Amazon hits 100% renewable energy goal seven years ahead of schedule, ET EnergyWorld

New Delhi: In a major environmental milestone, Amazon announced that it has achieved an ambitious goal of matching all electricity used in its global operations to 100% renewable energy, a full seven years ahead of schedule in 2030. The company is now ranked as the world’s largest corporate buyer of renewable energy as of 2020, according to Bloomberg New Energy Finance. Amazon has committed billions of dollars to more than 500 solar and wind projects around the world, cementing its reputation as a leader in corporate sustainability. “Hitting our renewable energy goal is an incredible accomplishment, and we’re proud of the work we’ve done to get here seven years early,” said Kara Hurst, Amazon’s chief sustainability officer. She underscored the dynamic nature of the company’s commitment to sustainability, adding, “We will continue to make progress while constantly evolving on our path to 2040.”

Since making the commitment in 2019, Amazon has spearheaded renewable energy projects in 27 countries, with notable achievements in countries including India, Greece, South Africa, Japan, and Indonesia. The company’s efforts have expanded to enabling policy frameworks that support the construction of new solar and wind projects, thereby promoting green energy on a significant scale.

The company’s Virginia headquarters, known as HQ2, operates with zero carbon emissions and is powered by electricity from a local solar farm. Amazon has also deployed nearly 300 on-site solar projects across its various facilities around the world, including fulfillment centers and Whole Foods Market stores. Once fully operational, these projects are expected to prevent the emission of about 27.8 million tons of carbon dioxide per year.

In the Asia-Pacific region alone, Amazon has initiated more than 80 renewable energy projects. In India, where the company is the largest corporate buyer of renewable energy, Amazon has launched 50 wind and solar projects. The latest addition in 2022 includes three wind-solar hybrid projects in Madhya Pradesh and Karnataka and three solar farms in Rajasthan with a combined capacity of 920 megawatts (MW). These investments have contributed significantly to local communities and the Indian economy, generating an estimated US$349 million (INR 2,885 crore) in local investment and supporting more than 20,600 jobs in 2022.

Kyle Harrison, head of sustainability research at BloombergNEF, highlighted the broader impact of Amazon’s initiatives: “By achieving its 100% renewable energy goal, Amazon has enabled the construction of hundreds of new solar and wind projects, providing new sources of clean energy for grids and communities around the world.”

As Amazon continues its journey toward its Climate Pledge commitment to net-zero carbon emissions by 2040, the company recognizes the evolving challenges and need for an adaptive approach to meet growing energy demands, particularly driven by emerging technologies such as generative AI. This adaptive strategy will likely include exploring and integrating a mix of renewable and other carbon-free energy sources to sustain its expansive operations and environmental goals.

Amazon’s achievement is not only a corporate success, but also a role model for global sustainability efforts, demonstrating the potential impact of committed corporate leadership on the global transformation towards a low-carbon economy.