Google has taken another major step toward its clean energy goals by signing a 15-year Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with French energy company TotalEnergies. Under the agreement, Google will purchase 1.5 terawatt hours (TWh) of renewable electricity from TotalEnergies’ Montpelier solar farm in Ohio.
The 50-megawatt (MW) solar facility, which is nearing completion, will be connected to the PJM grid system, the largest electricity market in the United States. Once operational, the project will supply clean electricity directly to Google’s data centers in Ohio, helping the company reduce its carbon footprint and support local grid decarbonization.
Will Conkling, Director of Clean Energy and Power, Google, said:
“Strengthening the grid by deploying more reliable and clean energy is crucial for supporting the digital infrastructure that businesses and individuals depend on. Our collaboration with TotalEnergies will help power our data centers and the broader economic growth of Ohio.”
Ohio Powers the Next Wave of Data Center Growth
According to S&P Global, data center electricity demand in the U.S. is set to rise sharply — from 75.8 GW in 2026 to 134.4 GW by 2030. This surge is driven largely by the growing adoption of artificial intelligence (AI), cloud computing, and high-performance computing workloads.
In Ohio alone, Central Ohio leads the state with over 100 data centers, including those operated by Google, AWS, and Meta. New projects from companies like Cologix, QTS Data Centers, and Vantage Data Centers continue to expand the region’s energy demand.
This booming digital infrastructure is reshaping the U.S. electricity landscape. Many utilities are now planning for massive grid expansions to support this load growth. Yet, questions remain about how quickly clean energy projects can keep up with the rising power needs of hyperscale data centers.
A Shared Commitment to Building a Carbon-Free Digital Economy
The press release highlights that both companies share a strong commitment to sustainability. The partnership aligns with Google’s 2030 goal for 24×7 carbon-free operations and with TotalEnergies’ strategy to expand its clean power portfolio for digital infrastructure.
Together, they showcase how strategic corporate partnerships can accelerate decarbonization and fuel the clean energy transition.
Stéphane Michel, President Gas, Renewables & Power at TotalEnergies, commented,
“We are delighted to strengthen our partnership with Google with this agreement to supply renewable electricity to their data centers in Ohio. This agreement illustrates TotalEnergies’s ability to meet the growing energy demands of major tech companies by leveraging its integrated portfolio of renewable and flexible assets. It also contributes to achieving our target of 12% profitability in the power sector.”
Corporate PPAs: Driving the Energy Transition
Corporate PPAs are becoming key to cutting global emissions. These long-term contracts let companies buy clean electricity directly from renewable energy developers. By doing this, they skip middlemen and make sure new renewable projects get built.
For companies, PPAs provide steady energy prices and clear proof of their green energy use. For developers, they offer financial security to invest in new projects.
In Google’s case, the deal with TotalEnergies supports its goal to power every data center and office with carbon-free energy from the same grid. This approach goes beyond buying renewable energy certificates or offsets. Instead, it adds real clean energy to local grids and helps reduce emissions where it matters most.
TotalEnergies’ Expanding Renewable Footprint
TotalEnergies is one of the world’s leading integrated energy companies, and its renewable power ambitions are accelerating. By October 2025, the company had reached 32 GW of installed renewable capacity and aims to hit 35 GW by year-end. By 2030, TotalEnergies targets over 100 TWh of net electricity production from renewables.
In the U.S., the company is developing a 10 GW clean energy portfolio, including solar, onshore wind, and battery storage projects. Of this, 1 GW is located within the PJM market and 4 GW in Texas under ERCOT.
The new PPA with Google joins a list of corporate deals TotalEnergies has signed with major firms such as Amazon, Microsoft, Air Liquide, LyondellBasell, Saint-Gobain, STMicroelectronics, and Merck. These partnerships significantly help stabilize project revenues while accelerating the clean energy transition for large industrial and technology customers.
Google’s Journey to 24/7 Carbon-Free Data Centers by 2030
Google’s data centers run its global operations but also create most of its emissions. In 2024, Scope 2 emissions hit 3.1 million metric tons of CO₂, mostly from electricity use.
To address this, Google improved efficiency, reaching an average PUE of 1.09—much better than the industry average of 1.56. This means its data centers use 84% less extra energy.
At the same time, Google signed over 8 GW of new clean energy contracts. These solar, wind, and other carbon-free projects help the company move toward running 24/7 on carbon-free energy by 2030.
Solar Energy: The Core of Clean Power Strategy
Solar energy is a cornerstone of Google’s sustainability roadmap. Since 2017, the company has maintained a 100% renewable energy match globally and has now signed more than 170 clean energy agreements totaling over 22 GW of capacity.
Recent highlights include:
- A 1 GW solar pipeline in Taiwan, developed in partnership with BlackRock’s Climate Infrastructure business.
- A 1.5 GW portfolio of new solar projects across the PJM grid in the U.S., aligned with Google’s data center locations.
- Investments that help semiconductor suppliers and manufacturers in Asia decarbonize their operations.
Through initiatives like Project Sunroof and the Solar API, Google is also using AI and satellite imagery to make rooftop solar more accessible to homeowners and developers. In 2024, solar panels installed through partners using Google’s API were estimated to enable 6 million metric tons of lifetime GHG reductions. It’s roughly 6,000 times greater than the emissions produced by the model’s computing energy that same year.
A Blueprint for Energy and Technology Synergy
The Google–TotalEnergies partnership goes beyond energy supply—it shows how tech and clean energy can work together. However, energy equity remains important. Policymakers and utilities must ensure local communities also benefit from clean energy, not just large data centers.
As AI and digital demand grow, scaling renewables will be key. Partnerships like this help lay the foundation for a sustainable, carbon-free digital future.
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