The GAFAM are the largest buyers of renewable energy to power their data centers. Google, Apple, Amazon, and Microsoft are heavily investing in green energy to achieve carbon neutrality by 2030. However, digital growth also raises significant environmental challenges, such as pollution from metal extraction.
Tech Giants Leading the Way in Renewable Energy Purchases for Data Centers
The tech giants, especially the companies known as the GAFAM (Google, Apple, Facebook, Amazon, Microsoft), are leading the charge in the energy transition by making massive investments in renewable energy. These companies are the largest buyers of green energy, particularly to power their enormous data centers.
In 2019, Google purchased 2.7 gigawatts of clean energy, far outpacing its competitors like Facebook, Amazon, and Microsoft. Apple, for its part, invested in giant wind turbines in Denmark to complement its renewable energy mix and reach carbon neutrality by 2030. However, while these companies are heavily investing in solar and wind energy projects, the International Energy Agency (IEA) notes that data centers are not always powered 100% by renewable energy. Wind and solar are variable sources, and at times, energy demand may not match the availability of these renewable sources.
Google, which achieved carbon neutrality in 2007, continues to develop innovative solutions to run its operations entirely on clean energy by 2030. This will involve combining wind, solar, and battery storage. Additionally, the company is relying on artificial intelligence to optimize its energy needs.
While the GAFAM's efforts in renewable energy are commendable, they only address part of the environmental challenges posed by the digital sector. The extraction of metals required for manufacturing electronic devices, including wind turbines, remains a significant source of pollution. These advancements in green energy are a step towards sustainability, but they do not resolve all the environmental issues in the sector.
Source : ICTjournal
