We've invested in more than 230 solar and wind projects across Europe in 2024, bringing new carbon-free energy sources to local grids and helping match the electricity consumed by our operations. The investment brings us another step closer to our Climate Pledge commitment to reach net-zero carbon emissions across our operations by 2040.
The total portfolio of European projects will provide an estimated 9 gigawatts (GW) of new carbon-free energy capacity in the region, and is expected to generate enough energy to power the equivalent of more than 6.7 million European homes annually. The projects include more than 100 utility-scale solar, wind, and offshore wind farms across the region, as well as onsite solar arrays on more than 100 buildings that host our operations.
“Increasing the amount of renewable energy on Europe’s electricity grids is the fastest and cheapest way to help Europe’s economy decarbonize at scale and fight against climate change,” said Lindsay McQuade, Director of Energy for Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) at Amazon. “As Europe’s top corporate investor in renewable energy, we will continue to work with governments, industry and communities to unlock more of Europe’s renewable energy potential.”
Bringing new renewable energy sources to Europe
Amazon has invested in 26 renewable energy projects and 20 onsite installations in Europe in 2024.
- Spain: 15 new utility-scale solar and wind farms and two onsite solar installations.
- Italy: four utility scale solar projects, eight onsite solar installations.
- Greece: three new utility-scale solar farms.
- Finland: two utility scale solar farms.
- Northern Ireland: one utility scale wind farm.
- Portugal: one utility scale wind farm.
- United Kingdom: six onsite solar installations.
- Germany: two onsite solar installations.
- France: one onsite solar installation.
- Czech Republic: one onsite solar installation.
In Portugal, we signed our first Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) in the country for the Tâmega Wind Complex, which will be the largest wind farm in Portugal once completed in 2027. According to the developer, the €350 million project will create over 700 jobs at the peak of construction. The wind complex is sited next to the Tâmega hydroelectric complex and is the largest hybridisation project in the country, designed to make use of the grid connection point already built at the site.
In Spain, we've now invested in a total of 94 renewable energy projects. One of our new PPAs will help enable the Ciudad Rodrigo solar project near Salamanca in western Spain. With an investment of close to €200 million by the developer, the project is expected to create more than 800 jobs during peak construction periods. As part of the project, Iberdrola has committed to the Ciudad Rodrigo municipality to help restore the Plaza Amayuelas town square to make it a space for the whole community to enjoy.
In Greece, we recently joined the Greek Minister of Environment and Energy and the National Bank of Greece to announce a collaboration supporting three new utility-scale wind farms, which will be located in the Western and Central Macedonia regions, and the Peloponnese region. In Poland, Amazon agreed to purchase energy from two wind farms located in Jastrowie and Okonek, in Wielkopolskie Voivodeship.
Supporting local communities
In 2023, Amazon met its goal to match 100% of the electricity consumed in its operations with renewable energy, seven years ahead of our original target. Amazon has now invested in enough renewable energy projects globally to power the equivalent of 24.6 million European homes. The renewable energy projects supported not only help match the electricity used by our own operations, but also provide new sources of carbon-free energy to the local communities where Amazon’s customers, vendors and employees live and work. The projects also help create jobs, support local businesses, and boost the local economy, which are all part of Amazon’s commitment to become a more sustainable company.
To learn more about Amazon’s broader carbon-free energy strategy, click here.
