The acquisition will give Alphabet direct control over Intersect’s portfolio of clean energy and data centre power projects that are already operating, under construction or in advanced development. Google previously held a minority stake in Intersect following a 2024 funding round.

The move underlines how America’s largest technology companies are increasingly investing directly in energy infrastructure, as conventional power grids struggle to keep up with the explosive growth in electricity demand driven by artificial intelligence and cloud computing.

Sundar Pichai, chief executive of Google and Alphabet, said the deal would strengthen the group’s ability to build energy capacity in tandem with its data centre expansion.

“Intersect will help us expand capacity, operate more nimbly in building new power generation in lockstep with new data centre load, and reimagine energy solutions to drive US innovation and leadership,” Pichai said.

Founded in 2016 by Sheldon Kimber, Intersect develops large-scale clean energy generation and storage projects, including solar and battery infrastructure. Kimber will remain as chief executive following the takeover.

“Modern infrastructure is the linchpin of American competitiveness in AI,” Kimber said. “We share Google’s conviction that energy innovation and community investment are the pillars of what must come next.”

Intersect is backed by Texas-based alternative asset manager TPG and currently has around $15 billion of assets either operating or under construction. By 2028, projects representing approximately 10.8 gigawatts of power are expected to be online or in development — more than 20 times the electricity output of the Hoover Dam.

For Alphabet, the deal reflects a broader strategic shift as big tech groups seek greater control over their energy supply. With AI models and data centres becoming vastly more power-intensive, companies including Google, Microsoft and Amazon have increasingly turned to direct investment in clean energy, nuclear power and on-site generation to ensure long-term capacity and price stability.

The Intersect acquisition positions Alphabet to build power generation and storage alongside new data centres, reducing reliance on overstretched grids while reinforcing its public commitment to clean energy as the AI race intensifies.

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Thomas Telford University Technical College (UTC), housed in the historic Grade II listed Springfield Brewery, has reduced its annual electricity costs by 66% through the installation of a 318.86 kWp rooftop solar array, designed and delivered by renewable energy specialists Kembla Limited using SolarEdge DC-optimised technology.

Funded by a loan through the School Capital Funding Scheme, the solar project forms part of a £12.6 million expansion initiative to enhance energy efficiency across the site. Generating approximately 277 MWh of renewable electricity each year, the system supplies the majority of the college’s energy needs on-site, with any surplus exported to the grid to generate additional revenue.

“As a school focused on environment, design and build, this installation supports both our sustainability goals and our curriculum,” said Richard Rhodes, Buildings and Fabrics Manager at Thomas Telford UTC. “It’s allowing us to reinvest into the student experience, while also giving students a real-world example of how clean energy works.”

The school, which teaches students aged 11–19, selected Kembla Limited based on its track record delivering solar installations for other schools within the Thomas Telford Multi-Academy Trust. The system comprises 733 solar panels, each paired with SolarEdge Power Optimizers, and three 90 kW inverters.

The smart optimisers allow each pair of panels to perform independently, reducing the impact of shading or debris and enabling greater flexibility in panel placement across multiple roof angles — a challenge for traditional systems.

“Unlike conventional systems that require uniform layout, SolarEdge’s technology allows for a more adaptive design, maximising energy production even on complex rooftops,” said Declan Adams, Managing Director of Kembla Limited.

Safety was a key consideration throughout the project. The SolarEdge system includes arc-fault detection, rapid shutdown capability, and SafeDC technology that automatically reduces voltage to safe levels in the event of an emergency. Two Firefighter Gateways are also linked to the school’s alarm system, designed to shut down the array instantly to allow safe roof access for emergency services.

Permanent edge protection was installed during the build, creating a secure observation area on the roof where students can view the system safely.

“Our students have been fascinated by the installation,” said Rhodes. “We’ve used it to support learning, showing live data from the system via the SolarEdge app and letting students explore how energy is generated, optimised, and used on campus.”

The college expects to benefit from the installation for many years, both financially and educationally.

