Despite bold climate promises, Google’s new power project in Illinois relies on a carbon capture approach with a patchy real-world track record
A Bold Step in Carbon-Capture Infrastructure
Google announced plans to invest in a 400-megawatt natural gas power plant in Illinois that aims to capture about 90% of its carbon emissions. The move aligns with the tech giant’s broader climate goals and desire to power its data centers with cleaner energy.
- The plant will be built near Decatur, next to an existing Archer-Daniels-Midland (ADM) ethanol facility that already practices CO2 injection and storage.
- Development is being led by Low Carbon Infrastructure, with Google purchasing the bulk of the electricity and ADM using some steam and power output.
Familiar Ground, Familiar Risks
The site selected has experience in geological carbon storage, with ADM already injecting about 2,000 metric tons of CO2 per day into deep underground formations. However, it’s not without problems.
- In 2024, injections were halted due to brine migration into unauthorized zones—an issue linked to corrosion at a monitoring well.
- Although injections have resumed, the incident highlights the fragility of CCS (Carbon Capture and Storage) systems, even at long-established sites.
CCS: A Promising Yet Inconsistent Technology
Carbon Capture and Storage has long been heralded as a way to reduce emissions from fossil fuel-based energy, especially coal and natural gas. But in practice, results have been mixed.
- A recent analysis of 13 CCS facilities, covering over half the world’s captured carbon, found many underperformed.
- One relevant example: a Canadian 115-megawatt power plant, similar in design to Google’s, has captured only about 50% of the CO2 it promised.
- An ExxonMobil facility in Wyoming has consistently captured 36% less CO2 than projected.
These real-world results raise doubts about Google’s target of 90% capture efficiency.
Carbon Capture Doesn’t Solve the Methane Problem
Even if carbon is successfully captured at the plant, it won’t mitigate methane emissions — a major blind spot in the natural gas lifecycle.
- Methane, the main component of natural gas, is 84 times more potent than CO2 over a 20-year period.
- Leakage rates as low as 0.2% can make natural gas as harmful as coal in terms of warming impact.
- Carbon capture focuses on post-combustion emissions, but methane leaks happen throughout the supply chain, from extraction to transportation.
This adds a significant caveat to Google’s claim of powering its infrastructure with “lower-carbon” energy.
Strategic Move or Symbolic Gesture?
Google’s investment reflects a broader trend of tech companies seeking low-carbon power without abandoning reliability. But the reliance on natural gas and emerging CCS technologies shows the limits of current green alternatives.
- The Illinois plant could serve as a case study for future CCS-integrated infrastructure.
- However, unless methane emissions are also addressed, the climate benefits may be overstated.
