With three buildings to house mechanical equipment and four thermal energy storage (TES) tanks, this all-electric thermal plant centralizes delivery of renewable energy to Google’s adjacent offices. The facility will help support Google’s goal to achieve net-zero emissions and operate on carbon-free energy by 2030.

Extensive use of prefabricated components, from the facade’s solar panels to piping and the mass timber ancillary building structure, helped to enhance quality control and minimize onsite disruptions.

Each TES tank was fabricated in 10-ft sections at ground level, then hydraulically lifted into place, minimizing height-related risks and improving efficiency. The jack and bore technique was also used for underground piping installation beneath roadways, supporting efficient piping placement without extensive excavation or disruptions to traffic and city utilities. The thermal piping system itself was prefabricated off site, allowing for installation at the same time as structural steel erection.

The ancillary building’s mass timber structure is just one of the sustainability features on this LEED Platinum project. Through the TES tanks, the plant functions as a large-scale thermal battery, strategically shifting energy demand to periods when the electrical grid carbon intensity is minimized. By utilizing centralized cooling towers and heat recovery, the plant is expected to save up to 2 million gallons of water per year. All equipment has also been installed above the FEMA 100-year floodplain.