). However I wonder if part of the reason for it being underfunded is that it promised power that was TOO cheap. Too cheap to profit at the same scale as coal etc.

pedalpete 15y ago

The response said what is stopping google from 'funding' this, not 'creating' this. Of course, they would benefit too.

dennisgorelik 15y ago
"Funding" requires focus too.
- KeithMajhor 15y ago
  Enough focus to say, "Hey, good idea". I think it would be better for all of us if Google got any of the potential patents as well. Even if it isn't their main business.