Google reported a 37 percent increase in annual electricity consumption in 2025, marking the largest rise in the company’s history. This surge is attributed to the ongoing expansion of AI infrastructure across its data centers, which now consume over 42 million megawatt-hours of electricity annually, surpassing the usage of entire countries like New Zealand and Nigeria. The tech giant emphasized that it continues to prioritize clean energy, with its 2025 sustainability report noting a 250 percent increase in total electricity use since 2019. The rise is linked to growth in Google Cloud, YouTube video streaming, and AI services, which require significant computational resources.
Despite the steep increase in electricity use, Google stated it managed to reduce operational emissions by 2 percent in 2025. The company highlighted its commitment to scaling clean energy and technological innovation to lower emissions across its operations and the broader industry. According to the sustainability report, Google’s data centers consumed 30.6 million megawatt-hours in 2024, rising to 42 million megawatt-hours in 2025. The report also acknowledged that supply chain emissions grew by 25 percent due to the use of grids with limited carbon-free energy in the Asia-Pacific region.
Google’s sustainability report detailed its efforts to match 100 percent of electricity consumption with renewable energy purchases, a practice it has maintained for nine years. In 2025, the company’s purchase agreements covered 12 gigawatts of new clean energy, the highest annual total in its history. However, the report also noted that some companies may claim renewable energy use while still relying on fossil fuels in local grids. To address this, Google has renewed its focus on a '24/7 carbon-free energy ambition' that tracks clean energy usage more precisely.
Source: arstechnica
