Green Forum • 11 July, 2024 at 8:03 AM
Amazon achieved a milestone in 2023 by matching all electricity consumed by its operations, including data centers, with 100% renewable energy.
In 2019, Amazon set a goal to meet all electricity needs across its global operations—data centers, corporate buildings, grocery stores, and fulfillment centers—with 100% renewable energy by 2030.
"Reaching our renewable energy goal is an incredible achievement, and we're proud of the work we've done to get here seven years early," said Kara Hurst, Vice President of Worldwide Sustainability. "We know this is just a moment in time, and our efforts to decarbonize our operations will continue to evolve on our path to 2040. Our teams will stay ambitious, investing in solar and wind projects and supporting other forms of carbon-free energy like nuclear, battery storage, and emerging technologies to power our operations for decades."
“By achieving its 100% renewable energy goal, Amazon has enabled the construction of hundreds of new solar and wind projects, bringing clean energy to grids and communities worldwide,” said Kyle Harrison, Head of Sustainability Research at BloombergNEF. “Addressing climate change while meeting society's growing energy demands is a massive challenge, and Amazon's commitment to clean power demonstrates how a single company can accelerate the transition to a low-carbon economy globally.”
Since 2019, Amazon has initiated renewable energy projects in 27 countries. It became the first corporation to enable utility-scale renewable energy projects in India, Greece, South Africa, Japan, and Indonesia. This was achieved by working with policymakers to create supportive policies for constructing new solar and wind projects. Renewable energy usage is also integrated across Amazon's broader corporate footprint. The HQ2 headquarters in Virginia is designed to operate with zero carbon emissions, and its electricity consumption is matched by a local solar farm. Additionally, nearly 300 on-site solar projects have been implemented on the rooftops and properties of Amazon's fulfillment centers, Whole Foods Market stores, and other corporate buildings worldwide. Collectively, Amazon's renewable energy portfolio is expected to avoid approximately 27.8 million tons of carbon emissions annually once all projects are operational.