Despite implementing demand response programs, electrification efforts and power purchase agreements, AI’s computational requirements have led to increases in the company’s emissions. ​Google maintained a global average carbon-free energy rating of 64% across its data centers and offices from 2022 to 2023, despite a 13% year-over-year rise in its total greenhouse gas emissions, according to its 2024 Environmental Report released in July.The tech giant attributed the climb in its GHG emissions to a 37% year-over-year increase in its scope 2 emissions, which rose to 14.3 million tons of carbon dioxide equivalent last year, representing a 48% rise over levels seen in 2019, its target base year. The company said its total GHG emissions increased at a slower rate than the previous two years, with 2023 marking the first year it implemented a carbon removal strategy.​ The company completed 14 full or partial office building electrification strategies around the world, and signed its first office leases with electrification provisions, Google said. Last year, the organization also piloted a new demand response capability to shift non-urgent compute tasks to other times and locations, amid efforts to offset the increased electricity usage of its data centers.​https://www.utilitydive.com/news/google-environmental-report-emissions-increases-data-centers/721231/?utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Issue:%202024-07-15%20Utility%20Dive%20Newsletter%20%5Bissue:63893%5D&utm_term=Utility%20Dive (ICE LOS ANGELES)

Fonte notizia: Utility Dive