Meta Secures 650 MW Solar Power with AES Deal

Meta has made a significant move to expand its renewable energy portfolio by securing 650 megawatts (MW) of solar power through two long-term Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) with The AES Corporation. This strategic collaboration is designed to support the company’s growing data center operations in the Southwest Power Pool (SPP) market, covering Texas and Kansas. The initiative marks another bold step in Meta’s ongoing commitment to achieving 100% clean and renewable energy for its operations worldwide.

The new solar power capacity, sourced through these PPAs, will not only power Meta’s data centers but also contribute additional renewable energy to the broader regional grid. As Meta continues to scale its digital infrastructure to meet the demands of artificial intelligence and other advanced technologies, the need for sustainable, large-scale energy solutions becomes ever more critical. AES’s involvement ensures that this demand is met with reliable and cost-effective clean energy.

Andrés Gluski, President and CEO of AES, expressed pride in the collaboration, emphasizing the role of AES as a preferred partner for companies leading in innovation. He highlighted the importance of providing energy solutions that offer quick deployment and low electricity costs, positioning AES as a vital player in the energy transition for hyperscale data operations. AES has increasingly emerged as a dominant force in the clean energy sector, with a robust development pipeline of 65 gigawatts (GW) and 32.7 GW already in operation globally.

Meta’s Global Head of Energy, Urvi Parekh, reiterated the company’s dedication to sustainability, noting that the new solar energy projects not only support its 100% renewable energy target but also bring new power generation to the Texas and Kansas markets. These developments are not only about environmental responsibility but are also designed to bring economic benefits to the regions involved. The projects are expected to create hundreds of construction jobs and generate long-term tax revenue that will benefit local schools and county services.

Beyond the immediate benefits to Meta and local communities, this move highlights a broader trend in corporate energy procurement. With a growing focus on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) metrics, corporations are increasingly turning to long-term renewable energy contracts to reduce carbon footprints and support global climate goals. AES, in particular, has built a strong track record in serving large-scale corporate clients. To date, the company has signed 10.1 GW in corporate energy agreements worldwide, with 7.7 GW specifically allocated to renewable energy for data centers.

AES’s reputation in this space was recently reinforced by BloombergNEF’s 2024 Corporate Energy Market Outlook, which ranked the company among the top suppliers of corporate clean energy for the third year in a row. This recognition underscores AES’s continued leadership in delivering scalable, sustainable power solutions to some of the world’s largest technology firms.

The Meta-AES partnership illustrates how forward-thinking collaborations between technology companies and energy providers can accelerate the global transition to cleaner power. As Meta expands its presence in the digital landscape, particularly in areas such as AI, the energy powering its infrastructure becomes just as important as the innovation itself. These new solar projects are a clear indication that environmental responsibility and technological advancement can go hand in hand.

Ultimately, the agreement not only boosts Meta’s renewable energy credentials but also enhances AES’s role as a key enabler in the decarbonization of the digital economy. With sustainability becoming a core pillar of corporate strategy, such partnerships set a precedent for other companies aiming to align business growth with climate-conscious operations.