E-commerce giant Amazon reported a deployment of 8.3 GW of renewable energy capacity through its 133 new projects in 11 countries in 2022. Notably, that figure increased its overall renewable energy portfolio to more than 20 GW, which can efficiently power 5.3 million US households.
The total renewable energy capacity is dispersed throughout 401 projects (237 rooftop solar projects and 164 wind farms) in 22 countries. With this achievement, Amazon has maintained its position as the most significant corporate buyer of renewable energy since 2020, according to Bloomberg New Energy Finance.
“The fact that it announced a new annual record of clean energy in a year mired by a global energy crisis, supply chain bottlenecks, and high interest rates speaks to its forward planning and expertise in navigating power markets and executing long-term contracts.”
Kyle Harris, BloombergNEF’s head of sustainability research
How did the COVID-19 pandemic drive Amazon’s clean energy projects?
For context, Amazon started electrifying its fleet and boosting its renewable energy capacity in 2014.
As it experienced a surge in demand during the COVID-19 pandemic, the company expanded its decarbonization initiatives to reduce its carbon emission generation.
In retrospect, the company enjoyed more than 200% profit as customers’ shopping activities were limited then. That considered, Amazon decided to further its investment in renewable energy projects and various sustainable initiatives to make up for its explosive growth.
Amazon substantially increased its renewable energy capacity in 2022 as it aims to reach its target of 100% clean energy by 2025. It partnered with Rivian for the supply of more than 100,000 EDVs by 2030 under its Climate Pledge.
As of December 2022, Amazon has deployed 1,000 Rivian EDVs to deliver customer parcels via clean energy.
It is remarkable that Amazon could focus on its sustainable energy initiatives last year despite the economy’s volatility. The world’s largest online retailer is making great strides toward renewable energy objectives. However, it must be noted that there is still much work to be done to lower overall energy use and packaging waste, apart from the delivery operation.
