Google's AI buildout drove 37% increase in electricity use in 2025

TL;DR

Google's electricity consumption rose by 37% in 2025, the largest increase in its history.
The surge is attributed to the growth of Google Cloud, YouTube, and data centers supporting AI services.
Data center energy usage in 2025 surpassed 42 million megawatt-hours, rivaling the consumption of entire countries.
Google reported a 2% decrease in operational carbon emissions by purchasing 12 gigawatts of 'net-new clean energy'.
Supply chain emissions increased by 25% due to reliance on grids with limited carbon-free energy.
Google's total 'ambition-based emissions' increased by 18% between 2024 and 2025.
The company is investing in diverse clean energy technologies, including nuclear, fusion, and geothermal.
Concerns exist regarding a potential natural gas power plant for a Texas data center, which could emit millions of tons of CO2 annually.

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