Amazon has announced plans for five new solar power projects in China, Australia and the US with a combined capacity of 615MW.
The projects will support the company’s commitment to reach 80% renewable energy by 2024 and 100% by 2030, as well as to reach net zero carbon by 2040.
Amazon said the projects include a 105MW facility in the Australian state of New South Wales and a 100MW plant in Shandong in China, its first in the country, as well as three in the US.
The US developments comprise two projects in Ohio, of 200MW and 80MW each, and a 130MW facility in Virginia.
All the projects will deliver a total of about 1.2 million megawatt-hours to the company’s fulfilment network and Amazon Web Services data centres.
Amazon has so far announced 31 utility-scale wind and solar projects and 60 solar rooftops on fulfilment centres and sort centres around the world with total capacity of over 2.9GW.
Amazon vice president of sustainability Kara Hurst said: “As a signatory to The Climate Pledge, we’re committed to meeting the goals of the Paris Agreement 10 years early and reaching net zero carbon across Amazon by 2040.
“These five new renewable energy projects are a critical part of our roadmap to reach this goal.
“In fact, we believe it is possible to reach 100% renewable energy by 2025, five years ahead of the goals we announced last fall. While this will be challenging, we have a credible plan to get there.”
Virginia Senator Jennifer McClellan said: “Virginia’s energy future is bright. Through investments in clean energy we can reduce carbon emissions and create jobs to help drive long-term economic development.
“The announcement of this new Amazon solar project helps the Commonwealth meet our climate goals and contributes to our economic growth.
“The Virginia Clean Economy Act will help to drive more clean energy investments like this, to make Virginia a national hub for clean energy jobs.”
Virginia delegate Richard Sullivan said: “Clean energy job creation is a crucial driver for long-term economic development in the Commonwealth.
“I am pleased that Amazon continues to invest in Virginia’s clean energy future.
“The Virginia Clean Economy Act has put us on a path to 100% clean energy, and companies like Amazon are critical to helping us achieve that goal.”