Brookfield and Google have announced a framework agreement to deliver up to 3 gigawatts (GW) of carbon-free hydropower across the United States, in what Brookfield described as the largest deal of its kind globally.
The Hydro Framework Agreement (HFA) allows Google to procure clean electricity from Brookfield-owned hydroelectric assets that are being re-licensed, upgraded, or overhauled to extend their operating life and maintain grid contributions. The initiative supports Google’s target of powering its operations with 24/7 carbon-free energy.
Initial contracts under the agreement include Brookfield’s Holtwood and Safe Harbour hydroelectric plants in Pennsylvania, totalling 670 megawatts (MW) of capacity and more than $3 billion worth of power over 20-year terms. These facilities will supply energy to support Google’s operations in the mid-Atlantic PJM electricity market.
“At Google, we’re dedicated to responsibly growing the digital infrastructure that powers daily life for people, communities and businesses,” said Amanda Peterson Corio, Google’s head of data centre energy. “This collaboration with Brookfield is a significant step forward, ensuring clean energy supply in the PJM region where we operate.”
Brookfield said the deal also accommodates its existing power supply commitments, including customers like Amtrak, while opening the door to future expansion into other regions such as the MISO market in the U.S. Midwest.
Connor Teskey, president of Brookfield Asset Management, said: Our partnership with Google demonstrates the critical role that hydropower can play in helping hyperscale customers meet their energy goals. Delivering power at scale and from a range of sources will be required to meet the growing electricity demands from digitalisation and artificial intelligence.
The announcement marks a growing focus on long-term power purchase agreements (PPAs) aimed at supporting corporate decarbonisation targets while leveraging existing infrastructure through refurbishment and regulatory extensions.
