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illuminem summarises for you the essential news of the day. Read the full piece on TechCrunch or enjoy below:
🗞️ Driving the news: Google has signed a major agreement to acquire 600 megawatts (MW) of solar power and storage from EnergyRe to support its expanding data center operations in South Carolina
• This follows a series of large-scale renewable energy investments as Google accelerates its shift toward carbon-free electricity amid rising demand from artificial intelligence (AI) workloads
🔭 The context: Google (see sustainability performance) has pledged to operate on 24/7 carbon-free energy by 2030 and invested heavily in clean power to meet this goal
• Its energy strategy now includes a $20 billion partnership with Intersect Power and TPG Rise Climate, as well as previous deals like a 700 MW solar contract with Leeward Renewable Energy
• However, the surging energy demands from AI infrastructure have compelled Google — and its peers — to accelerate clean energy acquisitions
🌍 Why it matters for the planet: Data centers are among the fastest-growing sources of electricity demand globally, and their carbon intensity could undermine net-zero goals unless offset by massive clean energy integration
• Google’s aggressive procurement of solar power underscores the critical role of corporate clean energy demand in driving the renewables market — and highlights the scale of infrastructure transformation required for sustainable digital growth
⏭️ What's next: With AI workloads projected to multiply in coming years, Google and other tech giants are expected to continue scaling their renewable procurement at record pace
• Industry watchers anticipate more storage-integrated clean energy deals as companies seek not just more green power but greater reliability
• South Carolina, with its growing renewables footprint, could become a key hub for Google’s AI operations and decarbonization roadmap
💬 One quote: “The growth of AI and the compute needed to run it has complicated that math, forcing Google and others to step up their purchases.” — Tim De Chant, Ars Technica
📈 One stat: Google contracted 4 gigawatts of clean power in 2023 alone, more than many countries added in total that year
See on illuminem's Data Hub™ the sustainability performance of Google and its peers Microsoft, Meta, and Amazon
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