Meta invests in solar energy to power data centre expansion

Meta has announced a deal to purchase 200 megawatts of solar power from multinational utility Engie. The move bolsters the tech giant’s renewable energy portfolio, which now exceeds 12 gigawatts. The new solar farm, located in Texas, is near one of Meta’s existing data centres and is expected to become operational by 2025.

The push for renewable energy comes as tech companies face rising power demands driven by AI development and the rapid construction of data centres. Meta recently revealed plans for a 2-gigawatt data centre in Louisiana, relying on natural gas. The firm has also expressed interest in nuclear power, seeking proposals for up to 4 gigawatts of nuclear energy by the early 2030s.

While nuclear energy garners significant attention, renewable sources are crucial in powering today’s tech infrastructure. Meta’s solar energy deal mirrors efforts by other tech giants like Google and Microsoft, which have secured multi-billion-dollar renewable energy agreements. As companies race to meet energy needs, the speed of renewable energy deployment continues to offer a competitive edge over emerging nuclear options.