Technology giant Google has selected Shell Energy Europe to oversee its power portfolio serving a newly opened data centre in the UK. Under the title of Google’s ‘24/7 Carbon-Free Energy Manager’ in the UK, Shell will use battery energy storage systems (BESS) to balance Google’s existing clean energy portfolio. The tech firm said between its other clean energy initiatives and the new alliance with Shell, Google UK’s operations are projected to run at or new 95% carbon-free energy in 2026. The collaboration was announced with the opening of Google’s data centre in Waltham Cross, England, as part of a two-year, £5 billion investment by the tech company in the UK. Google is aiming to achieve net zero emissions across all of its operations and value chain, including its data centres.