Rhodes added: “Thanks to Kembla’s expertise and the advanced safety and performance features of the SolarEdge system, we’ve made an investment that supports our operations and enriches our students’ understanding of clean technology.”

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Simon Robinson, Real Estate Partner at Kingsley Napley LLP explains that unsurprisingly there are a host of EV charging point providers springing up whose business is to operate the charging stations. They install and maintain the equipment, link to electricity networks, and manage driver payments or, in some cases, bill landlords if the charging points are to be offered free to visiting customers.

As such landlords and EV charging point operators need to negotiate and enter into a lease that meets the current and future needs of both parties.

There are several standard features that lease negotiations need to consider, including whether planning consent is required for the construction of the EV station; the planning conditions attached to the landlord’s land stipulating a minimum number and type of parking bays to be provided; the right to install electrical cabling from the electrical grid to the EV station; and rights of entry on the land to allow maintenance, repair, and renewal of the cabling. However, it is also important to consider the future needs of both parties given the rapidly evolving EV market.

EV operators will require a lease of between 10 and 20 years to recoup the significant infrastructure costs involved in installing an EV station. Operating incomes will depend on usage and electricity supply and pricing. Models are helpful to a point. But it would not be unreasonable for a landlord to look to receive a performance rent calculated by reference to the EV operator’s net profit received from the EV station.

If electric vehicle car ownership continues to rise, the EV operator may need the option to lease an increased number of car parking spaces. However, equally, the landlord may wish to relocate (lift and shift) the EV station to a different part of the carpark in the future. Leases should therefore specify whether this would be at the landlord’s cost and perhaps, include a rent-free period whilst the EV station is out of operation.

There may be circumstances, such as the development of a new retail park nearby or the loss of an anchor tenant in a car park, which may lead to a drop in traffic, making the economics of the EV station no longer viable. The EV operator will look for the lease to reflect this, including the right for them to terminate the lease early.

The lease should set out clearly what equipment the EV operator will remove on termination of the lease and whether the landlord will purchase the equipment and if so, at what price. There may be considerable costs associated with the decommissioning of a charging area.

Exclusivity should also be a factor considered at the lease negotiation stage. In addition, the lease should ideally also allow the EV operator flexibility to update their equipment; the power supply capacity; the design of the EV Station; and specify what can be done with or without the landlord’s consent.

Whilst landlords may appear to have ‘the power’ and upper hand right now, it would be short-sighted to stipulate terms that might render a charging station uneconomic in the future. Given the pace at which this market is developing and the different projections for how far it will go, both sides need to get as much flexibility as possible in any lease terms negotiated. Otherwise, this is also going to be a growing area for disputes down the line.

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Outside the offices of a major car manufacturer in the south of England, there are now more than 2,000 panels in total with a peak capacity of just under 1 megawatt (MW).

That’s enough to power hundreds of homes.

“They are looking stunning,” declares Guy Chilvers, business development manager at SIG, the firm that supplied the solar canopies.

These structures make car parks more visually appealing, he insists, while admitting, “I would say that”.

Solar car parks or car ports enable electricity production in open spaces that tend to be positioned conveniently near to energy-guzzling facilities such as hospitals, shopping centres or offices. The canopies have additional benefits in that they protect cars from rain and snow, or hot sun in the summer.

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The company will kickstart a solar electricity revolution for businesses by putting free solar panels on commercial rooftops, delivering low-cost solar electricity to its occupants from as little as 20p / unit.

British businesses are being hit hard by skyrocketing energy costs, with electricity prices for some companies jumping from 17p to 70p per kilowatt hour (kWh). With many businesses already seriously cash-strapped and locked into high-price electricity contracts, the energy crisis is putting previously viable and successful firms out of business. According to recent FSB research, 24% of small firms are trapped in fixed energy contracts, with 28% (370,000 small businesses) needing to downsize, restructure or close entirely as a result.

