Google's annual electricity use increased by 37 percent in 2025, the largest yearly rise in the company's history. The growth stems mainly from expanding AI data centers and related operations. Operational carbon emissions fell 2 percent despite the surge, thanks to clean energy purchases.
Google's data centers used more than 42 million megawatt-hours of electricity last year, up from 30.6 million in 2024. Overall company electricity consumption has risen more than 250 percent since 2019, driven by Google Cloud, YouTube streaming, and AI infrastructure.
The firm matched 100 percent of its electricity use with renewable purchases for the ninth straight year. It signed agreements for 12 gigawatts of new clean energy in 2025, the largest annual total to date. Google has invested more than $3.8 billion in clean energy projects since 2010.
Total operational emissions reached about 14.5 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent. Supply chain emissions rose 25 percent, pushing ambition-based emissions up 18 percent overall.
A Google sustainability report noted that the path to climate goals will not be linear as AI buildout accelerates faster than grid decarbonization. The company continues to pursue 24/7 carbon-free energy matching and additional clean power partnerships.