You know how Google likes to expand in other markets. On that note, we're hearing the search giant is currently in the process of creating new mirror technology that could potentially bring dramatic cost-cutting effects in construction of solar thermal facilities.

Speaking at the Reuters Global Climate and Alternative Energy Summit in San Francisco, Google's ecological guru Bill Weihl explained that the company is going this route because there's a lack of breakthrough investments in the green sector.

"We've been looking at very unusual materials for the mirrors both for the reflective surface as well as the substrate that the mirror is mounted on," he said, adding that if their R&D is right, solar thermal plant construction costs could be cut by more than 25 percent.

Finally, although Weihl said Google's "not there yet," he said that the company expects to have viable technology ready for internal review before the end of 2009.

[Via: TheTechHerald]