Google has joined RE100 with an interim target to triple its purchase of renewable energy by 2025 and a long term goal to power all of its operations with renewables – a commitment originally announced in June 2015 when Google signed the American Business Act on Climate.
Also announced today, Google will purchase a further 842MW of energy through a series of new wind and solar projects around the world, demonstrating that words are being put into action.
Gary Demasi, Director, Data Center Energy and Location Strategy, said: "Google is already the largest corporate renewable energy purchaser in the world and we're committed to tripling our purchases of renewable energy by 2025, with the goal of powering 100% of our operations with clean energy."
It has been an impressive few days for RE100 with Google being the latest ICT giant to join the campaign; following announcements from Microsoft and Adobe earlier in the week. The demand for renewable electricity from these ICT companies sends a clear signal to the market and will demonstrate that transitioning to renewables is a smart business decision.
Google is currently the largest corporate purchaser of renewable energy in the world and is using this influential position to further accelerate its development, by looking at innovative technologies and sourcing locally generated green power for its offices and data centers.
The company has been carbon neutral since 2007. It has signed a total of six long-term power purchase agreements (PPAs) to date, providing financial security to renewable generation projects and bringing more green electricity to the grid. Alongside these PPAs, Google has signed three further agreements directly with utility companies to source renewable electricity.
Google is co-hosting an event with RE100 at COP21 on Saturday 5 December, where senior sustainability leaders will discuss how we can achieve a 100% renewable energy future focusing on scalable purchasing and production structures that companies can use and what policymakers can do to unlock the demand for renewables in the market.
RE100 now has a total of 46 companies: Adobe, Alstria, Autodesk, Aviva, Biogen, BROAD Group, BT Group, Commerzbank, DSM, Elion Resources Group, Elopak, Formula E, Givaudan, Goldman Sachs, Google, H&M, IKEA Group, Infosys, J. Safra Sarasin, Johnson & Johnson, Kingspan, KPN, La Poste, Land Securities, Marks & Spencer, Mars Incorporated, Microsoft, Nestlé, Nike, Inc., Novo Nordisk, Philips, Procter & Gamble, Proximus, RELX Group, Salesforce, SAP, SGS, Starbucks, Steelcase, Swiss Re, UBS, Unilever, Vaisala, Voya Financial, Walmart and YOOX Group.