Renewable: Amazon Claims the Throne Yet Again

Amazon is making headlines for the right reasons. According to BloombergNEF data, the company has claimed the title of the largest corporate buyer of renewable energy for the fifth consecutive year.

With over 600 wind and solar projects worldwide, it showcases how a corporate giant can actively support clean energy solutions. This makes them the largest company buying renewable energy, beating Apple by over 10 gigawatts.

In 2024, Amazon expanded its renewable energy portfolio significantly, adding 100 new projects and bringing its total capacity to more than 33 gigawatts. These projects can power 8.3 million U.S. homes annually.

The company reached its goal of powering its global operations with 100% renewable energy seven years ahead of its original target for 2030.

Amazon is also focusing on regions with high fossil fuel dependency. For example, the company has invested in over 40 utility-scale solar and wind projects in countries like India, China, and Poland, as well as U.S. states such as Louisiana and Mississippi.

In India, it partnered with Ampln Energy to launch a 100 MW solar farm, while in Poland, it procured energy from two wind farms owned by Vortex Energy.

Beyond traditional renewables, they are also exploring innovative technologies like small modular reactors (SMRs) and energy storage systems to address renewable energy’s intermittent nature. The company has invested in 2.7GW of energy storage capacity and recently brought online the Baldy Mesa solar-plus-storage project in California, combining solar generation with battery storage.

Chief Sustainability Officer Kara Hurst emphasized their strategic approach, stating, “We prioritize projects where they can have the biggest impact on curbing emissions and improving the local environment.”

Despite its achievements, challenges remain the same. While Amazon has reduced Scope 2 emissions from purchased electricity, addressing indirect Scope 3 emissions is still a work in progress. However, the company’s bold initiatives and investments demonstrate a clear path toward its goal of achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2040.