Google’s data center energy use doubled in 4 years

Google's data center electricity consumption has more than doubled in four years, reaching 30.8 million megawatt-hours in 2024. This surge presents challenges for the company's pledge to use only carbon-free electricity. To meet its growing power needs, Google is investing in various energy sources, including geothermal, nuclear fusion, and renewables. The company has contracted enough renewable energy to match its total consumption, but achieving 24/7 carbon-free energy globally remains a challenge, with significant regional variations in carbon-free electricity usage.