Google’s AI Expansion Drives Emissions Up 51% Since 2019: Improving Data Centre Efficiency

Google Reports Rising Emissions Amid AI Boom, Despite Efficiency Gains in Data Centres

Google’s latest 2025 Environmental Report reveals a striking 51% increase in emissions since 2019, largely driven by the massive computational demands of artificial intelligence (AI). Despite this surge, the company has made notable progress in data centre efficiency and clean energy investments, painting a complex picture of sustainability in the AI era.

Emissions Climb as AI Demands Soar

In 2024 alone, Google’s total greenhouse gas emissions rose by 11%, reaching 11.5 million metric tonnes. That’s up from 7.6 million in 2019. Much of this growth stems from aggressive expansion in AI and increased demand on energy-intensive data centres, which are central to powering Google’s AI infrastructure.

The company attributes this rise to the rapid rollout of AI products and services, which require extensive computational resources and have led to 27% higher electricity consumption in data centres.

“Powering the next wave of innovation—especially AI—requires us to solve some of the most significant challenges of our time: not only generating vast amounts of clean, reliable energy, but also using it efficiently,” said Kate Brandt, Chief Sustainability Officer at Google.

Data Center Efficiency: A Silver Lining

Even with higher energy usage, Google cut its data centre energy emissions by 12% in 2024, thanks to significant operational efficiencies and clean energy investments.

• Google’s data centres now use 84% less overhead energy than the industry average.

• The company deployed the Ironwood TPU, a new AI chip that uses 30x less energy than its 2018 predecessor.

Google’s ability to ‘decouple’ energy use from emissions—increasing electricity consumption without a proportional rise in emissions—is attributed to 2.5 GW of new clean energy capacity added to grids powering its operations. That’s equivalent to over 4 million solar panels.

Emissions by Scope: The Breakdown

• Scope 1 (direct emissions): Down 8% year-on-year.

• Scope 2 (indirect energy emissions): Down 11%.

• Scope 3 (supply chain emissions): Up 22%, and still comprise 73% of Google’s total footprint.

The rise in Scope 3 emissions is largely due to data centre construction and infrastructure manufacturing, particularly for AI hardware.

Google acknowledged that these ‘ambition-based emissions’ are harder to control, especially in regions like Asia Pacific where clean energy adoption is slower.

Clean Energy Procurement at Record Levels

In 2024, Google completed its largest-ever clean energy procurement, adding 8 GW of carbon-free energy to its portfolio. As a result, its carbon-free energy usage on an hourly basis increased from 64% to 66%.

To address long-term energy needs, Google is also investing in next-gen technologies such as:

• Advanced nuclear (including small modular reactors)

• Enhanced geothermal

• Biomass energy

However, Kate Brandt noted that these innovations remain costly and not yet deployed at the required scale.

AI: Both a Challenge and a Solution

While AI is a major driver of emissions growth, Google also highlights its positive environmental applications, including:

• Water management

• Fuel-efficient routing in Google Maps

• Energy optimisation tools

In 2024 alone, the emissions savings from Google products like Nest thermostats, Google Earth Pro, Solar API, and Green Light amounted to 26 million metric tons of CO2 equivalent—more than double Google’s own total emissions for the year.

The Road Ahead: Ambitious but Uncertain

Google aims to cut greenhouse gas emissions in half by 2030 (compared to 2019) and ultimately reach net-zero across all scopes by 2030. However, the report admits that hitting those targets is proving more difficult as the energy demands of AI continue to grow.

‘It’s important to be up front about the hurdles we’re facing,” Brandt said. “We’re focused on building and operating the world’s most energy-efficient data centre infrastructure, optimising our models and hardware to use less electricity and pushing the frontiers of advanced energy development.’

Impact on Ireland: Economic Opportunity and Energy Challenges

Google’s sustainability trajectory has direct implications for Ireland, where the company operates one of its largest European data centre hubs in Dublin. As demand for AI and cloud services continues to rise, Ireland finds itself at the crossroads of economic opportunity and energy sustainability.

Data Centre Growth in Ireland

Ireland has become a strategic location for hyperscale data centres due to its favorable corporate tax policies, cool climate, and proximity to transatlantic data routes. Google’s Dublin campus plays a vital role in delivering AI and cloud services across Europe.

However, with AI workloads increasing electricity demands significantly, Ireland’s national grid is under pressure. Data centres consumed around 21% of Ireland’s electricity in 2023, and this figure is projected to rise further unless constrained.

National Grid Concerns and Planning Restrictions

EirGrid, Ireland’s transmission system operator, has raised concerns about grid stability due to concentrated demand from data centres. In response, the Irish government and local councils have introduced moratoriums and stricter planning regulations in certain areas, including Dublin, to limit new data centre connections.

Google’s increasing energy needs—driven by AI—could face regulatory and infrastructure bottlenecks if Ireland cannot scale up renewable energy production and grid capacity fast enough.

A Catalyst for Renewable Investment?

At the same time, Google’s clean energy commitments may accelerate Ireland’s transition to renewables. The company has a history of procuring local clean energy, and further expansion could attract investment in wind, solar, and emerging technologies like green hydrogen or battery storage.

Ireland’s west coast, with strong wind resources, offers potential for offshore wind development, which could be paired with Google’s energy needs—if the right infrastructure and policy incentives are in place.

Balancing Benefits and Sustainability

For Ireland, the stakes are high. Hosting data centres from global tech leaders like Google supports jobs, infrastructure investment, and digital innovation, but also risks energy strain and public opposition if not managed sustainably.

If Google continues to scale its Irish operations, it will need to work closely with policymakers, utility providers, and communities to ensure growth aligns with national climate goals, including Ireland’s target of 80% renewable electricity by 2030.

Conclusion

Google’s 2025 Environmental Report underscores the sustainability paradox of modern AI development: while data centres are more efficient than ever, their total energy demand continues to grow, fuelling higher emissions. The tech giant’s efforts to decarbonise—including record-breaking clean energy deals and hardware innovation—are commendable but face long-term challenges.

For Google and the broader tech industry, the next few years will test whether rapid digital growth can truly align with sustainability ambitions. As AI scales globally, the race to build carbon-free computing infrastructure becomes not just a corporate goal, but a climate imperative.

All-Ireland Sustainability: Bringing Green News to You 

At All-Ireland Sustainability, we’re committed to building a greener, fairer island—together. Stay informed on the latest environmental initiatives, community action, and policy developments shaping sustainability across Ireland, North and South. 

👉 Sign up for our newsletter today and be the first to hear about upcoming events, expert insights, and ways to get involved. 

Whether you’re a seasoned advocate or just starting your journey, new members are always welcome—your voice matters. 

Subscribe now and be part of the All-Ireland Sustainability network.