Electron Green is stepping in to transform the way businesses can buy electricity by mixing lower cost solar electricity with higher cost supply from utility companies. £1bn would pay for the installation and maintenance of 3.4 million solar panel systems across 14,000 commercial buildings in the UK, removing the significant upfront cost and risk associated with commercial solar electricity to date. Electron Green anticipates up to £1bn of funding will be allotted to new projects in under year, such is businesses’ pent-up demand for cheaper, cleaner electricity.

Daniel Green, CEO and Co-Founder of Electron Green comments, “Businesses cannot continue to be at the whim of Big Energy and market volatility. It’s time to shake up the energy buying status quo and embrace low-cost on-site renewables.

“£1bn would enable thousands of businesses to take back control of their electricity energy spend for the first time. Adding low-cost green solar electricity to businesses’ energy mix will significantly reduce bills by enabling them to use more cheap solar electricity in lieu of expensive utility electricity, providing certainty in an increasingly uncertain world. This is essential to not only save the SME backbone of our economy from breaking but to also hit net zero goals.”

Calculations based on Solar Energy UK figures, show that just 1% of commercial property roofs in the UK have solar panels and landlords have been identified as a significant blocker of investment to date. While it’s hoped this will change as landlords adapt to meet increasingly stringent sustainability-led EPC rules by 2027, there’s a clear need for more to be done now to support businesses and reach net zero goals.

Green continues, “Landlords have been standing in the way of cheap electricity for tenants, but it’s time for them to move aside. Sustainability rules will hurt business models sooner than many realise. Putting solar on rooftops now is a critical step as they adapt portfolios in the race to 2027.”

With banks and large institutions very keen to see low carbon investment opportunities realised, up to £1bn of funding would be backed by private investment from Electron Green and some of the largest banks and partners in the world.

Phil Adam, Partner, Head of Infrastructure Advisory, Debt & Capital Advisory, Deloitte LLP comments, “We are delighted to be supporting Electron Green with their scaled focus on the commercial solar market assisting their UK corporates reduce their energy costs and meet their net -zero targets.”

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This investment is the latest step in First Bus’ pledge to reduce the overall emissions generated by its bus operations, as it looks to achieve the ultimate goal of net zero-emissions by 2050 or earlier. This sits alongside its goal of achieving a zero-emission bus fleet by 2035.

As one of the UK’s largest bus companies, First Bus is on a mission to make its depots self-sustaining – with the solar PV panels enabling the 20 sites to generate their own renewable power for lighting, heating, office equipment and the engineering bays.

The move will not only help local bus operations by reducing costs, but it will also significantly reduce each site’s need to draw power from their local grid.

The solar PV panels already installed have been fitted to various areas of the roof on site, such as the engineering workshops, covering an approximate area of over 11,000 square metres. At peak output these will produce some 2 million kWh of energy a year – enough to power around 700 standard 3-bedroom homes.

Jon Tivey, Head of Environment for First Bus UK, said: “We are delighted to announce the rollout of our solar PV programme across the UK, which will help us to significantly reduce our carbon emissions across 20 sites.

“This is yet another milestone in our transition to a low-carbon future across every aspect of our operations. As one of the largest bus operators in the UK, it’s important that we lead the way in the industry and set an example for others to follow.”

The panels are being installed and fitted by Manchester-based solar PV suppliers CorEnergy UK, with work on many of the sites already underway. The entire project will be complete by mid-June.

CorEnergy Managing Director, Tom Griffin, said: “CorEnergy is pleased to be supporting the ambitious net zero targets committed by First Bus, having been awarded the design and installation of an exciting renewable energy project to introduce solar PV solutions to 20 sites across the UK.

“In a time where all businesses are striving for carbon neutrality, this successful solar PV project will play a significant role in supporting First Bus to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and meet ongoing net zero objectives.”

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Stroud District Council has been successful in bidding for a £4.7million grant from the Government’s Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme and will add £700,000 to the project for the pumps at Stratford Park Leisure Centre and the Museum in the Park in Stroud, plus The Pulse Leisure Centre in Dursley.

