Itochu unit signs renewable energy deal with Google in Japan

TOKYO (Reuters) – Itochu said on Friday it had signed a long-term energy supply agreement with Google to help the search engine company meet its renewable energy goals in Japan.

Itochu’s portfolio company, Clean Energy Connect (CEC), will begin providing services to Google in 2024 and will supply Google with up to 72 megawatts of solar power by 2026, the Japanese trading house said in a statement.

Itochu invested in CEC in November 2021 amid growing demand for renewable energy for generative artificial intelligence and data center operations.

(Reporting by Rocky Swift; Editing by Tom Hogue)