Amazon.com this week announced a new renewable energy project in Ireland, part of a larger announcement that also includes new projects in Sweden and the United States, as part of its long-term goal to power all Amazon Web Services (AWS) global infrastructure with renewable energy.
These projects will deliver wind-generated energy that will total over 229 megawatts (MW) of power, with expected generation of over 670,000 megawatt hours (MWh) of renewable energy annually. The new projects are part of AWS’s long-term commitment to achieve 100% renewable energy for its global infrastructure. In 2018, AWS exceeded 50% renewable energy for its global infrastructure.
The Donegal wind farm project, which will be developed by Invis Energy, is expected to deliver clean energy no later than the end of 2021. The wind farm in Donegal will be built without any subsidies, therefore the project is not subject to the public service obligation (PSO) levy and will be undertaken at no cost to the Irish energy consumer. As such, it is the first unsubsidized Corporate Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) project in Ireland.
Speaking this week, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said, "AWS’s investment in renewable projects in Ireland illustrates their continued commitment to adding clean energy to the grid and it will make a positive contribution to Ireland’s renewable energy goals. As a significant employer in Ireland, it is very encouraging to see Amazon taking a lead on this issue. We look forward to continuing to work with Amazon as we strive to make Ireland a leader on renewable energy."
Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, Richard Bruton added, "By 2030, 70 percent of Ireland’s electricity will come from renewable sources,” said TD. “Today that figure is at 30 percent. We must step up our ambition across the board. Projects led by the corporate sector will be a crucial part of our overall plan to deliver on this target. This announcement by Amazon is a landmark deal in Ireland, the first such corporate agreement in our country to provide unsubsidized renewable energy."
Source: www.businessworld.ie
