Amazon launches 71 new renewable energy projects

Amazon is expanding its renewable energy portfolio globally.

The e-tail giant will generate an additional 2.7 gigawatts (GW) of clean energy capacity across 71 new renewable energy projects, which include the company’s first renewable energy project in South America and its first solar farms in India and Poland.

Once fully operational, Amazon says its global renewable energy portfolio will generate 50,000 gigawatt hours (GWh) of clean energy, which is the equivalent amount of electricity needed to power 4.6 million U.S. homes each year.

According to Amazon, it is the largest corporate purchaser of renewable energy globally. The company now has a total of 379 renewable energy projects across 21 countries, including 154 wind and solar farms and 225 rooftop solar projects, representing 18.5 GW of renewable energy capacity. By the end of 2021, Amazon had reached 85% renewable energy across its business.

Highlights of Amazon’s latest renewable energy efforts include:

• In the Asia-Pacific region, Amazon is launching the company’s first three large-scale projects in India. All three are solar projects in Rajasthan, representing 420 megawatts (MW) of clean energy capacity. In the Asia-Pacific region, the company now has a total of 57 renewable energy projects.
• In Europe, where Amazon now has 117 renewable energy projects, the company is commencing its first rooftop solar projects in France and Austria, and its first solar farm in Poland. Amazon’s investment in its first utility-scale project in Poland is one of the largest corporate solar deals announced to date in the country.
• In North America, Amazon is adding 1 GW of clean energy capacity across the Southeastern U.S., including the company’s first two renewable energy projects in Louisiana. Amazon now has a total of 202 projects across North America.
• In South America, Amazon is rolling out its first renewable energy project, which is a 122 MW solar farm in Brazil. The project includes a $380,000 investment in environmental programs during construction to protect and promote biodiversity. The solar farm is estimated to create 850 jobs during the construction phase, with an additional 30 permanent jobs once it becomes operational.

“We are bringing new wind and solar projects online to power our offices, fulfillment centers, data centers, and stores, which collectively serve millions of customers globally, and we are on a path to reach 100% renewable energy across our entire business by 2025,” said Adam Selipsky, CEO of Amazon Web Services. “Around the world, countries are looking to accelerate the transition to a clean energy economy, and continued investments like ours can help accelerate their journey as we all work together to mitigate the impacts of climate change.”

Amazon is committed to reaching net-zero carbon by 2040 as part of its commitment to The Climate Pledge. This includes Climate Pledge Fund, $2 billion venture investment program that specifically invests in companies building technologies, products, and services that can help Amazon and others accelerate the path toward net-zero carbon future. 

[Read more: Amazon launches $2 billion fund to promote sustainability]

Other steps Amazon has taken toward net-zero carbon include purchasing 100,000 electric delivery vehicles from Rivian, the largest order ever of electric delivery vehicles.