The council’s Ebley Mill HQ and Brimscombe Port Mill have both been heated by water source heat pumps since 2022.

This proposed move aligns with the council’s overarching 2030 strategy to help the district become carbon neutral.

An air source heat pump system is estimated to last for a minimum of 20 years and these three installations will reduce carbon emissions by an estimated 14,652 tonnes over that time.

Energy-saving measures including moving to 100 per cent LED lighting and passive infra-red sensors, timeclocks, increasing the solar PV arrays, and introducing solar battery storage are being considered to help offset an increase in electricity consumption.

The buildings are expected to have to close for up to a month each but to minimise disruption, closures will be staggered, and quieter months aimed for.

“Our mission is to lead by example in the community, to help and encourage others to embrace renewable energy, and to make the changes now that are needed to equip our buildings for a low carbon future,” said council leader Catherine Braun.

Community Services and Licensing Committee Chair Chris Brine added: “We are doing everything in our power through our services, projects and policies to work with partners to reach our carbon neutral goal for the district.”
The work is expected to start in May this year and be finished in March next year.

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In Europe, 100% of the grid electricity we use is matched with renewable energy certificates. Combined with agreements already in place, this new solar PPA means around 44% of our annual energy requirement in the UK will come from UK-based renewable power sources by 2025.

As part of the deal between Vodafone, Centrica as the power supplier and MYTILINEOS as the generator, five solar farms located in Norfolk, Nottinghamshire, Staffordshire, Buckinghamshire and Dorset, will generate 216 gigawatt hours of electricity and displace more than 53,000 tonnes of CO2e emissions each year.

That is the equivalent of taking around 31,400 cars off the road.

The solar farm builds will start in 2023, with energy generation expected from early 2024.

Vodafone will purchase a significant proportion of the electricity generated by the farms, securing their development and bringing additional power provision to the UK grid.

The remainder will be sold through Centrica’s Energy Marketing & Trading business.

The news follows an announcement from Vodafone UK last year to purchase a significant proportion of power from three new UK solar farms. The first of these is now fully operational, with the others to follow in the coming months. Combined with two onshore wind farms, in Northamptonshire and Lincolnshire, we have secured access to renewable power from 10 sites across the UK.

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South Farm solar plant near the village of Spetisbury in Dorset, has been commissioned to provide electricity for the City of London Corporation.

The company, Voltalia said the plant will power Guildhall, three wholesale markets and the Barbican Arts Centre.

It added the deal is “the first of its kind in the UK to be signed directly between a renewables producer and a public governing authority”.

The contract between the City of London and the 49.9 megawatt solar plant – which is more than 100 miles away from the capital – will last for 15 years.

“The deal will increase our green energy supply, has no reliance on taxpayer funding, and helps us transition quickly away from fossil fuels,” said Keith Bottomley, chairman of the City Corporation’s environment committee.

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The 2012 Olympics stadium – now home to West Ham United – is to be wrapped in a solar membrane to reduce carbon emissions, it has been revealed.

It is estimated the project will cost £4 million over the first two years but would pay for itself after five years.

According to planning documents, the work could start on the east London site later this year.

The building could then start generating energy by end of 2024, according to the stadium’s owner, the London Legacy Development Corporation (LLDC) – a body set up after the 2012 Games to manage the development of the area around the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in Stratford.

A contract for the project’s installation said the scheme offers a “fantastic opportunity to showcase cutting edge technology”.

The idea has been praised by Sadiq Khan, with City Hall agreeing to contribute £45,000 towards a feasibility study and business case for the project.

LLDC’s latest budget documents state the new technology could generate roughly three million kilowatts of power each year.

Stuart Dossett, senior policy advisor at the environmental think tank Green Alliance, said: “It’s great to see such an iconic building, the scene for so much national pride, leading us into our greener future.

“Solar can be built quickly to produce cheap and clean energy to power our buildings. The sooner we expand the use of renewables, the sooner we can slash bills and carbon emissions,” he said.

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