Google and Kioxia Partner to Source Renewable Power from Japanese Hydropower Retrofit
December 3, 2025
In a significant move for the technology sector's decarbonization efforts, Google and Japanese memory chip manufacturer Kioxia have entered into a joint power offtake agreement for renewable energy from a hydropower retrofit project in Japan's Chubu region. The partnership underscores the growing pressure on major tech and semiconductor firms to secure clean, reliable power for their energy-intensive operations while advancing ambitious climate goals.
The agreement, announced this week, involves power sourced from a facility owned and operated by the Chubu Electric Power Group. While the specific project was not disclosed, it is part of the utility's broader strategy to modernize its extensive hydropower portfolio, which comprises over 200 facilities with a total capacity of approximately 5.5 gigawatts across Japan. Kioxia has already begun receiving power from the facility, which is expected to supply the company with 160 gigawatt-hours of energy annually. This supply is crucial for Kioxia's aim to source 100% of its electricity from renewables by 2040 and achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.
Google's portion of the offtake will support its operations in Japan, including its data center in Inzai, and aid in reducing its Scope 3 emissions. The exact capacity Google has agreed to purchase was not made public. Spencer Low, Head of Regional Sustainability for APAC at Google, highlighted the strategic nature of the deal in a LinkedIn post, stating, "The project was enabled by a Google-led effort to bring additional, cost-efficient clean electricity to manufacturers in Japan. By focusing on revitalizing existing infrastructure, Kioxia and Google are championing a practical and impactful approach to increasing the availability of clean power in Japan."
This agreement represents Google's third major renewable energy procurement in Japan within a short period, following a 60-megawatt solar PPA signed in 2024 and a 15-megawatt virtual PPA with Jera in September 2025. For the global data center and semiconductor industries, such deals signal a strategic pivot towards leveraging existing energy infrastructure in mature markets like Japan. This approach not only provides a stable, round-the-clock clean power source but also offers a model for accelerating grid decarbonization without solely relying on new greenfield projects, which often face siting and permitting challenges.
Source: datacenterdynamics
Google and Kioxia Partner to Source Renewable Power from Japanese Hydropower Retrofit
