How Google is using clean energy data

Google sets the standard with world-leading sustainability goals

Google views energy as a strategic asset that supports their core business, enabling them to set the standard for sustainability action on a corporate and global level. 

2007

First carbon-neutral company

2017

100% annual consumption matched with renewable energy

Largest corporate buyer of renewable energy 

Why Data Centers?

Google’s data centers run on 24/7 electricity to keep the internet running 24/7. But, with around-the-clock services comes an enormous energy cost. The emissions associated with Google’s electricity consumption comprise the majority of their carbon footprint.

3%

Data centers account for approximately 3% of the world's electricity use.

7 billion kWh

In 2017 alone, Google purchased more than 7 billion kWh of electricity from solar and wind farms that were built specifically for Google.

Challenges we solved together

Google had been serving as its own energy manager for years, and doing it successfully – meeting their clean energy goals at a groundbreaking pace.  However, implementing and running a holistic clean energy management program is a huge undertaking. It requires a highly skilled, cross-functional team of specialists with deep knowledge of the complex energy market and procurement process. It takes valuable time, resources and expertise that could instead be spent contributing to Google’s core objectives. 

By partnering together, we were able to focus on our respective areas of expertise. Google, as a technology innovator, and AES, as an energy innovator. Together, we worked to further integrate sustainability into Google’s operations and develop a holistic energy management strategy grounded in clean, reliable and cost-effective power. 

Transforming our partnership to transform the energy industry

Through our partnership, Google is achieving the highest standards of clean energy by powering their data centers with 24/7 carbon-free energy guaranteed on an hourly basis. We’re securing renewables at scale to efficiently meet their changing energy needs and utilizing our networks and data to provide new insights to efficiently uphold Google’s commitments to a 100% carbon free future. 

During our energy management discussion, we found new ways we could partner to accelerate the future of energy at Google and in the energy industry at large. We entered into a strategic alliance that combines our respective capabilities, footprint and experience to accelerate the widespread adoption of clean energy.  

Today, we’re using tools like artificial intelligence and data analytics to modernize the electric grid, leveraging Google Cloud technology to increase global renewables and developing utility products to virtualize the entire utility operating system.  

Customized energy solutions portfolio

• Secured 1 GW+ additional renewable energy

Power operations with more clean energy and less brown energy

• Optimize load profile to generation profile 

Project life cycle management

• Scalable procurement

• Holistic energy management 
• Legal review and contracting
• Ongoing management and optimization 
• Operations
• Development 

Market resources and pricing

• Scalable procurement
• Holistic energy management
• Financing 

Regulatory compliance

• Risk analysis and due diligence
• Administration
• Legal review and contracting

Looking to the future

Energy management was the first step toward a partnership with world-changing implications. Together with Google, we’re creating a path forward to modernize the grid and operate on 24/7 carbon-free energy.