Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp owner Meta announced that it has signed two long-term Power Purchase Agreements (PPA) to acquire 650 MW of solar energy in Texas and Kansas from energy provider AES to support the social media giant’s data centers.
Virginia-based AES is among the largest power providers in the world. Meta will draw power via the PPAs from solar projects that AES is bringing online in the Southwest Power Pool (SPP), which manages the electric grid and wholesale power market in central U.S. states.
Andrés Gluski, AES President and Chief Executive Officer, said:
“AES is proud to partner with Meta to deliver reliable and affordable renewable energy that supports their data center growth and ambitious sustainability goals. By providing energy solutions that offer fast time-to-power and low-cost electricity, we continue to be the partner of choice for companies, like Meta, at the forefront of artificial intelligence innovation.”
Meta has set a target to reach net-zero emissions across its value chain by 2030. The company achieved its goal to meet 100% of its operational energy needs with renewable sources in 2020, and recently said that it anticipates adding 9.8 GW of renewable energy to local grids in the U.S. through its supported wind and solar projects by the end of 2025.
The announcement marks the latest in a series of renewable energy purchases by Meta, including several recent Texas-based clean energy deals. Earlier this year, the company signed four environmental attribute purchase agreements (EAPAs) with Madrid-based Zelestra for the production of 595 MW of renewable energy to help power the company’s data centers in Texas. Meta also recently signed an EAPA with Engie North America to supply the social media company with 200 MW of renewable energy and associated environmental attributes from Engies’ Anson 2 solar project in Jones County, Texas, which followed a 260 MW deal for renewable energy from Engie’s Sypert Branch solar project in Milam County, Texas.
Urvi Parekh, Global Head of Energy at Meta, said:
“We are thrilled to work with AES to bring forward these two solar energy projects. These solutions support our goal for 100% clean and renewable energy and will add new generation to the grid in these markets.”
