Facebook is moving closer to 100% renewable energy by 2020
Pure power
Published on May 30, 2019 |
by Charles W. Thurston
30. May 2019 av Charles W. Thurston
Technically renewable leader Facebook is moving towards its goal of 100% renewable energy by 2020. The rest of the switch will be a great company, since the company consumed over 3.4 gigawatts of energy last year , of which 75% was renewable, according to the company's sustainability report.
"Facebook has signed a contract for over 3.5 gigawatts of renewable energy, making us the largest corporate buyer of renewable energy in the world," said the company's website.
The company's last move was unusual in that it meant direct Investments in the 379 megawatts Prospero Solar Project in Andrews County, Texas worth $ 416 million Facebook will be the only tax investor for the project, and this will be the company's first direct investment in a renewable energy project, Facebook signed its first contract to buy renewable energy in 2013.
"Facebook is excited to be one of the first companies to use a direct investment to meet our renewable energy targets," said Peter Freed, energy director of strategy on Facebook, in a statement. investments can be a new avenue with meaningful engagement with projects, which can be easier for some companies than a long-term power purchase speech, thereby unlocking new opportunities for multiple organizations to fulfill their goals and increase the market. so.
Facebook Renewable energy progress. Source Facebook
Longroad Energy, a US-based renewable energy developer, owner and operator, today announced financial proximity and the start of the construction of the Prospero Solar project on 30 May.
Shell Energy North America (SENA) signed a 12-year power purchase agreement for the project's PTO, which is one of the first short-term agreements of this type in the solar industry. Usually, PPAs are for 20 years, the expected lifetime of a solar plant. Both Facebook and Shell will share the renewable energy attributes generated by the project's energy production.
"Facebook is proud to have helped fund a solar project during this innovative off-take event," Freed said. "We hope our participation will help to validate the structure and bring many new solar projects to the grid," he added.
Prospero mansion will cover about 4,600 acres in Andrews County, Texas. The project will deliver more than $ 21 million in property taxes, including more than $ 12 million to Andrews ISD. The project will also create several hundred construction work as well as workplaces for the operating facility. All told, the project expects to pay more than $ 23 million in salary over project life.
The project will distribute First Solar panels, TMEIC converters and NEXTracker tracking. Swinerton Renewable Energy will be the EPC contractor for the project and the interconnection will be through Sharyland Utilities.
CIT Bank is the coordinating senior organizer, administrative agent and security agent on the project's construction and term financing. Silicon Valley Bank and Zion's Ban Corporation NA are the Joint Lead Arrangers, while the National Bank of Australia, Landesbank Hessen-Thuringia Girozentrale (Helaba), Rabobank and Commerzbank also participate in banks in the agreement.
In a previous solar work announcement, Bobby Hollis, Facebook's global energy leader, said: "We are expecting us to be a company we believe is good for society, and this is good for the whole world, but it is also good business sense, "says. "We truly integrate this throughout our business planning process to ensure that we go into places where renewable energy makes sense."
Facebook aims to reduce its greenhouse gas (GHG) contribution by 75% by 2020. By 2018, the company reduced its fuel emissions from 604,000 tonnes total in 2017 to 339,000 tonnes, according to the latest sustainability report. The company's data centers, which supported the data of more than 2 billion people a month, account for nearly two-thirds of that footprint. Other business activities, including construction and employee commuting and travel, amount to 38%.
Another sustainability goal important for Facebook is water use. So far, the data centers use 80% less than other typical centers, the website notes. "We have measured the water takeoff for many years, but recently we have begun to track our consumption as well. Water withdrawal as a metric tells us how much water we buy for our business, but a large part of that water is returned to local wastewater treatment plants and Water consumption tells us what we really do evaporate in our operations, and gives us a better idea of our true impact, "the website writes.
On his mission statement page, Facebook says: "We believe sustainability is about more than being responsible. It is an opportunity to support the communities we are a part of and have a greater impact on the world."
"That's why we work to minimize the impact of our energy, emissions and water consumption, protect workers and the environment in our supply chain, and work with others to develop and share solutions for a more sustainable world, the company said.
About the Author
Charles W. Thurston Charles specializes in renewable energy, from economy to technological processes. Important focus areas include bifacial panels and sun tracking. He has been active in the industry for over 25 years, living and working in places ranging from Brazil to Papua New Guinea.
