Amazon has announced the completion of 39 new renewable energy (RES) projects in Europe – including the first utility solar project in Greece, in Makrychoria, Etoloakarnania – adding more than 1GW of total clean energy capacity to the European grid.

Now, Amazon has implemented more than 160 wind and solar projects in 13 countries in Europe. When all projects are operational, they are expected to deliver 5.8GW of clean energy, enough capacity to meet the needs of more than 4.7 million households in Europe annually.

The new projects include the placement of 15 solar installations on Amazon infrastructure, as well as 24 wind and solar utility projects, including the company’s first solar park in Greece. Amazon’s project in Greece follows a similar utility solar installation by the company in Poland last year. Amazon’s investments, as the company points out, in these countries contribute to accelerating the decarbonization process of energy networks, limiting the need to use fossil fuels.

“With over 160 wind and solar projects in Europe, Amazon is providing new sources of clean energy to local grids, creating new jobs and supporting local businesses as part of the wider transition to 100% renewable energy by 2025,” said Lindsay McQuade, Director of Energy, EMEA at Amazon. “This kind of investment is a catalyst for the transition to a clean energy future and we aim to continue working with governments, local communities and energy providers across Europe to deliver more renewable energy to local grids.”

Amazon’s investments in renewables boost local economies

From 2014 to 2022, Amazon’s European wind and solar farms generated approximately €2.4 billion in investment in Europe, while contributing more than €723 million to the region’s GDP, as defined by the new economic model it implements Amazon. In addition, more than 3,900 new full-time jobs were created through these projects in 2022 alone.

The impact of Amazon’s investments in renewable energy is demonstrated by data determined through a new economic model developed by the company that follows the guidelines of the US Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and is validated by the global independent financial consultancy firm Oxford Economics. The model applies to utility-scale renewable energy projects that have begun construction or started operating between 2014-2022, or are expected to be operational in 2023, as a result of power purchase agreements entered into by Amazon.

New investments in eight European countries

Amazon’s investments in solar and wind projects have made the company the largest buyer of renewable energy – at the corporate level – in Europe, a lead it will hold until 2021. Amazon’s recent projects include installing solar installations on building roofs in Belgium, France, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom, as well as the implementation of solar and wind projects in Finland, Germany, Greece, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom.

Amazon’s goal is to power its operations, including its Amazon Web Services (AWS) data centers, order fulfillment centers, and brick-and-mortar stores, with 100% renewable energy by 2025 — five years ahead of its original target. it was set for 2030. In 2022, 90% of the electricity consumed by Amazon internationally came from renewable energy sources.