As companies buy more solar, wind and other forms of emissions-free power, they are exploring carbon accounting options that move beyond “annual matching,” the standard of offsetting one’s electricity use by buying at least the same amount of clean energy over a year whether or not it can be delivered to the purchaser.
Information on these emerging approaches — carbon matching and 24/7 hourly purchase — as well as on standardized renewable energy power purchase agreements and the role corporations can plan in supporting emissions-free “firm” and “peaking” resources like advanced geothermal power can be found in the Utility Dive stories below.
In a sign of the growing role of voluntary clean power purchases in the power sector, companies announced 6 GW of emissions-free procurements in the United States during the first half this year, according to the Clean Energy Buyers Alliance.
Amazon, Google, Bayer and Meta have contracted for the most clean power so far this year, according to CEBA’s deal tracker. In the first half, 31 corporate customers said they made clean power procurements, up 31% from the same period in 2022.
