In a significant stride towards sustainability, e-commerce giant Amazon has revealed that its renewable energy portfolio now has the capacity to power 6.7m US homes.

This year, the company has invested in 78 new solar and wind energy initiatives, marking a significant stride toward its goal of powering operations with 100% renewable energy by 2025.

In a statement, AWS CEO Adam Selipsky said: “More than 90% of our operations were powered by renewables last year, but we’re not done. We’re focused on continuing to find innovative ways to bring new projects online, address grid constraints and work with policymakers to mitigate the impacts of climate change, all of which is helping Amazon move closer to achieving 100% renewable energy by 2025.”

Global impact

Amazon's global renewable energy portfolio now boasts 479 wind and solar projects, aiming to generate more than 71,900 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of clean energy annually. 

This impressive figure underscores Amazon's commitment to sustainability, with BloombergNEF reporting that the company has outpaced all other corporations in renewable energy investments since 2020.

Economic growth and job creation

Beyond the environmental benefits, Amazon's renewable energy initiatives contribute significantly to economic growth and job creation. 

The projects have injected more than $12bn in economic investments globally, and in 2022 alone, supported 39,000 full-time equivalent jobs. 

Global expansion and diverse projects

Amazon's renewable footprint is expanding rapidly, reaching 26 countries and 21 US states. The company announced projects in various locations, including Arkansas, Georgia, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio, Oklahoma, Virginia, Canada, Greece and South Korea.

Notable projects include the transformation of a Maryland coal mine into the largest solar farm in the state, the creation of 1,000 jobs in Brazil through a wind project and the addition of 13 clean energy projects across the Asia-Pacific region. 

Fostering sustainability globally

Amazon's strategic investments in solar and wind projects have solidified its position as a global leader in the transition to clean energy. 

This commitment reinforces Amazon's impact on economic growth, job creation and environmental stewardship, marking a decisive move towards a cleaner and more sustainable energy landscape.