How Meta will Meet AI Energy Demands with Renewables
Meta's deals with Invenergy are the latest in a long series as the company looks to secure a sustainable energy supply for its data centres, in response to a growing demand driven by AI technologies.
In 2024, Meta signed four contracts with Invenergy for 760 megawatts (MW) of solar electricity, which Invenergy says brings the total partnership amount between the two companies to 1,800 MW.
Invenergy, known as America's largest privately owned developer of clean energy solutions, will contribute to Meta's sustainable energy target by channelling power from its solar and wind farms located in Ohio, Arkansas and Texas.
The produced electricity will integrate into the respective local grids while Meta acquires the renewable energy credits from this newly generated capacity.
“Winning the AI race requires reliable, cleaner, affordable energy and energy infrastructure - today and in the future,” says Ted Romaine, Invenergy's Executive Vice President of Origination.
Meta’s support for renewable energy use
The agreements serve to enhance Meta’s ongoing clean energy targets, supporting operational needs and data centre expansion.
Meta has previously embarked on numerous solar initiatives and plans to explore geothermal energy to bolster its AI sustainability efforts.
The company is also inviting nuclear energy proposals, underlining its commitment by joining forces with Amazon, Google and Dow to triple nuclear capacity by 2050.
- Meta has also signed two Environmental Attributes Purchase Agreements (EAPA) with Adapture Renewables for 360MW of power from two solar projects in Texas
“As global industries grow, ensuring a stable, sustainable energy supply is crucial. Nuclear power, with its provision of continuous power, plays a key role in meeting this demand,” said Urvi Parekh, Meta's Head of Global Energy.
These agreements from Meta have come after the 2024 announcement of Meta’s 1,000MW of total procured energy from Invenergy.
The agreements are contracted through four Invenergy-developed facilities strategically located across the US to meet soaring energy demand with domestically produced electricity.
- Yellow Wood Solar Energy Center (OH) – 300 MW – Expected Commercial Operations 2027
- Pleasant Prairie Solar Energy Center (OH) - 140 MW – Expected Commercial Operations 2027
- Decoy Solar Energy Center (AR) - 155 MW – Expected Commercial Operations 2027
- Seaway Wind Energy Center (TX) - 196 MW – Expected Commercial Operations 2028
Given that the US is eager to surge ahead with AI, the US data centre industry has enjoyed much growth.
This has largely been powered by the country’s hyperscale companies, including Meta, Amazon, Microsoft and Google, that have built large data centres to run their cloud platforms.
Since returning to office at the start of the year, US President Donald Trump has been eager to keep that momentum going.
"To realise our ambitions in AI development, access to clean and stable energy is vital,” Urvi emphasised.
"We're thankful for our continued partnership with Invenergy, advancing toward our clean energy objectives and embracing further collaboration."
Invenergy continues to be committed to accelerating cleaner, more reliable and affordable energy.
The company and its affiliated companies develop, build, own and operate large-scale renewable and other clean energy generation, transmission and storage facilities in the Americas, Europe and Asia.
Headquartered in Chicago, Invenergy has regional development offices in the US, Canada, Mexico, Spain, Japan, Poland and Scotland.
It has successfully developed more than 34,000MW of projects that are in operation, construction or contracted – including natural gas, solar and wind power generation, transmission infrastructure and advanced energy storage projects.
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